DAVENPORT, IOWA (July 25, 2019) — The Quad Cities River Bandits knocked off the Peoria Chiefs 3-0 on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park to collect their 17th shutout victory of the season. 2019 second-round draft-pick Grae Kessinger connected on his first professional home-run to kickstart the offense.
The first four innings of the game featured a classic pitcher’s duel between the Bandits Brett Daniels and Peoria’s Mike Brettell. The Chiefs starter had retired the first 14 batters of the game before he made a mistake to Kessinger that was lined over the left-field wall in the bottom of the fifth to put Quad Cities in front 1-0.
The River Bandits (18-13, 61-36) added on with a couple of insurance-runs in the sixth. Oscar Campos and Carlos Machado began the frame with singles up the middle. Campos would race to third on an error committed by first-baseman Brady Whalen and Machado followed by quickly stealing second base to put two in scoring position with no outs. After Brettell recorded an out on a pop-up to the right side of the infield, Ramiro Rodriguez rolled a two-RBI single up the middle of the drawn-in infield to score both runners and extend the lead to 3-0. Brettell finished 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.
Daniels wouldn’t need any further help as he also tossed 7.0 frames, scattering six hits and recording five strikeouts. Garrett Gayle took over out of the bullpen and earned the save by retiring six of the seven hitters he faced.
Both teams finished with six hits in the game. Carlos Machado led the River Bandits by providing two of them. For Peoria, both Brandon Benson and Imeldo Diaz collected two hits.
The rubber match of the series is slated for 6:35PM on Friday night. The Bandits will go to RHP Jose Bravo (1-3, 4.18) on the mound in a meeting with Peoria RHP Logan Gragg (0-0, 3.00). The night will feature the first stone-coaster giveaway of the season thanks to Tri-State Fire Control and a post-game fireworks show presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities.
Peoria (R-H-E): 0-6-1
Quad Cities (R-H-E): 3-6-0
Win: Daniels (5-5)
Loss: Brettell (3-7)
Save: Gayle (2)
HR: Peoria: None
HR: Quad Cities: Grae Kessinger (1, 5th inning, 0 on base)
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
