Kane County wins series opener in meeting of Midwest League's two best overall records
GENEVA, Ill. (July 21, 2015) - The Kane County Cougars overcame a 5-1 deficit by tallying five runs in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth inning to defeat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 9-5, in the opener of a series featuring the teams with the two best overall records in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Tuesday night.
River Bandits left fielder Jason Martin tied a career high with four hits and helped the River Bandits (15-11 second half, 60-34 overall) tally 14 hits to the Cougars' 12, but the visitors missed a chance to move 28 games above .500 overall for the first time since the end of the 2010 season. Quad Cities also allowed its highest run total by an opponent since July 1 and both trailed and lost a game by at least four runs for the first time since July 7. Kane County (22-4, 58-36) won for the first time in four home games this season against Quad Cities.
The River Bandits left 11 runners on base, including at least one in seven different innings. In the first inning, Martin hit a one-out single to right-center field, and shortstop Alex Bregman walked, before right-hander Chris Oliver retired the next two batters. The Cougars then quickly scored against River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (2-2), who began the bottom of the first inning by hitting right fielder Chuck Taylor, walking shortstop Ildemaro Vargas and allowing an RBI single to left-center field by All-Star second baseman Cody Regis.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, the River Bandits began with three straight singles to the right side by designated hitter Sean McMullen, first baseman Ryan Bottger and catcher Trent Woodward. With the bases loaded, second baseman Kristian Trompiz hit a fly ball to left fielder Victor Reyes, who threw out McMullen trying to score the tying run. With two outs, center fielder Bobby Boyd hit a game-tying RBI single to center field, Martin hit a go-ahead single to right field, and Bregman walked to reload the bases. Oliver then hit All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu with a pitch and walked right fielder Drew Ferguson to force in two more runs for a 4-1 score. The four earned runs were charged to Oliver, who allowed six hits and three walks without a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. Right-hander Nick Baker (7-1) entered to get McMullen on a bases-loaded groundout, beginning a 3 1/3-inning outing. Baker only allowing the last Quad Cities run in the fifth inning, when McMullen singled, went to third base on Bottger's single and scored when Woodward grounded into a fielder's choice.
Trailing 5-1 in the fifth inning, the Cougars began with four straight hits off James. Third baseman Joe Munoz hit a leadoff single, left fielder Victor Reyes doubled down the third-base line, Taylor hit a two-run single to right-center field, and Vargas beat James covering first base on an infield single. Regis' slow groundout to Tanielu allowed both runners to advance, and they both scored when All-Star first baseman Marty Herum grounded to Bregman, whose throw skipped past first base, allowing Herum to reach second base. In a 5-5 tie, All-Star center fielder Colin Bray reached on a bunt single that stayed on the third-base line and sent Herum to third base. James was removed for right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn, who made his first appearance since winning a gold medal with Team Canada in the Pan Am Games. Catcher Michael Perez grounded into a fielder's choice by Trompiz but beat the relay to first base, scoring Herum for a 6-5 Kane County lead. James was charged with a career-high six runs - four earned - on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
The Cougars widened the lead against Dykxhoorn with a two-out rally in the sixth inning. Taylor walked, and Vargas put a bunt single toward Tanielu, who threw past first base, allowing Taylor to score and Vargas to reach third base. Regis, Herum and Bray followed with singles, adding two runs for a 9-5 Kane County lead. The River Bandits' largest threat to answer came in the seventh inning against right-hander Jose Martinez, who hit Tanielu, allowed Ferguson's infield single and walked McMullen to load the bases with no outs. Right-hander Jency Solis entered to retire Bottger on a lineout to a diving Regis, and get Woodward to ground into a double play.
The River Bandits continue their series in Kane County at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, when River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (2-1) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Brad Keller (5-8).
UP NEXT: Vote now until Monday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Quad-City Times Readers' Choice Awards. The River Bandits are up for Best Entertainment Venue, Best Family Entertainment, Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party, and Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at
riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling
563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open in July. Finally, the club is expanding the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line. New rides will be announced upon completion of these new areas.
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