PAULINO GOES 7 SHUTOUT INNINGS IN BANDITS' WIN
Quad Cities sets up third rubber match in four series with first-round playoff opponent Cedar Rapids
DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 19, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander David Paulino pitched a career-high seven shutout innings, and first baseman Nick Tanielu's two-out, three-run double in the eighth inning provided the insurance for a 5-1 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 6,130 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.
Paulino (2-2) struck out seven batters and scattered four hits, working around a pair of first-inning singles before retiring 14 consecutive batters in one stretch. For the second time in three starts, he won by pitching at least six shutout innings without walking a batter.
The Kernels (13-11 second half, 54-40 overall) nearly had a first-inning scoring threat, as center fielder Tanner English led off with a single down the third-base line and tried stretching it to a double, but left fielder Ramon Laureano threw from the left-field line to second baseman Alex Hernandez on the fly to retire English sliding into second base for the game's first out. Right fielder Edgar Corcino hit a two-out infield single and went to second base on a balk, before left fielder Zack Larson grounded out to end the inning.
Laureano also ignited the offensive effort for the River Bandits (14-10, 59-33) in the second inning against Kernels left-hander Luke Westphal (1-2). After drawing an eight-pitch leadoff walk, Laureano stole second base and dashed to third base when catcher Alex Real's throw went into center field. Designated hitter Ryan Bottger lined out to second base, before center fielder Jason Martin's groundout over the first-base side of the pitcher's mound scored Laureano to make it 1-0. Westphal dueled Paulino by allowing one hit - a third-inning single by catcher Garrett Stubbs for his first Midwest League hit - through the first five innings.
Quad Cities kept the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, when third baseman Kristian Trompiz drove a one-out triple to the warning track in right-center field and scored when shortstop Alex Bregman lifted a two-out RBI double to the right-field corner. Westphal matched a career high by going six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
After allowing only two baserunners to reach second base and none to reach third, Paulino turned over a 2-0 lead to right-hander Riley Ferrell to begin the eighth inning. With one out, first baseman Tyler Kuresa hit an infield single to Tanielu, followed by consecutive walks to designated hitter Austin Diemer and third baseman Pat Kelly to load the bases. A wild pitch with English batting scored a run and put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. English then popped out to Tanielu, before a pitch to shortstop Nick Gordon got away from Stubbs to foul territory on the first-base side, but the River Bandits catcher recovered in time to throw to Ferrell at home plate, where he tagged out Diemer to end the inning and preserve the 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kernels right-hander Chris Mazza began his second inning of relief by retiring the first two batters. Then Trompiz and right fielder Drew Ferguson hit consecutive two-out singles to center field, before Bregman walked to load the bases. Tanielu then drilled a 2-1 offering down the left-field line to plate three runs and give his team its first five-run output in seven games.
Ferrell got the first out of the ninth inning before allowing consecutive one-out walks, prompting a change to right-hander Ryan Thompson, who got consecutive flyouts to earn his fourth save and end his team's first game decided by more than two runs since July 11, as well as just the fourth game decided by more than two runs in the first 12 games of the season series with Cedar Rapids.
Monday's 1 p.m. rubber match will be the third in as many three-game series between the River Bandits and Kernels, who will not meet again until the first round of the playoffs. Quad Cities right-hander Elieser Hernandez (0-0) will make his first Midwest League start.
UP NEXT: Gates open at noon for the final regular season game between the River Bandits and their first-round playoff opponents, the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Veterans and active military can show a military ID at the box office to purchase $1 bleacher tickets for themselves and up to three guests on Military Monday presented by Performance Food Group, 97X and ESPN 93.5. 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.
KERNELS RALLY IN NINTH TO BEAT BANDITS, 3-2
Quad Cities loses for first time in 45 games when leading after eight innings this season
DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 18, 2015) - A two-run single by Cedar Rapids center fielder Tanner English with one out in the ninth inning helped the Kernels snatch a 3-2 victory from the Quad Cities River Bandits Saturday night in front of 5,634 at Modern Woodmen Park.
In a preview of their first-round playoff series, the River Bandits (13-10 second half, 58-33 overall) lost for the first time in 45 games when leading through eight innings. The Kernels (13-10, 54-39) won the sixth one-run game in 11 meetings between the two teams.
After catching three fly ball outs in a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth inning, English provided the only hit of the Kernels' ninth-inning rally. With his team trailing 2-1 entering the inning, Kernels first baseman Tyler Kuresa drew a walk against River Bandits reliever Angel Heredia (3-2). Catcher Brian Navarreto tried to bunt Kuresa into scoring position but also reached base after Quad Cities catcher Trent Woodward threw high to first base after fielding the bunt. Third baseman Pat Kelly put both runners in scoring position by laying down another bunt. English then put the Kernels ahead with his hit to left field, advancing to second on a throw by left fielder Jason Martin that reached home plate just behind the trailing runner Navarreto. After blowing his first save in five opportunities this season, Heredia threw a wild pitch that moved English to third base. When shortstop Nick Gordon flied to Martin in shallow left field, English tried to score, but Martin made a laser throw to Woodward for the final out of the inning, keeping the deficit to one run.
Kernels All-Star right-hander Trevor Hildenberger pitched the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing a two-out single to River Bandits All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu before retiring Martin on a flyout to the left-field warning track to earn his 14th save.
The Kernels scored first on Saturday. Navarreto led off the third inning with a single and scored on a two-out triple by Gordon. The run was the only one against Quad Cities starter Justin Ferrell, who allowed four hits, struck out three and walked three in six innings of work.
Kernels starter Sam Gibbons went five innings, allowing five hits while striking out four and walking one. The River Bandits scored both of their runs in the sixth inning off Cedar Rapids reliever Yorman Landa. Right fielder Ramon Laureano led off the inning against Landa with a double and was bunted over to third base by designated hitter Sean McMullen. First baseman Ryan Bottger walked to put runners on the corners for catcher Trent Woodward. With Woodward batting, Navaretto allowed a passed ball that struck his left leg and bounced all the way to the Kernels dugout, allowing Laureano to score and McMullen to get to second. Woodward then lofted a single into center field, scoring McMullen and giving the River Bandits a 2-1 lead. The RBI for Woodward was his first in the Midwest League.
Quad Cities had two other opportunities to score runs, getting the first two men on base in the fifth inning before Gibbons retired the next three batters. Consecutive one-out walks in the seventh inning against Landa were also stranded after consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. Kernels left-hander Michael Theofanopoulos (3-2) pitched a perfect eighth inning with all three outs caught by English.
BANDITS REACH BEST MARK, THEN LOSE 1ST TO WISCONSIN
Quad Cities briefly goes 27 games above .500 for first time since the end of the 2010 season
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (July 17, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits left fielder Jason Martin homered to open the scoring in a 4-2, Game 1 win Friday, but Wisconsin right-hander David Burkhalter went six shutout innings in a 3-2, Game 2 win for the Timber Rattlers' first victory in nine games with Quad Cities and a doubleheader split of seven-inning games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
With a Game 1 win in their first road doubleheader since June 29, 2014, the River Bandits (13-9 second half, 58-32 overall) briefly achieved an overall record 27 games above .500 (58-31) for the first time since finishing the 2010 season 28 games above .500. Despite remaining undefeated in road series this season, Quad Cities missed an opportunity for its first sweep victory in its last 18 series - since sweeping Wisconsin at home May 7-9 - and its first doubleheader sweep since July 6, 2014, when it swept Wisconsin at home.
In the top of the second inning in Game 1, Martin broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run to the right-field boardwalk off Timber Rattlers right-hander Cody Ponce (0-1). Martin's seven home runs are the most of any active River Bandit. Quad Cities added to the lead with two-out rally in the third inning. Shortstop Alex Bregman singled to center field, followed by consecutive RBI doubles to left field by All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu and right fielder Ramon Laureano, giving Quad Cities a 3-0 lead. The team added its final run of the game in the fourth inning, as first baseman Ryan Bottger split the left-center field gap for a triple and scored on the same play, as the relay throw by shortstop Blake Allemand went past third base, extending the River Bandits' lead to 4-0. Ponce was charged with four runs - three earned - on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts in a career-high five innings.
River Bandits right-hander Francis Martes scattered two singles and a walk through the first four innings, but Wisconsin (7-14, 30-61) tallied two unearned runs in the fifth inning. Martes began by walking catcher Greg McCall, who advanced to third base after two groundouts. Center fielder Brandon Diaz then tapped a ground ball in front of home plate, where Martes failed to field it cleanly, allowing McCall to score and Diaz to reach first base. Allemand then singled to center field, and third baseman Dustin DeMuth hit an RBI single to left field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Martes was removed after allowing two unearned runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, so left-hander Michael Freeman (1-1) entered to strike out designated hitter Carlos Leal and end the inning. Freeman worked around a sixth-inning walk and seventh-inning double to earn his first professional win, posting a career-high four strikeouts.
In Game 2, the Timber Rattlers took the lead with a pair of first-inning runs off River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (2-1). Allemand, who went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader, singled to left field and went to second base when left fielder Drew Ferguson bobbled the ball. DeMuth then drove a ground-rule double that bounced off the warning track in right-center field and over the fence to score Allemand. Leal followed with a single to left field, scoring DeMuth for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. After allowing three straight hits, Powell allowed only two hits and a hit batter for the rest of his five innings, posting a career-high seven strikeouts while allowing five hits and no walks.
For Wisconsin, Burkhalter (3-5) scattered four hits and one walk with one strikeout in a season-high six innings. Right-hander Luke Curtis began the seventh inning with a 3-0 lead, but Martin led off with a triple to right-center field and Ferguson walked. With one out, second baseman Alex Hernandez walked to load the bases, and catcher Garrett Stubbs hit a sacrifice fly to right field for his first Midwest League RBI. Third baseman Luis Reynoso lined a two-out, two-strike RBI single to right field to make it 3-2, but with the tying run at second base, first baseman Alan Sharkey made a diving catch on a line drive by designated hitter Bobby Boyd for the final out.
