Quad Cities loses rubber match at Kane County in its quickest nine-inning road game in seven years
GENEVA, Ill. (July 23, 2015) - The Kane County Cougars broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, drawing three walks before a two-out, bases-loaded popup by shortstop Ryan Gebhardt went off the glove of center fielder Bobby Boyd, leading to the go-ahead runs in a 5-2 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits, who lost their first road series of the season at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Thursday night.
One night after their longest game in five seasons, the River Bandits (16-12 second half, 61-35 overall) played their quickest nine-inning road game in seven years. At one hour, 59 minutes, Thursday's game was the shortest nine-inning road game for the team since a 4-0 loss at West Michigan on May 4, 2008. Kane County (23-5, 59-37) played in its first series rubber match since June 12 but dealt Quad Cities its first loss in 16 road series this season and 18 road series since losing two of three in Cedar Rapids Aug. 18-20, 2014.
Cougars right-hander Ethan Elias and River Bandits right-hander Justin Ferrell dueled to a scoreless tie until the bottom of the sixth inning. Ferrell did not allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning, but he began the sixth inning by allowing three in a row. Cougars left fielder Quinnton Mack doubled down the left-field line and went to third base when right fielder Chuck Taylor singled to right field. Center fielder Victor Reyes then grounded the first pitch he saw into left field for an RBI single, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Designated hitter and All-Star Cody Regis grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners at first and third bases, before All-Star first baseman Marty Herum grounded to shortstop Alex Bregman, who stepped on second base and made a leaping throw to first base for an inning-ending double play. Ferrell was charged with one earned run on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in six innings.
Elias went six shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts, before right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang (5-1) began the seventh inning. Huang allowed a leadoff single by designated hitter Drew Ferguson, who extended his career-high six-game hitting streak. But Huang picked Ferguson off first base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, River Bandits right-hander Jorge Perez (1-2) got the first two outs. Then Gebhardt singled to center field, went to second base on a passed ball by catcher Trent Woodward and reached third base on a wild pitch, before catcher Elvin Soto hit an RBI single to right field for a 2-0 lead.
Quad Cities rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning against Huang. Boyd tripled on a fly ball over the head of Taylor in right-center field, and left fielder Jason Martin followed by grounding an RBI triple off Herum's glove down the first-base line. Bregman then lifted a sacrifice fly to Taylor to score Martin for a 2-2 tie, but it began a string of five batters Huang retired in order to finish the game. Huang went three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts.
Perez began the bottom of the eighth inning by walking Reyes, who went to second base on Regis' sacrifice. Perez also walked Herum, before second baseman Henry Castillo grounded out to first base, advancing two runners into scoring position. Perez then walked third baseman Joe Munoz to load the bases. Gebhardt hit a first-pitch popup to shallow right-center field, where Boyd and right fielder Ramon Laureano both raced toward it, but the ball deflected off Boyd's glove and dropped between them, allowing both Reyes and Herum to score. On the next pitch, Soto lined an RBI single to right field to score Munoz and extend the lead to 5-2. Perez finished the inning but was charged with four runs - one earned - on four hits and three walks with one strikeout in two relief innings.
The River Bandits open a three-game series in Burlington against the Bees (11-17, 46-51) at 6:30 p.m. Friday. River Bandits right-hander David Paulino (2-2) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Justin Anderson (6-7) in the series opener.
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.
