Bandits drop third straight game with 13-inning loss to Loons Tuesday
MIDLAND, Mich. -- Despite nine consecutive scoreless innings and 19 strikeouts by the pitching staff, the Quad Cities River Bandits were dropped, 3-2, by the Great Lakes Loons in 13 innings Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. Omar Esteves drove home Ariel Sandoval from second in the thirteenth inning Tuesday night for the walk-off winner. Alex Winkelman struck out a career-high eight hitters, Kyle Tucker had three hits and drove in his ninth run of the year and Anthony Hermelyn reached base four times in the loss.
Before the walk-off hit, the River Bandits (10-15) didn't allow a run after the leadoff hitter of the third inning. Sandoval crept a solo home run over the leftfield wall to lead off the frame. The Loons (9-15) got the scoring started in the second inning when Nick Dean hit a solo shot in nearly the same spot.
Jose Hernandez gave up both home runs, half of the four hits he surrendered in five innings of work. He also struck out six batters; the third straight outing he's struck out six opponents. Winkelman allowed just one hit and a trio of walks in 3.2 innings while fanning eight. Ryan Deemes retired all ten batters he faced, starting with the final out of the ninth, while striking out five.
The Bandits tied the game in the fifth inning. Bobby Wernes singled, extending his hitting streak to three games, advanced on a balk and scored on a single by Osvaldo Duarte. Duarte immediately scored off a single by Tucker, one of his three hits in the game, to lock the score at 2-2. Hermelyn singled next to put runners at the corners, but a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Dexture McCall ended the threat.
Tucker also tripled with one out in the tenth, but the Bandits couldn't find a way to push him across. Quad Cities outhit the Loons 10-7 in the loss. The Bandits have now lost the first two of the series and three straight overall. The Bandits have lost the season series to Great Lakes for the first time since 2012.
Quad Cities looks to salvage the finale of the series in a quick turnaround game Wednesday. First pitch is set for 9:35 a.m. CT with Chris Murphy (1-2, 3.50) pitching for the River Bandits. You can hear the game live with Jake Levy, starting with the LLOYD Agencies Pregame Show, at 9:20 on K-BOB 1170 AM, riverbandits.com and the TuneIn app.
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