Miles Hamblin breaks up no-hitter in seventh, drives in winning run in the ninth for Quad Cities
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (MAY 3, 2013) - Held hitless for 6 2/3 innings Friday night by South Bend Silver Hawks right-hander Brandon Sinnery, the Quad Cities River Bandits rallied for single runs in each of the final three innings for a 3-2 victory that snapped the home team's seven-game winning streak and kept Quad Cities from its first three-game losing skid of the season.
Sinnery held the River Bandits (16-10) to two walks and a hit batter, and he had retired nine in a row and held a 2-0 lead with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh inning. Quad Cities first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki then hit a ground ball to shortstop Pedro Ruiz, who threw into the dirt at first for an error allowing Wierzbicki to reach with two outs in the seventh inning. Designated hitter Miles Hamblin followed by grounding a single up the middle to break up the deepest no-hit effort in a game against Quad Cities this season.
With two out and runners at first and second, catcher Roberto Peña then grounded a ball up the middle that Ruiz fielded and tried flipping to second baseman Fidel Peña, but the errant throw allowed Wierzbicki to race around third base and score, making it 2-1. The hit by Roberto Peña extended his hitting streak to 11 games - the longest for a River Bandit this season.
Sinnery finished seven innings with two hits allowed, one unearned run, two walks and eight strikeouts. Right-hander Chris Capper (2-1) took over to start the eighth inning. After Capper retired the first two batters, River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez launched his first Midwest League home run to the bleachers above the left field fence to tie the game, 2-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Quad Cities left-hander Brian Holmes (3-2) allowed a leadoff bunt single by center fielder Socrates Brito and another single to designated hitter Brandon Drury. But Holmes then deflected a line drive by third baseman Ryan Court that went on a bounce to shortstop Joe Sclafani, who turned a double play. With a runner at third, Holmes induced a ground ball by left fielder Alex Glenn to Sclafani at shortstop for the final out to preserve the tie. Holmes finished three shutout innings with three hits and three strikeouts in relief of right-hander Jordan Jankowski, who allowed the Silver Hawks' two runs on Drury's first-inning home run and Fidel Peña's second-inning RBI double.
In the ninth inning against Capper, Wierzbicki drove a double to the right-field corner and advanced to third base on a pickoff throw that went into center field and was bobbled by Brito. Hamblin then lined a single to right for the go-ahead run. Right-hander John Neely came on to retire the Silver Hawks (18-7) in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save. Friday's victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Saturday, May 4. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Saturday, May 4.
The River Bandits remained three games out of first place in the Midwest League Western Division and will begin a three-game road series against the West Michigan Whitecaps at 5:35 p.m. Saturday. Quad Cities right-hander and April Pitcher of the Month Vincent Velasquez (3-0) and left-hander Joe Bircher (1-0) will face Whitecaps right-hander Yorfrank Lopez (2-1).
UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
