15
Jul
2015
Tying run reaches base in last four innings for Quad Cities in 3-2 defeat
DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 14, 2015) - A three-run, fifth-inning rally for Burlington helped overcome four no-hit innings by River Bandits starter David Paulino, and Bees relievers Jordan Piche and Eduardo Paredes withstood rallies in the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings as the Burlington Bees beat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 3-2, in front of 2,666 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday night.
The game started with a heat index of near 100 degrees, but Paulino (1-2) cooled the Bees by retiring the first 10 batters he faced before walking shortstop Erick Salcedo with one out in the top of the fourth inning.
Quad Cities (11-8, 56-31) got off to a quick start, scoring in the first inning for the fifth consecutive game. With one out, left fielder Jason Martin doubled to right field, and advanced to third base with catcher Jamie Ritchie batting. After Ritchie walked, designated hitter Sean McMullen hit a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Martin from third and give Quad Cities the 1-0 lead against right-hander Justin Anderson (6-6).
Burlington (7-13 second half, 42-46 overall) recorded its first base hit in the fifth inning. After third baseman Zach Houchins and designated hitter Steven Mateo drew walks, left fielder Trevor Gretzky lined a ball to right field to score the lead runner Houchins, advancing Mateo to third. Center fielder Michal Hermosillo added to the lead two batters later with a two-run single to left field, scoring both Mateo and Gretzky to put the Bees ahead 3-1.
The River Bandits responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a fly ball to right field that dropped in front of right fielder Trever Allen to score first baseman Trent Woodward, but that was the last run on the board. In the sixth inning, Martin hit a leadoff double, but on Ritchie's single to right field, Allen threw home to retire Martin. Anderson went six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
In the seventh inning, back-to-back one out singles by shortstop Kristian Trompiz and third baseman Luis Reynoso put the tying run in scoring position, before second baseman Alex Hernandez flied out to right field, and center fielder Bobby Boyd grounded out to first base.
After the bottom of the seventh inning, the game became heated in another fashion, as an argument in front of the River Bandits' third-base dugout led to the ejections of Burlington manager Chad Tracy, Quad Cities manager Josh Bonifay, and Quad Cities outfield and baserunning specialist and first base coach Tim Garland.
Quad Cities put the potential tying run on base in both the eighth and ninth innings but was unable to advance the runner safely past first base. Piche went two scoreless innings, and Paredes pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth inning for his 14th save.
After a Midwest League-wide off day Tuesday, the River Bandits begin a three-game series in Wisconsin at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. Right-hander Joshua James (2-1, 2.47) will start for the River Bandits, while left hander Kodi Medeiros (4-2, 4.09) starts for the Timber Rattlers.
UP NEXT: The second annual River Bandits golf outing, sponsored by Performance Food Group, will be Monday, July 27, at Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Ill. Registration includes lunch, four drink tickets and entry into the raffle drawings. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program which annually awards two Bandit Scholarships to cover the entire first year of college tuition for Quad Cities-area students. 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.
