Quad Cities gets home runs by Teoscar Hernandez and Luis Alvarez in series-opening loss
EASTLAKE, Ohio (JULY 20, 2013) - The Lake County Captains greeted Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski with home runs by shortstop Dorssys Paulino and designated hitter Richard Stock in a four-run first inning, and the home team held on for a 5-3 victory at Classic Park Saturday night.
After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning by Captains left-hander Ryan Merritt (6-9), Paulino homered as the second Captains batter against Devenski (0-2) in the bottom half. With two outs, first baseman Joe Sever hit a double down the third-base line, and third baseman Erik Gonzalez followed with an RBI double to left-center field for a 2-0 lead. The next batter, designated hitter Richard Stock, drove a two-run home run to right field to make it 4-0.
The Captains (14-14 second half, 37-58 overall) added a run in the fourth inning on Sever's bases-loaded infield single. Sever led his team with three hits, while left fielder Gonzalez, Paulino and left fielder Todd Hankins each had two of the team's 11 hits. Devenski finished four innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and a walk, while matching a season high with seven strikeouts.
River Bandits right-hander Juri Perez started the fifth inning following Devenski and worked through four shutout innings to give the visitors a chance for a comeback. Perez worked around a walk and single in both the sixth and eighth innings but also had two strikeouts.
Merritt kept Quad Cities (15-12, 53-43) scoreless until the sixth inning, when center fielder Teoscar Hernandez lifted his team-high seventh home run of the season to right-center field. Left fielder Jordan Scott followed with a single down the left-field line, but Hankins quickly picked up the ball and threw out Scott when he tried to advance to second base.
River Bandits catcher Luis Alvarez closed the deficit to 5-2 against Merritt when he sent a drive to the left-field bleachers for his second home run in the Midwest League. Merritt finished seven innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out two batters.
Captains right-hander Grant Sides worked a perfect eighth inning but made the ninth interesting by issuing a leadoff walk to Scott and a one-out walk to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki. Third baseman Rio Ruiz hit an RBI single to center field for a 5-3 deficit, before Alvarez struck out and right fielder Dan Gulbransen flied out to deep center field for the final out with the tying run at first base.
The River Bandits continue their series in Lake County with Game 2 at 6:00 p.m. Central Time Sunday. River Bandits left-hander Joe Bircher (1-0) will face Captains right-hander Luis Morel (2-1).
UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday, July 30. 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.
