Jesse Wierzbicki has three hits for Quad Cities in first loss in last seven games against Kane County
GENEVA, Ill. (JULY 4, 2013) - The Kane County Cougars were on the scoreboard before the Quad Cities River Bandits recorded an out in the bottom of the first inning Thursday night, and the home team never let the visitors closer than two runs the rest of the night in a 7-4 Independence Day victory at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark the snapped the River Bandits' five-game winning streak.
Quad Cities (10-4 second half, 48-34 overall) had won the last six meetings with Kane County (3-11 second half, 33-47 overall) to open an 11-2 lead in the season series, but the Cougars had the upper hand almost from the start.
After Cougars right-hander Felix Pena worked a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, River Bandits right-hander Juan Minaya (1-2) walked and hit the first two batters in order. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Cougars first baseman Dan Vogelbach grounded a double down the third-base line that gave Kane County a 2-0 lead. A ground ball moved Vogelbach to third base, and shortstop Marco Hernandez had an infield single to second base that brought home Vogelbach for a 3-0 margin.
In the next half inning, the River Bandits got a leadoff single by first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki, followed walks to three of the next four batters to force in a run. But Pena struck out second baseman Austin Elkins and retired center fielder Teoscar Hernandez on a flyout to center field to strand the bases loaded with a 3-1 lead.
After Minaya allowed three runs on four hits, four walks and two hit batters in three innings, left-hander Mitchell Lambson started the bottom of the fourth inning. He gave up a one-out infield single and hit batter before Vogelbach and third baseman Jeimer Candelario hit consecutive RBI singles to make it 5-1. Lambson then retired seven straight batters to finish three innings of work.
Wierzbicki had a team-leading three hits - all singles in his first three at-bats - including an RBI single with two outs in the fifth inning to close the lead to 5-2. That set up the last time Quad Cities brought the tying run as far as home plate. Left-hander Nathan Dorris (3-3) walked left fielder Dan Gulbransen before getting third baseman Rio Ruiz to hit into a bases-loaded, inning-ending fielder's choice.
Cougars second baseman Gioskar Amaya finished a triple shy of the cycle and capped a three-hit game by hitting an eighth-inning, leadoff home run against right-hander Jamaine Cotton that extended the lead to 6-2. Left fielder Reggie Golden hit a double and scored on a ground-ball double play for a 7-2 Cougars advantage.
Right-hander Dillon Maples allowed a ninth-inning, two-run double by Teoscar Hernandez in the final three innings to earn his first save.
Quad Cities will continue its only scheduled five-game road series of the season on Friday night at Kane County. River Bandits right-hander Jordan Jankowski (3-1) will face Cougars left-hander Brain Smith (2-3).
UP NEXT: Golf Night and the John Deere Classic Celebration open the River Bandits' six-game homestand Wednesday against the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Modern Woodmen Park. Fans can also enter copies of the bills into a drawing to be one of the two paid up to $100 by the River Bandits on a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank and Mix 96. 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.
