Connor Goedert homers, drives in six
DAVENPORT, IA. – Connor Goedert slugged six RBIs in game one, and scored in game two, to help the Quad Cities River Bandits sweep the doubleheader and take the series over the South Bend Cubs on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The River Bandits collected 14 hits on their way to an 11-2 victory in game one then took game two in shutout fashion, 3-0.
The Bandits jumped out to a hot start in game one of the doubleheader. After giving up a run in the top of the first, Quad Cities countered with two in the bottom of the frame. Osvaldo Duarte led off with a single and Daz Cameron followed with a hit of his own. Goedert drove in Duarte with a sacrifice fly and Cameron scored after stealing third and advancing home, giving the Bandits a 2-1 advantage.
Quad Cities added to the lead in the second frame thanks to four hits. Dexture McCall doubled, Johnny Sewald singled, and Antonio Nunez followed with an RBI-single to start the inning. Later in the frame Goedert came to the plate with the bases loaded and capitalized, clearing the bases with a double to put the Bandits on top 6-1.
South Bend got one run back in the fourth, but the Bandits put game one away with a five-spot in the sixth. Nunez scored after a misplay by the Cubs’ center fielder Donnie Dewees. Kyle Tucker drove in Duarte and Geodert followed with a two-run homer to right field. A RBI-single from Brooks Marlow finished the scoring in the inning and the Bandits took an 11-2 lead.
Chris Murphy (1-2) earned his first win of the season with a six-inning effort. The right-hander allowed two runs on eight hits, striking out two for the Bandits. Justin Steele (1-3) struggled in his start for the Cubs. The lefty gave up six runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings in game one.
The Bandits’ pitching took over in game two of the twin bill at Modern Woodmen Park. Matt Bower (1-0) tossed five shutout innings to clinch his first win of 2016. The lefty struck out six while scattering five hits in the victory. Ralph Garza finished the team shutout with two scoreless frames to earn his second save of the season.
The River Bandits took the lead in the third inning. Aaron Mizell laced a one-out triple to right field and scored thanks to a sacrifice fly from Bobby Wernes, giving Quad Cities a 1-0 advantage.
The Bandits added to the lead in the third with a two-out rally. Goedert doubled to left and McCall cranked a home run onto the left field berm to put the Bandits up 3-0.
Ryan Kellogg (2-2) gave up three runs over six innings, while taking the loss for the Cubs in game two of the doubleheader.
