DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 5, 2014) - Cedar Rapids Kernels designated hitter B.K. Santy drove a bases-loaded two-run double to the right-field wall to break a 2-2, eighth-inning tie, leading his team to a 5-2 Monday night win over the Quad Cities River Bandits in front of 1,343 at Modern Woodmen Park.
River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman kept Cedar Rapids (18-12) scoreless the first two innings. He struck out three batters and stranded runners at first and second base in the second. But in the top of the third, Kernels shortstop Engelb Vielma hit a leadoff single, and second baseman Logan Wade added a one-out double to put runners at second and third bases. With two outs, Thurman walked catcher Mitch Garver to load the bases. Right fielder Zack Larson lined 3-2 pitch for a two-run single to right field and went to second base on a missed-catch error by catcher Brian Holberton at home plate.
After facing eight batters in the third inning, Thurman kept the Kernels off the board for the rest of his five-inning outing. He set down seven of the final eight he faced to complete five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
The River Bandits (12-18) began their comeback against right-hander Ethan Mildren with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as designated hitter Chase McDonald clobbered his first home run of the season off the center field batter's eye to cut the lead to 2-1. Right fielder Brett Phillips then started the sixth inning by reaching on an errant throw by Wade from second base. After second baseman Chan-Jong Moon's sacrifice and a single by third baseman Tyler White, first baseman Conrad Gregor grounded into a fielder's choice that brought home Phillips when Gregor beat the relay throw to first base.
River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (0-1) worked around walks in the sixth and seventh innings to keep the 2-2 tie. With one out in the eighth, however, Larson beat out a high chopper to shortstop for an infield single, and Lee walked left fielder Ivory Thomas. Third baseman Bryan Haar then bounced a ball high to the third-base side of the pitcher's mound for the second infield single of the inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Santy smacked his only hit to the opposite field, scoring both Larson and Thomas. The next batter, Vielma, lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to extend the 5-2 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kernels left-hander Brandon Bixler (2-1) allowed consecutive one-out walks by Moon and White before retiring Gregor on a groundout and striking out shortstop Jack Mayfield. Bixler tossed two hitless innings with three walks and one strikeout, before right-hander Hudson Boyd entered to complete a perfect ninth inning.
Quad Cities will seek to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts Cedar Rapids at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave is scheduled to face Kernels left-hander Josue Montanez (0-0).
