Rio Ruiz hits seventh home run and drives in three runs for Quad Cities
BELOIT, Wis. (JULY 27, 2013) - Beloit Snappers catcher Nick Rickles went 5-for-5 with a double and home run, and four other Snappers had multi-hit games to contribute to the team's season-high 19 hits in an 8-6 victory over the visiting Quad Cities River Bandits at Pohlman Field Saturday night.
One night after allowing a season-low two hits in a 1-0 win at Burlington, the River Bandits (18-15 second half, 56-46 overall) gave up the most hits by an opponent since yielding a season-high 21 to Cedar Rapids on June 5. The Snappers (20-14, 63-41) had at least one hit in every inning at bat, and at least two hits in every inning but the first.
Quad Cities opened the scoring, however, against Snappers right-hander Andres Avila. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a leadoff single and scored on a one-out double by shortstop Carlos Correa, who later scored on a two-out RBI single by third baseman Rio Ruiz.
River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski allowed the Snappers to tie the game with single runs in the third and fourth innings. Right fielder John Wooten hit a third-inning RBI fielder's choice, and Rickles tied the game with a home run leading off the fourth. Devenski stranded the go-ahead run at third base in the fourth and fifth innings. He finished five innings, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits.
Avila faced the minimum without a hit after a second-inning leadoff double by River Bandits right fielder Dan Gulbransen, on his way to five innings of work and a no-decision. Right-hander Kris Hall (4-1) started the sixth inning and gave up a two-out single by first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki and Ruiz's go-ahead two-run home run to right-center field.
With a 4-2 lead, right-hander Juri Perez started the bottom of the sixth inning by walking center fielder Brett Vertigan. Shipman hit a ground ball that second baseman Austin Elkins threw to second base for a forceout, and Correa's throw to first struck Vertigan, providing no possibility to get Shipman. Designated hitter Daniel Robertson doubled, and second baseman Christopher Bostick hit a sacrifice fly to right field for a 4-3 deficit. Third baseman Renato Nunez followed with a two-out, game-tying single, and doubles by Wooten and first baseman Matt Olson, as well as Rickles' RBI single that made it 7-4. Perez allowed five runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Quad Cities came within 7-6 in the seventh against Hall, who yielded RBI singles by left fielder Jordan Scott and Correa, although the former was thrown out trying to reach second base to become what would have been the tying run in scoring position. Shipman added an RBI single against right-hander Gera Sanchez for an 8-6 Snappers margin. Right-hander Tyler Vail allowed a lone ninth-inning single over the last two innings for his fourth save.
The River Bandits and Snappers will continue their series at 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Quad Cities left-hander Joe Bircher (1-1) is scheduled to face Beloit right-hander Deyvi Jimenez (2-0).
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.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!
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