Despite a five-homer series, Quad Cities is swept in a road series for the first time this season
GENEVA, Ill. (August 3, 2014) - Left fielder Chase McDonald, first baseman A.J. Reed and catcher Brett Booth each hit home runs for the Quad Cities River Bandits, but every Kane County starter contributed to the team's 17 hits in a 9-5 Cougars win and three-game series sweep at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Sunday afternoon.
Cougars catcher Cael Brockmeyer hit his team's only home run of the three-game series, finished 3-for-5 and was one of three Cougars with two-RBI games. Cougars shortstop Daniel Lockhart and second baseman Chesny Young each had a double and three hits. Quad Cities (21-21 second half, 56-55 overall) has allowed 42 runs on 70 hits during its current five-game losing streak.
For the third straight game, Kane County (25-17 second half, 70-42 overall) took at least a three-run lead by the end of the second inning. Against right-hander Andrew Thurman (5-7), Cougars third baseman Jeimer Candelario led off the second inning with a triple to right field and scored on a single by Brockmeyer. Young doubled to right field, putting runners at second and third bases. Groundouts by right fielder Jeffrey Baez and center fielder Trey Martin made it 3-0. Both Baez and Martin joined Brockmeyer in having two-RBI games.
In the third inning, Lockhart doubled to right field and moved to third base on a wild pitch when Thurman walked first baseman Ben Carhart. Designated hitter Victor Caratini hit an RBI single to right field, extending the Cougars' lead to 4-0.
Cougars right-hander Daury Torrez (10-5) faced one batter over the minimum in the first three innings before Quad Cities cut into the deficit in the fourth. Right fielder Ryan Bottger hit a leadoff single to right field, and McDonald launched a ball into the trees beyond the signs in left-center field for his 12th home run of the season, shrinking Kane County's lead to 4-2. But the Cougars answered in the bottom of the inning, as Baez hit a one-out double and to left field and scored on a single by Martin for a 5-2 lead.
Torrez had set down seven batters in a row - including four on strikeouts - before Reed blasted a drive over the picnic deck in right field for his third home run in his first week in the Midwest League. Brockmeyer answered with his home run on Thurman's first pitch in the bottom of the inning. Young singled to chase Thurman, who allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits and three walks with two strikeouts in five-plus innings. Left-hander Albert Minnis entered to allow a triple to center field by Baez, who scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Shawon Dunston Jr. With two outs and the bases empty, Lockhart singled, stole second base and scored on Carhart's RBI single to make it 9-3. Minnis allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout in two relief innings.
After Torrez allowed three earned runs on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts in six innings, right-hander David Garner began the seventh inning, and Booth hit his fourth home run of the season off the video board in left field - the fifth different player to homer in the last two games for the River Bandits, who have hit 15 home runs in their last nine games.
Garner worked two innings, and right-hander Francisco Carrillo debuted for the Cougars in the ninth inning. Reed hit a leadoff double for his first two-hit game in the Midwest League and scored on Booth's sacrifice fly, but Carrillo completed the inning to seal the 9-5 final.
Quad Cities opens a seven-game homestand and three-game home series against Burlington at 7 p.m. Monday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (7-5) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Garrett Nuss (5-1).
UP NEXT: On Markdown Monday presented by 97X, the River Bandits will offer $2 bleacher and berm tickets, hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game, and an All-You-Can-Ride Amusements Pass is just $10. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, and Space Camp opened June 20; the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line has also reopened. Soon to come is another new ride, this one called a "Drop and Twist." In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.
