Quad Cities wins on road against Western Division opponent for first time since July 11
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 20, 2014) - James Ramsay had two hits and two runs scored while Troy Scribner tossed four scoreless innings to close things out after a three-run sixth inning vaulted the Quad Cities River Bandits by the Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-2 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
After Cedar Rapids (67-61, 35-22) tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth, Quad Cities (62-65, 27-31) responded immediately off of Kernels reliever Hudson Boyd (4-3). The right-hander issued a leadoff walk to Ryan Bottger, who advanced to second on a 3U fielder's choice off the bat of Brian Holberton. Dayne Parker followed with a double down the left field line to bring in Bottger and put Quad Cities up 3-2. James Ramsay then blooped a ball into the outfield that Kernels left fielder J.D. Williams overran for an error, putting runners on second and third. Boyd walked Bobby Boyd before serving up a two-run single to Jose Fernandez, who was 2-for-5, to give the River Bandits a 5-2 advantage.
Scribner came into the game in the bottom of the sixth for Quad Cities starter Chris Lee (7-6), who earned the win by allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits in five innings. He walked two and fanned one. Scribner struck out at least one batter in every inning, including three in the seventh, and retired the last eight Kernels to come to the plate to earn his first career save. In total, the right-hander punched out eight against two walks with a hit in four innings.
Quad Cities got on the board first for the second straight night when Bottger, who was 2-for-4 with a walk, led off the second with a single to center. He moved to second base on an errant pickoff throw by Cedar Rapids starter Stephen Gonsalves, who gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits with seven punchouts and two walks in five innings for a no-decision. Gonsalves got Holberton to pop out to short and Parker to strike out, but then Ramsay singled home Bottger to make it 1-0. The Bandits right fielder then stole second and scored when Bobby Boyd looped a single to center to make things 2-0.
Ramsay finished 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. He also registered two outfield assists, becoming the first River Bandit to accomplish the feat since Brett Phillips did so against Burlington on May 21st in a 12-4 loss that was actually completed on May 25 due to a suspended game.
The River Bandits beat a Western Division opponent on the road for the first time since a 10-5 victory July 11th at Wisconsin, snapping Cedar Rapids' season-best eight-game winning streak.
Quad Cities begins a three-game set a Beloit tomorrow at 7 p.m. with Michael Feliz (8-4, 3.80 ERA) set to start against the Snappers' Hunter Adkins (1-4, 4.32).
