Quad Cities loses first series in three weeks but remains 1 1/2 games behind Cedar Rapids

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 12, 2013) - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers right-hander Austin Ross kept the Quad Cities River Bandits hitless for 5 1/3 innings, while his offense scored seven runs on 10 hits in the third and fourth innings combined, building a lead that stood for a 9-1 victory in front of 2,292 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday night.

The Timber Rattlers had 15 hits, and five players had multi-hit games, led by second baseman Alfredo Rodriguez, who went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Rodriguez doubled to start the third inning against Quad Cities right-hander Mark Appel (1-1), who had retired the first six batters he faced. Catcher Tyler Roberts singled to put runners at first and third bases, and shortstop Orlando Arcia hit into a fielder's choice that brought in the first run. Center fielder Tyrone Taylor singled, and left fielder Michael Reed hit an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, right fielder Max Walla hit a leadoff double against Appel. First baseman Parker Berberet singled to put runners at first and third bases, and Rodriguez added an RBI single on the first three pitches of the inning. Roberts made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly, and Arcia singled and went to second base with the throw from the outfield. Center fielder then hit a two-run double, extending the margin to 6-0 and ending Appel's night after 3 1/3 innings. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson allowed Taylor to score on third baseman Mike Garza's RBI single, setting the nine hits and seven runs as the highest totals against Appel in any of his eight professional starts.

Lambson worked the next three innings for Quad Cities (30-19 second half, 68-50 overall) and kept the Timber Rattlers (22-28, 51-64) from extending the lead. His 3 2/3 innings tied his longest outing of the season.

Meanwhile, Ross (1-0) retired the first 11 River Bandits and gave up the first baserunner on his only walk to shortstop Carlos Correa with two outs in the fourth inning. In the sixth inning, third baseman Austin Elkins hit a one-out single for the team's first and only hit against Ross, who recorded four strikeouts.

The Timber Rattlers bullpen opened with right-hander Chris Razo, who allowed an infield single to River Bandits catcher Roberto Pena and RBI double by Elkins in the eighth inning for the home team's only run. Lef-thander Taylor Wall worked a scoreless ninth inning.

Right-hander Jamaine Cotton allowed an unearned run in each of the eighth and ninth innings. Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Rodriguez in the eighth, and Berberet hit an RBI single to score first baseman Matt Garza for a 9-1 lead. It was the largest score by a River Bandits opponent since Cedar Rapids scored 12 runs June 12. Wisconsin was the first team in three weeks to win a series over Quad Cities. The River Bandits had won a season-high five straight series since losing two of three in Lake County July 20-22.

After the last off day of the season Tuesday, the River Bandits start a three-game series in Clinton at 7 p.m. Wednesday. River Bandits left-hander Josh Hader (1-0) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Rigoberto Garcia (0-4).

UP NEXT: The first 2,000 fans to Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night will receive a bobblehead of Minnesota Twins first baseman and former River Bandit Justin Morneau, courtesy of Mediacom and the Dispatch-Argus. The 7 p.m. game kicks off a seven-game home stand through Friday, Aug. 23. 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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Quad Cities turns second triple play of the season and remains 1 1/2 games behind Cedar Rapids

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 11, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez homered twice to drive in all five of the team's runs in a combined shutout effort from left-hander Brian Holmes and right-handers Zach Morton and Juan Minaya for a 5-0 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 4,171 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.

On a day of highlights, the River Bandits (30-18 second half, 68-49 overall) turned their second triple play of the season. With a 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning, Morton allowed back-to-back singles by catcher Parker Berberet and third baseman Alfredo Rodriguez. With both runners taking off on a pitch, center fielder Lance Roenicke hit a fly ball down the right-field line. River Bandits right fielder Jordan Scott made the catch before reaching the foul line, and he threw to first baseman Bobby Borchering to double off Rodriguez. Borchering then tossed to shortstop Austin Elkins at second base for the 9-3-6 triple play. Elkins was also part of a ground-ball, 5-4-3 triple play on April 28 at home against Great Lakes.

Quad Cities' last two triple plays before this season came in 2007, when second baseman Jaime Landin and first baseman Brandon Buckman were each part of triple plays May 31 against Clinton and June 16 against Beloit.

Holmes (4-3) was stellar in going six innings for a second straight start to earn his first win since May 3. He allowed three singles and a walk while striking out seven batters. He had three 1-2-3 innings and set down the final seven batters he faced. Morton worked around two hits and a walk in the seventh and eighth innings, and Minaya pitched around a single in a scoreless ninth inning. The Timber Rattlers (21-28, 50-64) were held to six hits and no runs after a seven-run, 12-hit, three-homer showing Saturday night.

Wisconsin starter Jorge Lopez (6-8) retired the first seven River Bandits hitters, including four on strikeouts, before Scott had a one-out bunt single in the third inning. Scott was later thrown out trying to steal third, but Elkins and second baseman Tony Kemp hit consecutive singles with two outs. Hernandez then drove an 0-1 offering to the Modern Woodmen Berm for a 3-0 lead. The four-hit, three-run inning was the only offense against Lopez, who retired seven straight hitters following the home run and finished with six strikeouts.

In the eighth inning, Kemp reached against right-hander Jono Armold on a fielding error by second baseman Chris McFarland. Hernandez then hit a 3-2 pitch just over the left-field fence to the berm, capping his 3-for-4, five-RBI game. His two home runs and five RBIs matched career highs set July 20, 2011, when he played in the Dominican Summer League against a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate.

Governor Quinn issued the below statement regarding Chicago's Jackie Robinson West Little League team who today played in the Great Lakes Championship and lost to Gross Pointe Shores, Michigan:

"Today we are all proud of Chicago's Jackie Robinson West Little Leaguers.

"These young players made it all the way to the Great Lakes Region Tournament Championship game.

"Jackie Robinson would be proud that this team - named in his honor - played hard all season and achieved such success. We are all proud of the parents, coaches and members of the community who supported them.

"It is so important for our state's youngest residents to be active and involved.

"Thank you, members of the Jackie Robinson West Little League team, for setting an example for the children of Illinois."

Quad Cities remains one-half game behind Cedar Rapids in second-half Western Division standings

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 8, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Vincent Velasquez struck out seven batters in six shutout innings, while first baseman Bobby Borchering and third baseman Rio Ruiz each had two of the team's five total hits in a 2-1 win over the Clinton LumberKings in front of 4,767 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.

For a third straight start, Velasquez (9-4) pitched at least six innings, struck out seven batters and earned the win. In his last 19 innings, he has allowed nine hits, five walks and one run. He allowed four hits and two walks Thursday, while raising his league-best strikeout total to 123. The victory kept Quad Cities (28-17 second half, 66-48 overall) one-half game out first place in the Western Division.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the second inning, Borchering hit the first pitch he saw from right-hander Rigoberto Garcia (0-4) down the first-base line for a double. Ruiz followed with a double to right-center field that scored Borchering. But Garcia then retired 17 of the next 22 batters, allowing just two more hits and three walks. He completed seven innings for the first time with Clinton, allowed just four hits and two walks, and struck out four batters.

Velasquez followed two-out doubles in the second and third innings with strikeouts, and he got an inning-ending fielder's choice after a two-out single in the fourth. In the sixth, he faced his deepest trouble, as LumberKings designated hitter Dario Pizzano doubled with one out, and catcher Marcus Littlewood walked. But Velasquez fanned the next two batters to strike out the side and preserve the 1-0 lead.

Following Velasquez, right-hander Zach Morton made his Midwest League debut by allowing leadoff singles by right fielder Gaby Guerrero and left fielder Alfredo Morales in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. In the seventh, he got a strikeout and two groundouts. In the eighth, he induced a double play and flyout to end the threat. Clinton (22-24, 55-60) left a runner at second base four times in the first eight innings without moving a single one to third.

In the bottom of the eighth, River Bandits second baseman Tony Kemp walked against right-hander Mark Bordonaro, went to second on a flyout, to third on a groundout and scored on Borchering's two-out single up the middle. With a 2-0 lead, right-hander Juan Minaya started the ninth inning by allowing a home run by third baseman D.J. Peterson before retiring the next three batters for his eighth save.

Thursday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Friday, Aug. 9. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Friday, Aug. 9.

The River Bandits will play the rubber match of the three-game series Friday at 7 p.m. against the Clinton LumberKings. River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski (1-2) will face LumberKings left-hander Scott DeCecco (9-7).