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!

*****

Bees pitchers strike out 12 batters without allowing a walk to Quad Cities

BURLINGTON, Iowa (JULY 25, 2013) - Burlington Bees left-hander Tyler DeLoach finished a seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance by retiring the final 12 Quad Cities River Bandits he faced, and a fifth-inning, go-ahead, two-run triple by shortstop Wendell Soto gave the home team a 5-2 win Thursday night at Community Field.

DeLoach (5-2) retired Quad Cities (17-14 second half, 55-45 overall) in order in the first inning, and his teammates gave him a lead in the bottom half. River Bandits right-hander Mark Appel walked the first two Bees hitters before getting a ground-ball fielder's choice for the first out. Designated hitter Michael Bolaski lifted a fly ball to the right-field corner that drove in third baseman Sherman Johnson for a 1-0 Burlington edge. Appel finished the inning with two strikeouts, although the batter reached on a wild pitch on the first one.

For a second straight night, the River Bandits answered by taking the lead in the second inning. Designated hitter Luis Alvarez was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a single by right fielder Terrell Joyce. Two batters later, third baseman Brian Blasik brought in both runners with a two-out double over left fielder Exicardo Cayones.

With a 2-1 lead, Appel started the second inning with a walk and single by center fielder Riley Good. He retired the next two batters before another walk loaded the bases. He struck out Bees first baseman Wade Hinkle to end the threat. Appel did not take the mound for the third inning, having allowed one earned run on one hit and four walks with four strikeouts. The Bees (13-19, 39-58) left nine runners on base in the first four innings and 11 in the game.

DeLoach settled in after allowing doubles by shortstop Carlos Correa and Alvarez in the third and fourth innings, respectively. Following Alvarez's leadoff double in the fourth, he set down a dozen straight hitters - striking out seven in that stretch. The Bees gave DeLoach the support he needed in the fifth inning against right-hander Daniel Minor (7-2). With two outs and the bases empty, right fielder Chevy Clarke singled to left field, and Good drew a walk. Soto then drove a ball to the right-center field gap and slid into third with a go-ahead triple and a 3-2 Bees lead. Minor finished 2 2/3 innings, and left-hander Mitchell Lambson followed with 3 1/3 innings from the bullpen.

Quad Cities had its best chance to pull even in the eighth inning, when left fielder Jordan Scott snapped a 14-out string with an infield single against left-hander Christopher O'Grady. Correa followed with a single, and right-hander Cam Bedrosian hit first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki with a pitch to load the bases. Bedrosian then struck out Alvarez looking to keep the lead, which Hinkle extended with a two-run home run off Lambson in the bottom of the inning. Bedrosian fanned three of the final four batters for his fourth save.

The River Bandits and Bees will play the rubber match of their series at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Quad Cities right-hander Vincent Velasquez (6-4) is scheduled to face Burlington left-hander Ryan Crowley (8-4).

Quad Cities wins consecutive games for first time in more than two weeks

BURLINGTON, Iowa (JULY 24, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers struck out six batters in five innings to earn his first win since June 23, and center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit his team-leading eighth home run to help the visitors to an 8-5 victory over the Burlington Bees at Community Field Wednesday night.

Seven players combined for nine hits to help Quad Cities (17-13 second half, 55-44 overall) win back-to-back games for the first time since July 6-7 in Kane County and score at least seven runs in consecutive games for the first time since July 2-3 at home against Clinton.

In the opener of a three-game series, Burlington (12-19, 38-58) took the lead in the first inning against McCullers (5-5). Bees third baseman Sherman Johnson drew a leadoff walk, and first baseman Wade Hinkle hit his 10th home run to give his team a 2-0 lead. McCullers has allowed a home run in each of his last three starts, while Quad Cities' opponents have homered in seven straight games.

The River Bandits answered quickly against right-hander Pat Lowery (3-6) in the second inning. Designated hitter Bobby Borchering and first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki drew consecutive walks and advanced one base each on a wild pitch - the first of five thrown by Bees pitchers in the game. Third baseman Rio Ruiz then drove both runs home with his first triple of the season to right-center field. Another wild pitch brought in Ruiz for the go-ahead run. Catcher Roberto Pena then singled, and right fielder Dan Gulbransen grounded into a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Hernandez hammered a Lowery offering over the left-field fence for a 5-2 Quad Cities lead. The five-run frame was the River Bandits' largest since a five-run ninth inning against Cedar Rapids on June 13.

McCullers held the lead by tossing four straight scoreless innings to finish his outing. He gave up a walk in the second inning but erased it on a double play. The Bees loaded the bases in the third inning on a hit batter and two walks, but McCullers got a strikeout that started a string of seven consecutive outs through the end of the fifth inning. His six strikeouts gave him 101 this season, making he and teammate Vincent Velasquez (102) the only Midwest League pitchers with 100 this season.

The teams traded pairs of runs in the seventh inning. Pena doubled and scored on a single by Gulbransen. Second baseman Austin Elkins later doubled on scored on a play that included a wild pitch and a throwing error by Bees catcher Zach Wright. In the bottom of the inning, right-hander Juri Perez gave up a single and three walks that led to two runs. Right-hander Gera Sanchez pitched two scoreless innings for the Quad Cities bullpen. The River Bandits scored a run with the help of two ninth-inning errors, while the Bees had three hits for a ninth-inning run against right-hander Jordan Jankowski.

Wednesday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Thursday, July 25. 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 Thursday, July 25. The River Bandits and Bees continue their series at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Quad Cities right-hander Mark Appel (0-0) will make his third Midwest League start against Burlington left-hander Tyler DeLoach (4-2).

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!

BETTENDORF, IA - The Bettendorf Rotary's Run with Carl will be held on Monday, September 2^nd. The 5Mile Run and the 5K run/walk and 1/2 and 1-mile fun runs for children 12 and under start and finish at the Bettendorf Life Center (2222 Middle Rd., Bettendorf). Awards will immediately follow the races. The course remains the same as in previous years. Early bird entry fees are good through August 1^st. Fees are $20 for the 5K Run/Walk or 5 Mile Run for no t-shirt and $25 for the 5K Run/Walk or 5 Mile Run with a t-shirt. The youth entry fee for the ½ and 1-mile fun run is $10.

If you register before August 1^st, you will also be entered into a drawing for a free bike from Healthy Habits.

Race Day registrants are not eligible for awards so pre-registration is encouraged.

The 2012 Run with Carl attracted 1,400 runners and raised funds to support college scholarships for Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley graduates. Participants may register online only at www.runwithcarl.com.

Carl Schillig was 15 years old when he was killed in a car-pedestrian accident in 1994. Carl was active in a variety of community, school and church activities. In commemoration of his life, the Run With Carl Walk/Run attracts participants to the challenging, but scenic, course following city streets, neighborhoods and the Bettendorf Recreation Path.

For more information or to register, visit the website at www.runwithcarl.com or find us on Facebook by searching for "Run with Carl."

About the Bettendorf Rotary: The Bettendorf Rotary Club was chartered in 1957. The group meets every Wednesday at noon at Fortune Garden Restaurant (2211 South Kimberly Road, Bettendorf). They are the Title Sponsor of Run with Carl.

About the Carl D. Schillig Memorial Fund, Inc.: The Carl D. Schillig Memorial Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Carl Schillig who was killed at the age of 15 in a car-pedestrian accident. The fund provides a $4000 college scholarship to graduates of Pleasant Valley High School - which Carl attended - and Bettendorf High School graduates. With Carl's philanthropy as its inspiration, the nonprofit also distributes proceeds from the run to organizations in which Carl was active, including the Bettendorf Pleasant Valley Aquatics, the Cornbelt Running Club, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

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