Cedar Rapids snaps Quad Cities' longest regular season winning streak in more than six years

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AUG. 4, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits came within two outs of their longest regular season winning streak in 11 years Sunday, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels took advantage of an error by center fielder Teoscar Hernandez to score the tying run, and Joel Licon had a walk-off single for the last of his team's three ninth-inning hits in a 3-2 Kernels victory at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Quad Cities (25-16 second half, 63-47 overall) had won seven straight games and sought the club's longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2002. Shortstop Carlos Correa had three singles - including a go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth inning - to tally seven hits in the first two games of the series, and River Bandits pitchers only allowed two hits through the first eight innnings. Quad Cities left 11 runners on base and suffered its second walk-off defeat of the season - and first since June 8 in Peoria.

The River Bandits took a first-inning lead against Kernels right-hander Jose Berrios, who allowed singles by left fielder Danry Vasquez and shortstop Carlos Correa before walks to designated hitter Dan Gulbransen and first baseman Bobby Borchering, the last of which forced home the game's first run. With a 1-0 lead, left-hander Brian Holmes took the mound for his first Midwest League start since May 26. Center fielder Jonathan Murphy hit a leadoff triple and later scored when right fielder Adam Brett Walker II hit into a fielder's choice.

Holmes and Berrios kept the 1-1 tie through their six-inning starts. Berrios overcame six walks and five hits to strike out three batters and strand eight runners on base in the first six innings. Holmes kept Cedar Rapids hitless from the second batter of the game until one out in the fifth inning, and he did not allow a runner into scoring position after the first inning. In a season-high six innings, Holmes gave up two hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

Cedar Rapids (27-15, 67-43) used left-hander Brandon Bixler and right-hander Madison Boer (1-0) for scoreless seventh and eighth innings respectively, but Boer allowed Hernandez's ninth-inning leadoff double off the left-field wall. Vasquez grounded out to advance Hernandez to third base, and Correa singled through the middle of a drawn-in infield for a 2-1 lead.

After two scoreless innings by River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor, right-hander Juan Minaya (1-5) started the bottom of the ninth inning. Second baseman Jorge Polanco hit a one-out single to right field, and Walker lined a single to center, where Hernandez had the ball go under his glove and roll to the warning track, which scored Polanco and put Walker on third. After an intentional walk to first baseman Max Kepler, Minaya struck out designated hitter Travis Harrison. But Licon grounded an 0-1 pitch up the third-base line for a two-out, game-winning single.

The River Bandits continue the series in Cedar Rapids at 6:35 p.m. Monday. Quad Cities left-hander Josh Hader will make his Midwest League debut against Kernels right-hander Christian Powell (2-4).

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 Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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.

Quad Cities matches season high with sixth straight win and splits 18-game season series with Peoria

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 2, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a game-tying home run and an RBI triple, while designated hitter Dan Gulbransen had the go-ahead hit for a third straight game to help right-hander Chris Devenski earn his first Midwest League victory in a 5-2 win that completed a sweep of the Peoria Chiefs at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

Devenski (1-2) threw the game's first pitch in the rain, and Chiefs left fielder C.J. McElroy hit it through the left side of the infield for the first of Peoria's 12 hits. A sacrifice moved McElroy to second base, and second baseman Bruce Caldwell singled to put runners at first and third bases. Chiefs first baseman and former River Bandit Jordan Walton hit a sacrifice fly to center field, and third baseman Breyvic Valera followed with an RBI single to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Devenski allowed a baserunner in each of the next four innings but kept the Chiefs from adding to the lead. He allowed seven hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Quad Cities (24-15 second half, 62-46 overall) remained scoreless through the first three innings against Chiefs right-hander Silfredo Garcia (3-4), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning. In the fourth, right-fielder Jordan Scott hit an infield single and scored when catcher Jobduan Morales grounded a double down the first-base line - his first hit since July 21.

In the fifth inning, Hernandez led off with a blast to left-center field for his team-high 10^th home run - and fourth in as many series - to extend his eight-game hitting streak and tie the game, 2-2. Shortstop Carlos Correa hit a one-out double down the third-base line and went to third base on a passed ball. Gulbransen then slapped a single through the left side of a drawn-in infield that scored Correa for a 3-2 score. Each of Correa's three runs in the series gave Quad Cities the lead, and Gulbransen's hit extended a 10-game hitting streak. Morales later added an RBI single to drive in Gulbransen, and the former had his first multi-RBI game in four weeks. All of it came against Garcia, who allowed seven hits and four earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

In the sixth against Chiefs right-hander Joe Scanio, second baseman Austin Elkins singled to center field and scored on Hernandez's team-high eighth triple to right field. Hernandez has 14 hits, including seven for extra bases, in his last 31 at-bats (.452 average).

From the River Bandits bullpen, right-hander Juri Perez worked around a single and hit batter in the sixth. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson allowed three this in the seventh but no runs in two innings of work. Right-hander Juan Minaya allowed a single and another baserunner on an error but finished the ninth inning for his seventh save. The Chiefs left 12 runners on base.

Friday's victory was Quad Cities' 29^th comeback win and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Saturday, Aug. 3. 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 Saturday, Aug. 3. The River Bandits start a four-game series in Cedar Rapids at 5:05 p.m. Saturday. Left-hander Joe Bircher (2-1) will face Kernels left-hander Mason Melotakis (9-3) in the opener.

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 Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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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Terrell Joyce and Teoscar Hernandez each score two runs to help Quad Cities take three-game series

 

BELOIT, Wis. (JULY 29, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits took a first-inning lead for the third consecutive game at Pohlman Field, and left-hander Colton Cain pitched five innings of one-run, five-hit ball for his fourth straight winning decision in his team's 4-1 road victory over the Beloit Snappers Monday night.

 

The River Bandits (20-15 second half, 58-46 overall) passed the Snappers (20-16, 63-43) for second place in the second-half Western Division standings ahead of a four-game home series with fourth-place Peoria. Quad Cities took its fifth victory in seven games in Beloit and finished 7-5 in its longest road stretch of the season - 12 games in 13 days.

For a third straight game, center fielder Teoscar Hernandez led off by reaching base, as he drew a walk against right-hander Seth Streich (10-6). He moved to second on a sacrifice by second baseman Austin Elkins and stole third base. Shortstop Carlos Correa brought in Hernandez with a grounded out to second base.

 

The River Bandits added on in the third inning. Left fielder Terrell Joyce was hit by a pitch and went to second base on a wild pitch. Hernandez singled - his eighth hit in 13 at-bats - and went to second base when the throw went toward home plate. Catcher Nick Rickles' throw to second base went into center field, allowing Joyce to score. When Elkins put down a sacrifice up the first-base line, Streich's throw to first base hit Elkins, allowing Hernandez to come all the way around to score for a 3-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Joyce reached on an infield single, went to second Hernandez's sacrifice, third on Elkins' groundout, and home on Correa's single to make it 4-0.

 

Cain (5-5) worked with baserunners in each of his five innings. After two first-inning singles, he struck out two batters to escape the jam. He also stranded runners in scoring position with strikeouts ending the third and fourth innings. Beloit scored its run in the fifth inning, when right fielder Aaron Shipman hit a leadoff double - the only extra-base hit by either side - and scored after consecutive groundouts.

Right-hander Daniel Minor inherited the 4-1 lead to start the sixth inning. He gave up two singles but no runs in the sixth, but after allowing two singles around two strikeouts in the seventh, right-hander Jordan Jankowski came in to get an inning-ending strikeout. Jankowski got three straight outs in the eighth, and right-hander Juan Minaya pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save.

Monday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Tuesday, July 30. 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 Tuesday, July 30.

 

The River Bandits start a four-game series at Modern Woodmen Park against Peoria at 7 p.m. Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (5-5) will face Chiefs left-hander Kyle Helisek (7-4) in the opener.

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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