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).

Third baseman wins club's Player of the Month, promoted right-hander wins Pitcher of the Month

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 7, 2013) - Third baseman Rio Ruiz is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for July, and right-handed pitcher Jordan Jankowski is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Tuesday.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their eight minor league affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

Ruiz, the Astros' fourth-round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, had his best month of the season with a .279 batting average, three home runs and a team-high 15 RBIs in 23 games at third base. The 19-year-old Covina, Calif., native had seven multi-hit games, six doubles and one triple for a .477 slugging percentage during July. Until July 20, he had a 26-road-game on-base streak that is currently tied for second longest in the Midwest League this season. Through Monday, Ruiz was second on the team with eight home runs and third with 47 RBIs and a .399 slugging percentage.

Jankowski, the Astros' 34th round pick in 2012, posted a 1.86 ERA while walking just one batter in six outings spanning 19 2/3 innings in July. The McMurray, Pa., native's 0.72 walks-plus-hits-per-inning-pitched (WHIP) was the best among River Bandits pitchers who threw at least eight innings in the month. Earlier this season, Jankowski was named a Midwest League All-Star. The 24-year-old was promoted on Monday to advanced Class-A Lancaster after going 3-1 in 26 games, including 12 starts for Quad Cities. He threw 89 2/3 innings and was ranked fourth in the Midwest League with a 2.61 ERA. His 1.07 WHIP on the season was also third best in the league.

Below is a list of the Players and Pitchers of the Month this season for Quad Cities:

Month Player Pitcher

April Teoscar Hernandez Vincent Velasquez

May Carlos Correa Lance McCullers

June Carlos Correa Colton Cain

July Rio Ruiz Jordan Jankowski

Through Monday, every Astros minor league affiliate has a .500 or better record, and they are a combined 369-270 for a .577 winning percentage - the best among any organization's minor league system. Five affiliates - Triple-A Oklahoma City, Double-A Corpus Christi, advanced Class-A Lancaster, short-season Class-A Tri-City and rookie-level Greeneville were each in or tied for first place in their respective divisions through Monday. Corpus Christi and Lancaster have already clinched playoff spots with first-half division titles.

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!

*****

Bobby Borchering and Brian Blasik homer to lift Quad Cities past Cedar Rapids by one-half game

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AUG. 6, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Mark Appel retired the first 10 Cedar Rapids Kernels he faced Tuesday night in a career-high five innings and his first professional victory, while the offense continued its hot hitting to push the club into first place in the second-half standings following a 7-2 win at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

For a second straight game, Quad Cities (27-16 second half, 65-47 overall) gave its starting pitcher a 3-0 lead before he took the mound. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez again led off with a single, and shortstop Carlos Correa's one-out double to center field put runners at second and third bases against left-hander Josue Montanez (4-5). Left fielder Danry Vasquez flied to center field to drive in Hernandez, and first baseman Bobby Borchering followed with a towering blast to left field for his third home run as a River Bandit and a 3-0 advantage for the visitors.

The River Bandits added another run in the fourth inning, when catcher Roberto Pena doubled off the wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Brian Blasik, who added the next run with his third home run of the season to left field. Montanez lasted through seven innings, allowing five hits and five earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts.

Appel (1-0) cruised through the first 10 batters with only one ball hit to the outfield. In the fourth inning, he issued a one-out walk to Kernels first baseman Niko Goodrum for the home team's first baserunner. In the fifth inning, left fielder Max Kepler grounded a ball that second baseman Tony Kemp dropped for an error. Two batters later, catcher Tyler Grimes lifted a one-out single to right field for the Kernels' first hit. After a groundout by designated hitter Bo Altobelli, second baseman Joel Licon hit a two-run single to right-center field for the Kernels only runs, slicing the lead to 5-2. But Appel retired the next batter to complete five innings and make himself eligible for his first professional win.

Right-hander Patrick Christensen made his Quad Cities debut starting the sixth inning. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, striking out five and allowing one hit. Quad Cities added a run on an eighth-inning RBI double by Correa, who had 12 hits in the four-games series, and a ninth-inning tally on right fielder Jordan Scott's RBI single. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson got the final three outs.

Tuesday's victory put Quad Cities one-half game ahead of the Kernels (27-17, 67-45) for first in the Western Division second-half standings and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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 Wednesday, Aug. 7.

The River Bandits open a six-game home stand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Clinton LumberKings. River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (6-5) will face LumberKings right-hander Victor Sanchez (3-5).

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!

*****