Quad Cities wins series opener in matchup of top two Western Division clubs

DAVENPORT, Iowa (MAY 8, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits second baseman Brian Blasik went 3-for-4, and left-hander Brian Holmes struck out eight to seal the deal on the River Bandits' Guaranteed Win Night with a 4-2 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 1,611 fans at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.

In the first inning, Blasik lined a double down the left-field line with one out to start the River Bandits offense. One batter later Austin "Catfish" Elkins, making his first start at shortstop this season, blooped a single to left to drive in Blasik and give Quad Cities a 1-0 lead.

After Cedar Rapids (21-9) had two first-inning singles, Holmes kept the Kernels hitless for 15 batters before allowing a two-out triple to Candido Pimentel in the fifth inning. Byron Buxton worked a walk against Holmes to put runners on the corners, and Quad Cities manager Omar Lopez went to his bullpen to call upon right-hander Michael Dimock. The Greensboro, N.C., native got Niko Goodrum to fly out to center to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Teoscar Hernandez belted a solo home run (2) into the back of the left field berm, to extend the lead to 2-0. Kernels first baseman Dalton Hicks returned the deficit to one in the sixth against right-hander Jordan Jankowski by hitting a solo blast to right that exited the stadium over the Built Ford Tough Deck for the Kernels' first run.

The River Bandits (19-11) added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to increase the lead. Jesse Wierzbicki led off the sixth frame with a walk. Ryan Dineen slapped a grounder back to the pitcher Brett Lee, who misfired on a fielder's choice attempt on Wierzbicki at second base. The error allowed Dineen and Wierzbicki to reach first and third base respectively. Wierzbicki was able to score on a double play off the bat of Roberto Peña. In the seventh, Jordan Scott walked and stole second. A bloop single off the bat of Blasik caused Scott to lie on the brakes while rounding third. A throwing error from third baseman Tyler Harrison - trying to catch Scott at third - trailed through shortstop Jorge Polanco into foul territory, allowing Scott to scamper home.

Cedar Rapids battled back in the ninth, getting a run on right-hander John Neely, but he stranded runners on second and third by striking out Buxton and retiring Goodrum on a groundout to shortstop for his sixth save. Jankowski (1-0) allowed one run and struck out three in two and one-third innings. Holmes struck out eight Cedar Rapids hitters in four and two-thirds innings as the first Bandits starter. River Bandits left-hander Mitchell Lambson delivered a perfect two-thirds of an inning of relief in the eighth and was credited with his third hold of the year. Lee (2-2) gave up three runs - two earned - on four hits in six innings and suffered the loss.

Wednesday's victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Thursday, May 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 Thursday, May 9.

 

Quad Cities closed within two games of the first-place Kernels, who will visit Modern Woodmen Park at 7 p.m. Thursday. Bandits right-hander Vincent Velasquez (3-0) is scheduled to deliver the first pitch against right-hander Hudson Boyd (1-1) and the Kernels at 7 p.m.

 

UP NEXT: Thursday is the River Bandits' Nueve de Mayo party, which features $1.00 off margaritas and select domestic beers such as Corona and Dos Equis. There will also be $2.00 drink specials for Thirst-day Thursday presented by River Cities' Reader, The Quad Cities' CW and Rock 104-9. 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 draws season-high 12 walks, fans 14 Whitecaps in longest nine-inning game of the season

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (MAY 5, 2013) - In what began as a stellar performance by right-hander Lance McCullers and turned into a bullpen battle Sunday afternoon, the Quad Cities River Bandits rebounded from allowing West Michigan to tie the game in seventh inning, scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and left Whitecaps at every base for the final out of a 5-4 win at Fifth Third Ballpark.

McCullers set a career high with nine strikeouts in five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk to the Whitecaps while Quad Cities (17-11) built a 3-0 lead to put McCullers in line for his first career victory. The River Bandits drew four walks to score a first-inning run against right-hander Montreal Robertson, who walked a career-high six batters in four innings. Quad Cities shortstop Joe Sclafani hit a fourth-inning RBI double, and left fielder Terrell Joyce hit a fifth-inning RBI single against left-hander Josh Turley.

Down 3-0, West Michigan (13-15) started its comeback in the sixth inning against right-hander Daniel Minor. The top three batters in the Whitecaps order - shortstop David Gonzalez, left fielder Danry Vasquez and second baseman Devon Travis - each singled to bring in a run. Minor escaped runners at second and third bases by striking out the final two batters. Quad Cities answered the run in the seventh, as second baseman Austin Elkins hit a leadoff single and scored to make it 4-1 when right fielder Zach Kirksey dropped a two-out fly ball.

The Whitecaps rallied to tie the game with three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh. Minor walked catcher Bennett Pickar and allowed an infield single to third baseman Jared Reaves before getting a ground-ball double play off the bat of center fielder Austin Schotts for the first two outs. With Pickar at third base, Gonzalez hit a grounder to shortstop, but Sclafani dropped the ball, allowing the run to score and the inning to continue. Right-hander Michael Dimock (4-0) came on to relieve Minor and gave up an RBI triple to left-center field by Vasquez, followed by Travis' game-tying infield single up the middle. Minor was charged with three runs - one earned in 1 2/3 innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Dimock allowed two hits and an earned run in 1/3 of an inning.

In a 4-4 tie, River Bandits designated hitter Brian Blasik drew an eighth-inning leadoff walk against left-hander Logan Ehlers (0-1) and went to second base on a sacrifice by center fielder Teoscar Hernandez, who earlier extended an eight-game hitting streak. Sclafani then hit an infield single off Ehlers' glove, and Elkins brought home Blasik by pushing a bunt to the first-base side of the pitcher's mound.

With a 5-4 lead, left-hander Mitchell Lambson started the eighth inning and fanned the first two batters. In the ninth, Lambson got a groundout and a flyout, but left fielder Terrell Joyce lost the ball when bringing his glove hand down and was charged with an error. After Joyce caught a fly ball for the second out, right-hander John Neely came in and walked the first two batters on eight pitches to load the bases. With the tying and winning runs in scoring position, however, he fanned designated hitter Lance Durham for his fifth save.

Sunday's victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Tuesday, May 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 Tuesday, May 7. Quad Cities will play the series and road trip finale at West Michigan at 5:35 p.m. Monday, as left-hander Colton Cain (0-3) and right-hander Mike Hauschild (1-0) face right-hander Charles Gillies, making his season debut.

 

UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. 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 began the season with a great start, and they sit in second place in the Midwest League's Western Division. Meanwhile, the team's 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 the ballpark, along with a new dual zip line, a carousel, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, new bounce houses and many other fun attractions. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans will see last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Carlos Correa. The Astros will also make the very first selection in the major league draft on June 6 and could have another top pick end up in the Quad Cities. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, this season will be one every fan will not want to miss!

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Miles Hamblin breaks up no-hitter in seventh, drives in winning run in the ninth for Quad Cities

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (MAY 3, 2013) - Held hitless for 6 2/3 innings Friday night by South Bend Silver Hawks right-hander Brandon Sinnery, the Quad Cities River Bandits rallied for single runs in each of the final three innings for a 3-2 victory that snapped the home team's seven-game winning streak and kept Quad Cities from its first three-game losing skid of the season.

 

Sinnery held the River Bandits (16-10) to two walks and a hit batter, and he had retired nine in a row and held a 2-0 lead with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh inning. Quad Cities first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki then hit a ground ball to shortstop Pedro Ruiz, who threw into the dirt at first for an error allowing Wierzbicki to reach with two outs in the seventh inning. Designated hitter Miles Hamblin followed by grounding a single up the middle to break up the deepest no-hit effort in a game against Quad Cities this season.

 

With two out and runners at first and second, catcher Roberto Peña then grounded a ball up the middle that Ruiz fielded and tried flipping to second baseman Fidel Peña, but the errant throw allowed Wierzbicki to race around third base and score, making it 2-1. The hit by Roberto Peña extended his hitting streak to 11 games - the longest for a River Bandit this season.

 

Sinnery finished seven innings with two hits allowed, one unearned run, two walks and eight strikeouts. Right-hander Chris Capper (2-1) took over to start the eighth inning. After Capper retired the first two batters, River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez launched his first Midwest League home run to the bleachers above the left field fence to tie the game, 2-2.

 

In the bottom of the eighth, Quad Cities left-hander Brian Holmes (3-2) allowed a leadoff bunt single by center fielder Socrates Brito and another single to designated hitter Brandon Drury. But Holmes then deflected a line drive by third baseman Ryan Court that went on a bounce to shortstop Joe Sclafani, who turned a double play. With a runner at third, Holmes induced a ground ball by left fielder Alex Glenn to Sclafani at shortstop for the final out to preserve the tie. Holmes finished three shutout innings with three hits and three strikeouts in relief of right-hander Jordan Jankowski, who allowed the Silver Hawks' two runs on Drury's first-inning home run and Fidel Peña's second-inning RBI double.

 

In the ninth inning against Capper, Wierzbicki drove a double to the right-field corner and advanced to third base on a pickoff throw that went into center field and was bobbled by Brito. Hamblin then lined a single to right for the go-ahead run. Right-hander John Neely came on to retire the Silver Hawks (18-7) in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save. Friday's victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Saturday, May 4. 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, May 4.

 

The River Bandits remained three games out of first place in the Midwest League Western Division and will begin a three-game road series against the West Michigan Whitecaps at 5:35 p.m. Saturday. Quad Cities right-hander and April Pitcher of the Month Vincent Velasquez (3-0) and left-hander Joe Bircher (1-0) will face Whitecaps right-hander Yorfrank Lopez (2-1).

 

UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. 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.

Center fielder, right-hander win first of Astros' monthly awards for affiliate's top player and pitcher

DAVENPORT, Iowa (MAY 2, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez is the team's Player of the Month for April, and right-hander Vincent Velasquez is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Thursday.

 

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

 

A 20-year-old native of Bonao, Dominican Republic, who signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in February 2011, Hernandez started as the center fielder and leadoff batter in 21 of the River Bandits' 23 games in April. He hit .297 in April and led the team with 27 hits, 91 at-bats, 18 runs, seven doubles, three triples, 10 extra-base hits, 40 total bases and eight stolen bases. He is currently 10th among all Astros minor leaguers in batting average.

Velasquez, a 20-year-old native of Pomona, Calif., and a second-round draft pick by Houston in 2010, tied for the organizational leads with three wins and 31 strikeouts in April. He was undefeated in six appearances, including three starts, with two saves and a 2.45 ERA. Velasquez is holding opponents to a .156 average - second-lowest in the Midwest League. He had a 16 2/3 inning scoreless streak from April 14 to April 30, and the River Bandits are 6-0 in games he has pitched.

In April, the Astros' minor league affiliates went a combined 58-39 (.598) for the third-highest winning percentage of any minor league system, trailing only Minnesota and San Francisco. Three of the four full-season affiliates are in first place in their respective divisions, and Class-A Quad Cities (15-8 in April) is in second place in the Midwest League Western Division.

UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. 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.