MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Rahmatulla Ties League Single-Game Hit Record in 16-15 Loss

Published on June 10, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Quad Cities third baseman Tyler Rahmatulla homered in his first two at-bats, had seven RBIs and tied a Midwest League record with six hits in six at-bats, but the Burlington Bees had the biggest offensive output by any River Bandits opponent this season and got an 11th-inning, two-out, walk-off single from second baseman Wade Kirkland in a 16-15 victory at Community Field Sunday afternoon.

With two singles, two doubles and two homers, Rahmatulla became the second Midwest League player with a six-hit game this season. He joined Lansing's Kevin Pillar, who was 6-for-6 with six RBIs in a game at Dayton May 12. Prior to 2012, the last six-hit game by a Midwest League player was by Peoria's Travis Hanson on April 12, 2003. The Quad Cities franchise had not had a six-hit game by any player since the start of the 1994 season. Rahmatulla's six hits, four extra-base hits, seven RBIs and 14 total bases were all career highs and season highs by a River Bandit. He is the fifth 2012 River Bandit with a multi-homer game and third to homer in consecutive at-bats.

Rahmatulla tied the game, 1-1, with a home run leading off the second inning. He hit a three-run homer in the third that extended the River Bandits' lead to 6-1. After Burlington scored twice in the third, Rahmatulla added a fourth-inning RBI single for his fifth RBI and a 7-3 Quad Cities lead. He collected his fourth hit with a sixth-inning double. He got his fifth hit and sixth RBI with a single that broke a 10-10 tie in the seventh. In the ninth, he hit a two-out RBI double to close the Bees' lead to 15-13. He later scored on the game-tying, two-run home run by right fielder Anthony Garcia. Rahmatulla's seventh plate appearance would have led off a potential 12th inning.

In the bottom of the 11th, however, River Bandits right-hander Willy Paulino (2-4) issued a two-out walk to Bees shortstop Sean Jamieson. A wild pitch moved Jamieson to second, and Kirkland singled to center field - ending the longest game of the River Bandits season at three hours, 57 minutes. The 31 total runs Sunday were the most in a single game by the River Bandits and their opponents this season. The total also surpassed the 24 combined runs scored in the previous four games between the Bees and River Bandits.

The Bees (28-34) took their first lead with a seven-run fifth inning. They brought 12 batters to the plate - tying the single-inning high against the River Bandits this season. They collected five hits and four walks against right-handers Ricky Martinez and Travis Miller. The latter allowed a two-run double to Bees catcher John Nester that put Burlington up 8-7 and allowed a two-run single by second baseman Chih-Fang Pan that extended the lead to 10-7.

River Bandits center fielder Nick Martini tied the game in the seventh inning with his second home run of the season - a three-run blast with two outs against left-hander Brent Powers. Later in the inning, Rahmatulla's RBI single gave the River Bandits a brief 11-10 lead.

The Bees answered with a five-run bottom of the seventh, getting six hits - including three doubles - against left-hander Bob Revesz. Jamieson tied the game with an RBI double, and Kirkland hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead sacrifice fly. Three more hits brought in three more runs and extended the Bees' lead to 15-11 - their largest of the game.

Quad Cities (30-33) tied the game with a four-run ninth against right-hander Jonathan Joseph (1-2). Catcher Casey Rasmus hit a leadoff triple and scored on Martini's one-out single. With two outs, Rahmatulla hit an RBI double, and Garcia hit the River Bandits' third game-tying home run of the game. The four Quad Cities homers set a new season high. Every River Bandit had at least a hit and a run scored.

Joseph settled down to retire the next seven River Bandits and complete four innings of relief work. Quad Cities right-hander Ethan Cole worked scoreless eighth, ninth and 10th innings and was the only pitcher among the 11 who appeared Sunday to not allow a run.

Neither starter lasted beyond the third inning. Bees right-hander Seth Frankoff allowed six runs - five earned - in 2 2/3 innings, while Quad Cities right-hander Robert Stock allowed three runs - two earned - in his second start of the season.

The River Bandits and Bees play the deciding game and series finale in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Quad Cities left-hander Kyle Hald (2-3) will make his first start since defeating Burlington 6-2 on June 4, when he threw the River Bandits' first regular season, nine-inning complete game in nearly six years. Hald will oppose right-hander Drew Granier (8-2), who leads the Midwest League in wins.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park on Tuesday, June 12, to begin a six-game home stand. The 7 p.m. game against the Kane County Cougars is Thrivent Night, which will feature skydivers and postgame fireworks presented by Pepsi, CBS4, WOC and Q106.5. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and fans who bring an empty Mountain Dew can or bottle can exchange it for a free soda voucher. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at (563) 3-BANDIT 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.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from June 10, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central