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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits Clobber Kernels to Win Rubber Match

July 20, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 20, 2015) - Every player in the starting lineup contributed to the Quad Cities River Bandits' 17 hits, led by three each from shortstop Alex Bregman and first baseman Ryan Bottger, while designated hitter Drew Ferguson posted a career-high four RBIs in a 14-5 rout of the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 2,456 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday afternoon.

The River Bandits (15-10 second half, 60-33 overall) posted the highest single-game run total by any opponent of Cedar Rapids this season and scored 14 runs for the first time since a 14-10 win at Clinton May 18. Quad Cities also scored double-digit runs for the first time in 47 games since May 27, when the club won, 13-4, at home over Kane County. Monday's win also kept Quad Cities perfect in three series rubber matches with Cedar Rapids (13-12, 54-41). The River Bandits won all four series with the Kernels and finished 9-4 in their regular season meetings. The two teams will play each other next in the best-of-three first round of the Midwest League playoffs beginning Sept. 9.

River Bandits right-hander Elieser Hernandez made his first Midwest League start Monday and retired the first eight batters. He allowed two hits and one walk with six strikeouts in the first four innings. Right-hander Eric Peterson (5-4) began the fifth inning with an 11-0 lead and allowed four runs - two earned - on four hits and one walk with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. Right-hander Jorge Perez pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out four batters, walking one and allowing a ninth-inning home run by Kernels center fielder Tanner English.

After the game was scoreless into the bottom of the third inning, Quad Cities reached the scoreboard in four straight innings from the third to the sixth innings. River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd began the five-run, 11-batter third inning with a leadoff single against Kernels right-hander Keaton Steele (2-3). Left fielder Jason Martin and Bregman drew consecutive walks, before All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu grounded a two-run single down the first-base line. With runners at first and third bases, right fielder Ramon Laureano grounded into a fielder's choice, but second baseman Rafael Valera overthrew first base, so Bregman scored and Laureano went to second base. A passed ball moved Laureano to third base before Ferguson walked, ending Steele's outing. Against All-Star right-hander Jared Wilson, Ferguson stole second base, and catcher Garrett Stubbs brought in Laureano with a sacrifice fly to center field. Bottger hit a two-out RBI single over shortstop Sean Miller to make it 5-0. In the game's longest inning, the River Bandits had three hits and five of their six total walks. All five runs were earned against Steele, who allowed five hits and three walks with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

In the fourth inning against Wilson, Bregman led off with an infield single to the shortstop hole and reached third base on Laureano's one-out single to left field. Laureano stole second base, giving Ferguson the opportunity to drive in his first two runs with a single into center field for a 7-0 lead. Wilson was charged with two earned runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

In the fifth inning, Kernels left-hander Michael Theofanopoulous allowed Boyd's one-out single to left field, followed by Martin's double to left-center field and Bregman's RBI infield single off third baseman Pat Kelly for an 8-0 score. With two outs, Laureano placed an RBI single to left-center field, and Ferguson hit a two-run double down the left-field line to extend the lead to 11-0.

After the Kernels' first run came in the sixth inning, Bottger led off the bottom of the inning with the first home run of the season allowed by Kernels All-Star left-hander Cam Booser. A three-run Kernels seventh inning made it 12-4, but Kernels All-Star right-hander Randy LeBlanc walked Stubbs to begin the eighth inning that included two Kernels errors leading to Quad Cities' final two runs.

The River Bandits play their next nine games in 10 days on the road - the longest remaining road stretch for the club this season. Quad Cities begins a three-game series in Kane County at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (2-1) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Chris Oliver (2-0) in the first second-half meeting between the teams with the league's two best overall records.

UP NEXT: Vote now until Monday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Quad-City Times Readers' Choice Awards. The River Bandits are up for Best Entertainment Venue, Best Family Entertainment, Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party, and Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

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