Bandits Overcome Seven Errors and Three Deficits
Published on June 12, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
The Quad Cities River Bandits came from behind for a dramatic 4-3 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of a crowd of 5,094 on Friday, overcoming three separate deficits and a season-high seven errors on a rainy night at Modern Woodmen Park.
Alex Castellanos went from goat to hero for Quad Cities (28-32), committing three errors that helped the Kernels take a late lead before sparking the game-winning two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. Meanwhile, Charlie Cutler and Travis Mitchell each notched three-hit games as the River Bandits will look for the series win against Cedar Rapids (35-26) on Saturday.
Quad Cities trailed 4-3 heading into the eighth when Brett Lilley led off with a double inside the left field line. After a pitching change, Niko Vasquez advanced the runner to third on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and the infield in, Castellanos ripped a 3-1 pitch through the left side to even the score.
Later in the frame, there were two away when the speedy infielder broke for second, stealing the bag and moving to third when the throw skipped into center. That set the stage for Cutler to come through with the game-winning hit, a liner past a diving Roberto Lopez at first that put the River Bandits ahead, 5-4.
Dave Carpenter (4) earned the save in the ninth, battling through an 11-pitch at-bat against Lopez to cement a perfect final frame. Scott McGregor (3-3) was rewarded with the win after allowing just one unearned run over three innings of relief, while Kernels closer Vladimir Veras (3-2) was charged with both the blown save and the loss.
The thrilling comeback rally in the eighth marked the River Bandits' first and only lead of the game.
The Kernels opened the scoring with single runs in the first and second innings. On both occasions, leadoff singles started the rally. Lopez drove home the first run with a base hit to left in the opening frame, while a groundout from Darwin Perez in the second gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
The River Bandits closed the gap in the second inning. Frederick Parejo drew a leadoff walk and Mitchell bounced a hard-hit ball through the left side, while Lilley was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Two batters later, Castellanos lifted a sacrifice fly to right that prompted both Parejo and Mitchell to tag up. Parejo scored easily as the throw went to third, and when it skipped away from the defender, Mitchell was able to race home and even the score at 2-2.
An unearned run put Cedar Rapids ahead in the top of the fifth, but Quad Cities got the equalizer in the bottom half of the frame. There were two outs when Cutler sent a liner to right field, but a charging Angel Castillo failed to make a sliding play and the ball bounced over his head and turned into a triple. Osvaldo Morales followed by slapping a groundball the other way inside of first base, doubling home Cutler to make it 3-3.
Again, it was an unearned run giving the Kernels a lead in the top of the seventh. With Tyson Auer at second and nobody out, Alexi Amarista sent a grounder towards Castellanos at the second, but after bobbling the ball the infielder threw it away towards first. The two-error play gave Cedar Rapids a 4-3 lead, setting up the River Bandits' dramatic late comeback.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits conclude their final homestand of the first half with Rudy's Tacos Night on a Rockin' Saturday, starting with a Brett Wallace bobblehead doll giveaway before winding down with a post-game concert by Rockin' Jake! Quad Cities will then hit the road for nine games before breaking for the All-Star Game on June 23, and the River Bandits will return to Modern Woodmen Park on May 25 to open the second half of the 2009 season with an eight-game homestand against Kane County and Burlington.
Midwest League Stories from June 12, 2009
- Bandits Overcome Seven Errors and Three Deficits - Quad Cities River Bandits
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- Bees Use Two Position Players as Pitchers in Loss - Burlington Bees
- Dragons Again Go to Extra Innings but Fall in Fort Wayne - Dayton Dragons
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- Blevins Breezes Past Nuts - Great Lakes Loons
- A Pitcher's Best Friend - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Blevins, Loons Zip Past Lugnuts, 4-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Whitecaps Bounce Back with 3-1 Win - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Hart Ache - Kane County Cougars
- Perconte to DL, Bristow Activated for Friday Start - Peoria Chiefs
- Kernels fall to River Bandits, 3-2, in extra innings - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Whitecaps Raising Awareness for Prostate Cancer - West Michigan Whitecaps
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