MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bees' Rhoades Proves Too Tough for Bandits

Published on May 29, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


BURLINGTON, Iowa - Burlington Bees right fielder Natanael Delgado had a pair of run-scoring doubles, and right-hander Jeremy Rhoades allowed just five hits and struck out nine while walking one in seven shutout innings, as Burlington took the opener of a four-game series over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Community Field in Burlington on Friday night.

The River Bandits (34-15) were only retired in order once, but they did not break through onto the scoreboard until a ninth-inning rally started by a leadoff walk to third baseman Nick Tanielu and a base hit to center field by left fielder Jason Martin. After first baseman Ryan Bottger and right fielder Ramon Laureano - who made his Midwest League debut Friday - struck out swinging against Bees closer Eduardo Paredes, second baseman Kristian Trompiz singled to right, scoring Tanielu. With the tying runs at first and second bases, Paredes struck out center fielder Bobby Boyd to earn his seventh save. With Cedar Rapids (31-18) winning at home against Clinton, Quad Cities' lead in first place of the Midwest League Western Division shrank to three games.

Rhoades (4-3) and River Bandits starter Joshua James (1-1) did not allow a run through the first three innings. James allowed just two base runners in that span, issuing one walk and hitting a batter. Meanwhile, the River Bandits had their best scoring chance against Rhoades in the first inning, as shortstop Mott Hyde and catcher Jacob Nottingham each singled against the Burlington starter with two outs, before Tanielu popped out to first baseman Ryan Seiz to end the threat.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Bees center fielder Michael Hermosillo lined a 1-0 pitch into center field for his team's first hit. Boyd made a head-first diving catch in center field on a line drive by second baseman Andrew Daniel to keep the runner at first base, but Hermosillo was able to successfully steal second one batter later. After a routine fly ball to center field, Delgado split the gap in right-center field to score Hermosillo and give Burlington the 1-0 lead.

Trompiz lofted a one-out double down the left field line with one out in the fifth to put the tying run in scoring position, but a flyout to center by Boyd and a strikeout by designated hitter Jamie Ritchie ended the threat for Quad Cities. The River Bandits again had the tying run in scoring position in the sixth inning after Tanielu grounded a ball to Houchins, and the Bees third baseman overthrew Seiz at first base, allowing Tanielu not only to reach safely, but make it all the way to third base on the throwing error. Rhoades would get Martin to ground a ball right back to him on the mound, stranding the potential tying run 90 feet away.

Burlington would extend its lead in the fifth on an RBI single by left fielder Erick Salcedo to drive in Seiz, who led off the inning with a double. Delgado would drive in Daniel in the sixth inning to provide a second insurance run for the Bees, this time finding the alleyway in left-center field, and chasing James out of the contest. With James removed after a career-high 5 1/3 innings, right-hander Christian Powell made his River Bandits debut. After walking catcher Wade Wass, Powell struck out Seiz and got designated hitter Fran Whitten to fly out to center field. Powell worked a perfect seventh inning for Quad Cities, finishing his night with a pair of strikeouts. Ryan Thompson pitched the eighth inning, allowing a leadoff single, but then inducing a double-play ball and another groundout to end the inning.

The two teams will meet again Saturday in the second game of the series. Right-hander Kevin Comer (4-1) is scheduled to take the mound for the River Bandits, opposed by Burlington right-hander Justin Anderson (3-2) with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m.

UP NEXT: It's not too late to sign up for the River Bandits Baseball Camp! For only $80, each child will get two days of professional instruction (June 10-11 or Aug. 5-6), a camp T-shirt, lunch on both days, and a ticket to a River Bandits game. Camps are limited to 100 participants. 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.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2015


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