Castillo, Bandits Strong Enough to Get by Kernels
Published on April 13, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
River Bandits catcher Juan Castillo went 4-for-4 and hit his first two home runs for the Quad Cities, which also got a two-run home run from first baseman David Medina and seven strong innings from right-hander Todd McInnis in a 6-5 win in Cedar Rapids Friday night.
Left-handed reliever Danny Miranda loaded the bases with a one-run lead and one out in the ninth inning but struck out Kernels left fielder Ryan Jones and got designated hitter Abel Baker to ground out to first base to end the game and give Miranda his first save.
Castillo, who hit two home runs all of last season in 70 games between three minor league levels, tied the game 1-1 with a one-out home run in the third inning. The Quad Cities took the lead in the fourth, when left fielder Anthony Garcia drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Kernels left-handed starter Ryan Crowley, and scored on an RBI double by designated hitter Colin Walsh, who finished with two doubles in four at-bats. Two batters later, third baseman Tyler Rahmatulla hit a two-out single to right field that brought in Walsh and made it 3-1.
The Kernels answered in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double by first baseman Frazier Hall. Cedar Rapids then loaded the bases to put the tying run at third with two outs, but McInnis got shortstop Wendell Soto to ground into a fielder's choice at second base to preserve the 3-2 lead.
Castillo quickly restored the two-run lead with a homer to center field leading off the fifth against Crowley (0-1), who allowed four runs on five hits in five innings. The two home runs by Castillo set a single-game career high for the River Bandits catcher.
In the sixth, Medina gave McInnis and the River Bandits more breathing room with an opposite-field, two-run home run to left field off left-handed reliever Carmine Giardina that also brought home Walsh and made it 6-2. The home run was the fourth in the last two nights for the Quad Cities, which went nearly a full week without homering after an Opening Day home run by Walsh, who also hit the team's second home run of the season Thursday night in Cedar Rapids.
McInnis (1-0) allowed an RBI double to Kernels second baseman Kevin Moesquit in the seventh inning, but finished with two walks, seven hits and three runs allowed while striking out five batters in seven innings. Right-hander Robert Stock entered with a 6-3 lead and allowed runners to reach second and third in the eighth but escaped the threat by striking out right fielder Andy Workman.
In the ninth, Stock allowed one-out singles to Soto and Moesquit before giving way to Miranda. Kernels center fielder Chevy Clarke and third baseman Kaleb Cowart each singled against Miranda, with Cowart's hit bringing home two runs to make it 6-5. A wild pitch moved runners to second and third, prompting an intentional walk of Hall before Miranda got the final two batters.
The River Bandits have won four of the first five games on their current seven-game road trip. Saturday night will be their third of four games in Cedar Rapids, as left-hander Kyle Hald (0-0) and Kernels right-hander Jairo Diaz (0-0) will each make their second starts.
Midwest League Stories from April 13, 2012
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- Cougars Win Slugfest Over Bees - Kane County Cougars
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- Wisconsin wins - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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