MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Chiefs Double up Bandits, 8-4

April 25, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


PEORIA, Ill. - Conrad Gregor had his fourth consecutive multi-hit game but it wasn't enough as the Quad Cities River Bandits dropped the opening game of a three-game with the Peoria Chiefs 8-4 at Dozer Field.

Chris Cotton entered the game in relief of Kent Emanuel, who went the first four innings, allowing four runs, none earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks, in the fifth inning with Quad Cities trailing 4-2. After getting Juan Herrera to groundout to third, Cotton yielded three consecutive singles to load the bases. Matthew Young then crushed Cotton's first-pitch fastball over the berm beyond the leftfield wall for a grand slam, putting the game out of reach at 8-2. The RBIs were the first in Young's last 55 at-bats, dating back to the 2013 season with short-season Class-A State College.

Quad Cities opened the scoring in the contest, getting a two-out, two-run double from Brian Holberton in the top of the first off of Peoria starter Jimmy Reed. Reed (1-1) would settle down over the next four frames to earn the win, ultimately scattering seven hits with two walks, three punchouts and two runs allowed over five innings. Holberton finished 2-for-4 at the dish.

The Chiefs would answer Quad Cities in the bottom of the second. Emanuel (0-1) walked Ronald Castillo to lead off the inning. Castillo, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, advanced to second on a 5-3 fielder's choice off the bat of Kenny Peoples-Walls. Young, the next batter, hit a tapper back to the mound. Emanuel gloved it cleanly and spun around to look at second to find Castillo stranded in between second and third. However, after Emanuel tossed to Chan-Jong Moon at the second base bag, Moon's throw to third hit Castillo in the back, allowing everyone to be safe. Emanuel was able to strike out Cesar Valera but gave up a three-run home run to Mason Katz, his fourth of the season, which put Peoria on top 3-2.

Peoria was not done, though. Emanuel walked Michael Schulz, who promptly stole second. C.J. McElroy, Jr. then ripped a single to center to score Schulz and give the Chiefs a 4-2 advantage.

The River Bandits were able to add a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings to creep closer to Peoria. Trailing 8-2, James Ramsay knocked a two-out RBI single to plate Alex Gonzalez in the sixth. However, Tanner Mathis struck out with runners on first and second to end the threat.

With the score 8-3 in the seventh, Moon drew a leadoff walk and then immediately swiped second base. He came around to score on Gregor's double off the right-centerfield wall to get Quad Cities to within four at 8-4. Gregor finished 3-for-5 with an RBI.

In the bottom of the eighth, Tyler Brunnemann came on in relief of Jandel Gustave to strike out the side. Gustave went two shutout innings out of the bullpen, yielding just two hits while fanning three.

Kevin Herget retired all six batters he faced over the eighth and ninth innings. He fanned three.

The loss dropped Quad Cities to 9-11 while Peoria won their fourth in a row to improve to 12-7. The River Bandits will send Michael Feliz (1-0) to the mound against Silfredo Garcia (1-2).

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 25, 2014


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