MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Chiefs Hold On For Win Against Quad Cities

June 27, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


PEORIA, Ill. - The Peoria Chiefs broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run fourth inning, and the Quad Cities River Bandits could only rally within 5-4 in a second straight loss at Dozer Park Thursday night.

Former River Bandits helped Peoria (3-4 second half, 41-33 overall) take down Quad Cities (5-2, 43-33), as Chiefs right fielder Nick Martini and catcher Jesus Montero each had two hits, and right-handers Zach Russell and Robert Stock worked the final 2 1/3 innings to hold off the visitors, who have dropped five of six games at Dozer Park this season.

The Chiefs started the scoring in the first inning, as River Bandits right-hander Jamaine Cotton (1-4) walked the first two batters of the game. Chiefs left fielder and former River Bandit Jordan Walton hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought in the first run, and River Bandits second baseman Brian Blasik committed a two-out error that brought home the second run for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

Quad Cities answered with two runs in the second inning against left-hander Kyle Helisk (6-2). Third baseman Rio Ruiz drew a leadoff walk, and right fielder Terrell Joyce drove an RBI double to right field. First baseman Jobduan Morales then grounded a ball to second baseman Breyvic Valera, who threw wildly to first base, allowing Joyce to score the tying run.

In the fourth inning, Cotton allowed Montero's first single with one out, and Martini, who had tripled earlier, drove a double to right field for his second hit and the go-ahead RBI double on his 23rd birthday. Second baseman Breyvic Valera hit a fly ball beyond center fielder Teoscar Hernandez for an RBI triple that allowed Martini to score. Valera later scored on a squeeze bunt from shortstop Ildemaro Vargas.

With a 5-2 lead, Helisek completed five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out one. Right-hander Michael Aldrete started the sixth inning and retired four straight batters before allowing a seventh-inning, one-out single by Blasik, who scored on a triple by Hernandez, who extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Russell, who last pitched in the Midwest League for the River Bandits in the clinching game of the 2011 Western Division final, came in for the final out of the eighth inning but surrendered a solo home run to Quad Cities catcher Roberto Pena that made it 5-4. Stock started the ninth inning and walked Morales and then hit Hernandez with one out. With runners at first and second bases, left fielder Jordan Scott hit a broken-bat ground ball to Valera, who started a 4-6-3 double play, giving Stock his third save and second against Quad Cities.

With a second straight loss, Quad Cities fell two games behind first-place Cedar Rapids in the Western Division. The River Bandits play the series finale in Peoria Friday night at 6:30 p.m., when right-hander Daniel Minor (4-1) opposes Chiefs right-hander Joe Cuda (3-3).

UP NEXT: The first 2,000 fans to Modern Woodmen Park on Saturday will receive a Rascal the River Bandit Gnome, courtesy of Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and CBS4. Social Media Night and Seatbelt Awareness Night will also highlight 7 p.m. game. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2013


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