MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Cougars Beat Bandits with 6-Run 2nd Inning

Published on August 1, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


GENEVA, IL - The first six Kane County Cougars to bat in the second inning reached base and scored, giving the home team all its runs to snap a six-game losing streak and earn a 6-2 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

S even Cougars contributed a hit for the Cougars (23-17 second half, 68-42 overall), who handed the River Bandits (21-19, 56-53) their third straight loss. Left-hander Blaine Sims (2-3) allowed all six runs in the second inning, when four hits, one walk and two errors led to two earned runs and four unearned runs. The six-run inning was the largest by a Quad Cities opponent since July 13.

Cougars left-hander Tyler Ihrig (1-0) worked around a one-out single in the first inning and leadoff walk in the second inning to begin his Midwest League debut. Sims worked around a leadoff walk in the first inning before the pivotal second inning.

Cougars third baseman Jeimer Candelario led off the third inning with a ground ball to shortstop Thomas Lindauer, who bounced a throw past first baseman A.J. Reed, allowing Candelario to go to second base. Sims walked designated hitter Cael Brockmeyer, and right fielder Jeffrey Baez put a bunt single down the third-base line to load the bases. Shortstop Carlos Penalver then grounded to Lindauer, who attempted a fielder's choice at second base but made an errant throw into right field, allowing the first two runs to score. Center fielder Trey Martin followed with a single to right field, bringing in Baez and Penalver to make it 4-0. Left fielder Shawon Dunston Jr. then singled to center field to put runners at first and third bases. A passed ball by catcher Brett Booth put Dunston at second base. Sims then struck out second baseman Chesny Young for the first out, but catcher Ben Carhart brought in a run with a groundout, and first baseman Jacob Rogers hit an RBI single to left field for a 6-0 lead. Sims faced Candelario for a second time in the inning and struck him out for the third out.

In the third inning, Sims allowed two more walks and an infield single but got Dunston to ground to Wik, who turned a double play to end the inning. Sims allowed five hits with four walks and four strikeouts the first three innings.

Ihrig faced one batter over the minimum through the first four innings and worked around a walk and single in a scoreless fifth inning. Quad Cities finally put a runner past second base after singles by center fielder James Ramsay - who was the only River Bandit with two hits - and designated hitter Chase McDonald, who extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games. Left-hander Michael Heesch entered and allowed both runners to score on a groundout by first baseman A.J. Reed and RBI single by third baseman J.D. Davis. Ihrig was charged with two earned runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Following Sims, left-hander Chris Cotton pitched a scoreless fourth inning, and right-hander Edison Frias went a season-high four relief innings, allowing no runs on four hits with six strikeouts that came in two stretches of three straight batters.

Heesch allowed Quad Cities its only at-bat with the tying run at the plate by loading the bases with three walks in the seventh inning. But he struck out McDonald to preserve the 6-2 lead. Cougars right-hander Jose Arias retired all six batters in the eighth and ninth innings.

Quad Cities continues its three-game series against first-half Western Division champion Kane County at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (1-2) will start his first game as a 22-year-old after celebrating his birthday Friday.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 1, 2014


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