MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Hernandez Leads Quad Cities to 6-2 Win over Kernels

Published on May 12, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa - Quad Cities River Bandits left-hander Hector Hernandez pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings, facing two batters over the minimum through six innings on his way to a win in his second straight start, this time in a series-opening, 6-2 home win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of a season-high 5,560 fans at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

On AUSA Military Appreciation Night, the River Bandits (19-17) got a 2-for-2, two-RBI night from left fielder Colin Walsh, a 2-for-4 night from second baseman Luis Mateo and a 3-for-4 showing from right fielder Roberto Reyes.

For the eighth straight game, Quad Cities scored first, extending the streak with a first-inning run. Shortstop Matt Williams singled out of the leadoff spot and came around to score when Walsh singled straight up the middle for his team-leading 24th RBI of the season.

Quad Cities added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Reyes led off the frame with a single and advanced on back-to-back wild pitches by Cedar Rapids right-hander Cam Bedrosian (0-2). Following a Williams strikeout, center fielder Nick Martini singled to score Reyes, and Walsh drove in Martini with his second RBI single in as many at-bats.

In his seventh start of the season, Hernandez (3-2) set down eight batters in a row after allowing a leadoff walk to Kernels second baseman Kevin Moesquit. The left-hander allowed only two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Mateo hit the first of his two doubles to put runners at second and third. The hit extended Mateo's hitting streak to four games, a span in which he has hit 6-for-15 (.400) with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI. Third baseman Garrett Wittels hit a sacrifice fly to right, and Reyes hit a run-scoring single to center, giving the River Bandits a 5-0 lead. In the fifth, Mateo hit a run-scoring double to left that scored Walsh in the sixth inning to make it 6-0.

The Kernels (15-21) scratched across two runs in the seventh inning against Hernandez to break up the shutout. After retiring third baseman Kaleb Cowart and right fielder Ryan Jones on groundouts to start the inning, Hernandez allowed a single to first baseman Frazier Hall, who advanced on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. A walk to center fielder Andy Workman put two runners on with two outs, and designated hitter Matt Scioscia singled to drive in both runners and cut the Quad Cities lead to 6-2.

Hernandez struck out the leadoff man in the eighth, before right-hander Willy Paulino entered the game. He allowed two hits while holding Cedar Rapids scoreless in the final 1 2/3 innings.

With Wisconsin's victory over Kane County, Quad Cities gained sole possession of third place in the Midwest League Western Division. The River Bandits trail Wisconsin by four games and lead Kane County by a game. The Kernels and River Bandits will play the second game of the four-game series Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (1-1) will take the mound for Quad Cities against Kernels right-hander Austin Wood (2-3).

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Midwest League Stories from May 12, 2012


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