
Late Collapse Costs Bandits as Cedar Rapids Sweeps Series
July 8, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
Davenport, IA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels used a four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning to shock the Quad Cities River Bandits in the final game of their series on Monday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The Kernels became the first team this season to sweep a series from the Bandits and handed Quad Cities a season-high fourth consecutive loss.
The River Bandits (12-6, 51-37) brought a 5-2 lead into the top of the ninth with Jose Rivera still on the mound having already cruised through 4.0 scoreless innings. Rivera walked the first batter of the frame to bring the top of the lineup to the plate and Jacob Pearson responded with a single to right field that put two on with no outs. After striking out pinch-hitter Jared Akins for the first out, Rivera was removed from the game in favor of Layne Henderson. The new reliever allowed a single to Gilberto Celestino that loaded the bases and then walked Gabe Snyder to force in a run. A wild pitch let Cedar Rapids close within 5-4 and put two more in scoring position. Henderson struck out Wander Javier for the second out and had two strikes on Tyler Webb when the left fielder lofted a shallow fly ball toward center field that dropped out of the reach of center fielder Ramiro Rodriguez and gave the Kernels the decisive runs needed for their 6-5 victory.
The Bandits had already watched a 2-0 lead slip away earlier in the contest. Rodriguez led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run, his first round-tripper of the year, to hand the River Bandits a quick 1-0 advantage. Grae Kessinger's infield single in the third inning drove in Rodriguez from second base to make it 2-0.
Cedar Rapids (10-7, 53-30) pulled even on a two run single by Ricky De La Torre in the top of the fourth only to watch the Bandits move back ahead in the bottom half. Alex McKenna launched his first home run of the year, also a solo blast, to right center that put the home team in front 3-2. Cesar Salazar provided some cushion with his two-out, two-RBI, double in the seventh before the Kernels last inning comeback.
Salazar paced all hitters with a 3-4 day at the plate including two runs batted in. The Bandits outhit the Kernels 11-6 as three other members of the lineup each totaled a pair of knocks. Only Celestino had multiple hits for the Kernels.
Felipe Tejada, the Bandits starter, was removed after 4.0 innings of work, having allowed two runs on three hits and six walks. Out of the pen, Rivera tossed 4.1 innings and surrendered two runs on one hit and a walk while striking out eight.
The River Bandits will enjoy an off day on Tuesday before making their final trip of the season to the Eastern Division. The team returns to action on Wednesday night at 6:05 p.m. against the West Michigan Whitecaps. In the first game of the series, the Bandits will toss LHP Jonathan Bermudez (2-0, 4.66) and West Michigan will go with RHP Wilkel Hernandez (6-5, 4.05).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
Midwest League Stories from July 8, 2019
- Kernels Extend Streak on Miraculous Monday - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Late Collapse Costs Bandits as Cedar Rapids Sweeps Series - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Score Four in Third Inning But Lose - Peoria Chiefs
- Captains Trio Blank Lugnuts - Lake County Captains
- Dragons Rally and Comeback to Walk-Off Cubs 5-4 - South Bend Cubs
- Cantillo Is No Kolek - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Score 4 in 9th, Take Walk-Off Win over South Bend - Dayton Dragons
- Fort Wayne's Rally Comes Up Short In Series Finale - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cougars Lose Rubber Game to LumberKings - Kane County Cougars
- Walters Deals in LumberKings Series Winner - Clinton LumberKings
- TinCaps Rank Among Top 25 in Minor League Baseball Sales - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- TinCaps Game Notes: July 8 at Great Lakes (Game 86) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Snappers Break Rattlers with Twenty Hits - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Snappers Smash 20 hits in 11-2 victory over Timber Rattlers - Beloit Sky Carp
- Dragons Host Public Safety Day on Sunday, July 14 - Dayton Dragons
- Another Sweep in Bowling Green - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wilson's HR, Sampen's Pitching Pace 5-3 Win to Earn Sweep - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Dragons Notes for Monday - Dayton Dragons
- Bees Win Second Straight over Chiefs, 5-3 - Burlington Bees
- Andrew Cabezas Named MWL Pitcher of the Week - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Yeltsin Encarnacion rejoins Kernels from Rochester - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- South Bend Cubs Announce Upcoming Game/Promotion Schedule - South Bend Cubs
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Quad Cities River Bandits Stories
- Bullpen Secures Bandits' Series-Clinching Win over Cubs
- Frederick Draws Ball Four, Bandits Walk-off Cubs in Extras
- Bandits' Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short in Loss to Cubs
- Charles, Bullpen Lift Quad Cities to Victory in Pitcher's Duel
- Gonzalez's Four-RBI Night Helps Propel River Bandits over Cubs

