Null Pitches Cubs to 2-1 Win over Bandits
June 6, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - South Bend Cubs right-hander Jeremy Null allowed one run in six innings, while Cubs catcher Cael Brockmeyer hit a game-tying solo home run in the fourth inning, and second baseman Andrew Ely hit a go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the fifth inning of a 2-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Four Winds Field Saturday night.
Despite losing a series-opening game for the second time in 10 road series this season, the River Bandits (38-18) moved closer to a first-half playoff spot. Third-place Burlington (28-28) lost on Saturday at Great Lakes, which lowered Quad Cities' magic number (combination of Quad Cities wins and losses by the Western Division's third-place team) needed to clinch a first-half playoff spot to five. Second-place Cedar Rapids (35-21) also lost at West Michigan to remain three games behind Quad Cities in the Western Division first-half race.
Making his first start since being named to the Eastern Division All-Star team, Null (6-1) retired the first five batters of the game. River Bandits second baseman Kristian Trompiz extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-out double to left field in the second inning but was stranded at second base when Null struck out first baseman Ryan Bottger. Right fielder Ramon Laureano led off the third inning with a single and went as far as third base with two outs but Null retired three in a row to end the inning.
In a scoreless game in the top of the fourth inning, River Bandits All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu doubled to left field and went to third base when All-Star second baseman Mott Hyde (starting at shortstop Saturday) singled to left field. Trompiz hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the game's first run, and Bottger singled to move Hyde to second base, but Laureano grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice. Null retired seven River Bandits in a row to finish his outing, allowing five hits and no walks with four strikeouts in six innings.
Before Brockmeyer's home run, River Bandits right-hander Francis Martes (0-1) did not allow a hit for his first 3 2/3 innings, extending the longest hitless streak by a Quad Cities pitcher this season to 8 1/3 innings. After Cubs All-Star center fielder Charcer Burks began the game reaching on an error by Trompiz, Martes got All-Star shortstop Gleyber Torres to ground to Trompiz for a double play. In the third inning, Martes walked two batters with one out but retired the next two Cubs, stranding runners at second and third bases in a scoreless game.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Brockmeyer - an All-Star catcher for the Eastern Division - sent a 2-1 pitch from Martes over the left-center field wall to tie the game, 1-1. Third baseman Jason Vosler doubled but was stranded at second base. In the fifth inning, right fielder Jeffrey Baez had a one-out bunt single, and Burks singled to right field to put runners at first and third bases. Torres then grounded back to Martes who threw to All-Star catcher Jacob Nottingham to tag out Baez at home plate. With runners at first and second bases in a 1-1 tie, Ely lined a single to left-center field, scoring Burks for a 2-1 Cubs lead. Martes was charged with two earned runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings.
River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell followed Martes with three shutout innings. He worked around a hit batter in the sixth inning and after walking two batters around a single by Vosler in the eighth inning, he struck out Hodges with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Against the Cubs bullpen, Quad Cities put a runner on base in each inning but could not score. Trompiz led off the seventh inning with a single against right-hander Francisco Carrillo, who retired the next three batters and stranded Trompiz at third base. Designated hitter Jamie Ritchie walked to chase Carrillo in the eighth inning and stole second base, but right-hander James Farris retired Nottingham and Tanielu on flyouts. Hyde's leadoff single in the ninth inning was erased on a double play as Farris went on to record five outs for his eighth save.
The River Bandits continue their series in South Bend at 1:05 p.m. Central on Sunday. River Bandits right-hander Brandon McNitt (0-2) is scheduled to face Cubs right-hander Erick Leal (4-3).
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