MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Rattlers Steal 10-Inning Series Finale from Bandits

Published on August 21, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 20, 2015) - Wisconsin first baseman Alan Sharkey was 3-for-6 with three RBIs, including two-out, run-scoring singles in each the ninth and 10th innings, as the Timber Rattlers came back from a 4-1 deficit to beat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 7-4, in 10 innings in the teams' season series finale in front of 5,990 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.

Wisconsin (18-33 second half, 41-80 overall) began its road back from a three-run deficit in the sixth inning with three consecutive men reaching against River Bandits starter Agapito Barrios on two singles and an error by second baseman Luis Reynoso. Right fielder Sthervin Matos stung a ball right at third baseman Nick Tanielu for the first out, but Barrios was lifted from the game for left-handed reliever Zach Davis. Davis gave up a hit to left fielder Mitch Meyer, scoring one run and making it 4-2, before retiring catcher Natanael Mejia on an infield fly and getting third baseman Luis Aviles to hit into an inning-ending force out at second.

Davis retired the last seven men he faced, including four strikeouts, before giving way to Jorge Perez (1-3), who retired the last man of the eighth inning and the first batter in the ninth before falling into trouble. Mejia singled and gave way to pinch runner Omar Cotto with the tying run at the plate. Perez retired third baseman Aviles for the second out of the ninth inning, before allowing an RBI single to Sharkey and an RBI double by shortstop Blake Allemand to tie the game, 4-4.

In the 10th inning, Perez retired the first two batters. Matos reached on an infield single, and Meyer reached on a bunt single, before Perez's wild pitch advanced each runner one base. Catcher Greg McCall, who had taken over Cotto's spot after the top of the ninth inning, drew a walk to load the bases. Aviles reached on a go-ahead infield single to the shortstop side of the pitcher's mound, and Sharkey lined a two-run single to right field, giving the Timber Rattlers a 7-4 lead and knocking Perez out of the game for Ryan Thompson, who walked a batter before an inning-ending strikeout with a three-run deficit.

In the bottom of the 10th, Wisconsin right-hander Scott Lieser (2-2) set down the River Bandits (32-20, 77-43) in order to finish Wisconsin's second win in 15 games this season with Quad Cities. Lieser scattered four hits in three scoreless innings with one strikeout.

The Timber Rattlers scored six of their seven runs with two outs, beginning with a first-inning run for the second consecutive game. With two outs, designated hitter Elvis Rubio doubled and later advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by Barrios. Second baseman Tucker Neuhaus then struck out on a pitch in the dirt that got away from catcher Garrett Stubbs, allowing Neuhaus to reach and Rubio to score.

Quad Cities tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the first against Wisconsin starter Eric Hanhold, who allowed all four Quad Cities runs. Tanielu singled up the middle and advanced to second on a walk issued to first baseman Bryan Muñiz. Right fielder Drew Ferguson then singled to left field to score Tanielu and make it 1-1.

The River Bandits struck for two more in the bottom of the second inning, beginning with a leadoff single by designated hitter Ramon Laureano, who stole second base. Reynoso struck out, but shortstop Kristian Trompiz hit his first of three doubles to left field to score Laureano, giving Quad Cities a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Boyd then singled to center field, scoring Trompiz and increasing the lead to 3-1. In the fourth inning, Trompiz and Boyd hit back-to-back doubles to give the River Bandits a 4-1 lead.

The River Bandits head to Kane County for three games beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m., when right-hander Thomas Eshelman is scheduled to make his River Bandits debut and set a Quad Cities 56-year franchise record as the 32nd pitcher the team has used this season.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits open a six-game homestand with Military Monday presented by 97X and ESPN 93.5. All veterans and active military may purchase up to four bleacher tickets for $1 each to attend the 7 p.m. game, with gates opening at 6 p.m. Monday. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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