MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

River Bandits Drop Series Finale against Whitecaps, 8-6

Published on April 28, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa - The West Michigan Whitecaps capitalized on two errors, five wild pitches and seven walks en route to an 8-6 victory over the Quad Cities River Bandits in the series finale on a chilly Saturday night in front of 1,033 at Modern Woodmen Park. The River Bandits were aided by 10 walks, including five in the ninth inning, from Whitecaps pitchers, but only managed five hits in the rubber match that gave Quad Cities its sixth loss in eight games and its third straight series loss.

Quad Cities right-handed starter Sam Gaviglio was hit early, as the Whitecaps jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead. With a runner at second and two outs, he walked Whitecaps first baseman Dean Green walked. A single by designated hitter Aaron Westlake plated center fielder Chad Wright, and catcher Curt Casali drove in Green and Westlake with a single to right field.

The Whitecaps added one in the second inning courtesy of an RBI single by second baseman Eugenio Suarez. West Michigan pushed across its fifth run in the fourth, when Wright hit a bases-loaded ball that bounced off the glove of shortstop Matt Williams and allowed Jason Krizan to score, making it 5-0 against Gaviglio (1-2),who lasted only four innings, allowing five runs - four earned - on six hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Gaviglio was also charged with a wild pitch that allowed runners to advance in the fourth inning.

After going scoreless with just two hits against right-hander Tommy Collier (2-1) in the first five innings, the River Bandits scored three times in the sixth off right-handed reliever Tim Kelley. Center fielder Nick Martini and designated hitter Colin Walsh hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. First baseman David Medina then walked to extend his on-base streak to a Midwest League-leading 21 games. With the bases loaded, Roberto De La Cruz snapped an 0-for-6 skid since coming off the disabled list by hitting a single up the middle to bring in Martini. Right fielder Virgil Hill then drove a ball just shy of the warning track in right that scored Walsh with the second run. Second baseman Luis Mateo cut it to 6-3 on another sacrifice fly, but with two outs and the tying run at the plate, right-hander Melvin Mercedes came on to strike out Jesus Montero for the final out of the game.

After scoring once in the top of the sixth on a wild pitch by right-hander Willy Paulino, the Whitecaps scored one each in the seventh and eighth innings without a hit. West Michigan took advantage of three wild pitches by Paulino, a balk by right-hander Robert Stock and two walks from each River Bandits pitcher to open an 8-3 lead.

When the game looked all but over, Quad Cities rallied without a hit in the ninth against right-hander Ramon Lebron, who walked the first three men he faced before being relieved by right-hander Michael Torrealba. But Torrealba walked in two runs around a strikeout of Walsh and allowed another run when De La Cruz reached first on catcher's interference to force in the third run of the inning and make it 8-6. A strikeout of Hill and a fly out by third baseman Jeremy Patton ended the rally with the tying run and winning runs on base, giving Torrealba his third save.

Despite losing the season series to West Michigan for the first time since 2009, Quad Cities stayed in first place in the Western Division by a half game over Beloit and Wisconsin, which both lost on Saturday. The River Bandits open a three-game series at 2 p.m. Sunday against South Bend. Left-hander Dail Villanueva (1-1) will square off against Silver Hawks left-hander John Pedrotty (1-0).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits begin a series with the South Bend Silver Hawks on the first U.S. Bank Family Sunday, April 29, presented by KWQC and B100, which includes Bark in the Park and kids running the bases after the 2 p.m. game. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at (563) 3-BANDIT and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from April 28, 2012


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