MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

River Bandits Eliminated After Rally Falls Short in Beloit

September 1, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


BELOIT, Wis. - After avoiding elimination for three straight nights, the Quad Cities River Bandits nearly completed a ninth-inning comeback from a 6-1 deficit, but they fell, 6-5, to the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field to officially drop out of playoff contention Saturday night.

With a five-run deficit entering the ninth inning, the River Bandits (32-36 second half, 67-70 overall) began a rally against Beloit right-hander Tim Atherton. Second baseman Colin Walsh drew a leadoff walk, and designated hitter Stephen Piscotty was hit by a pitch on his left forearm. He was removed from the game for pinch runner Anthony Melchionda before first baseman David Medina drew a walk to load the bases.

Right-hander D.J. Baxendale entered the game to face third baseman Luis Mateo, who lined a two-run single to right-center field, bringing in two runs to cut the deficit to 6-3. Catcher Casey Rasmus hit a shallow pop up to center field that dropped for a base hit to reload the bases. Then right fielder Gary Apelian grounded a base hit to right field that was mishandled by right fielder Wang-Wei Lin, allowing two more runs to score, making it 6-5.

After left fielder Jordan Walton put down a sacrifice bunt, Rasmus and Apelian stood in scoring position as the tying and go-ahead runs with one out. Shortstop Matt Williams battled to a full count against Baxendale before bouncing a grounder to third baseman A.J. Pettersen, who reached to tag out Rasmus before throwing across the diamond to complete an unusual double play and end the game.

The River Bandits had taken a first-inning lead on an RBI single by Piscotty, but Beloit (37-31, 76-62) answered with a game-tying RBI double by first baseman Kennys Vargas in the bottom of the inning. The Snappers took the lead in the second inning with a two-out rally, as catcher Matt Koch hit a double to left field and scored when right fielder Nate Roberts hit an RBI single to center field.

After the second inning, left-hander Hector Hernandez (7-8) allowed only three hits more hits and a run in the fifth inning when Vargas hit a sacrifice fly that scored designated hitter Eddie Rosario. In his final start of the season, Hernandez went six innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Right-hander Ricky Martinez allowed a run in the seventh inning, and right-hander Robert Stock allowed two unearned runs following a throwing error by Walsh in the eighth inning.

Meanwhile, Snappers right-hander Tyler Jones (5-5) shut out Quad Cities from the second to seventh innings. Quad Cities put runners at first and third base in the third inning, but center fielder Nick Martini was caught trying to steal second base, and Walsh flied out to right field to end the threat. The River Bandits again threatened to score in the sixth inning, as Martini reached third base but was thrown out trying to score on Walsh's groundout to first base. Jones finished seven innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out nine. Left-hander Mason Melotakis pitched a scoreless eighth inning in relief.

Beloit won its fourth straight game and has won 10 of 14 meetings with Quad Cities. The two teams play the second-to-last game of the regular season at 2 p.m. Sunday, when River Bandits right-hander Brad Watson (3-4) faces Snappers left-hander Matt Tomshaw (4-5).

UP NEXT: Now is the time to lock in your season ticket plan for the 2013 season! Make a $25 deposit per seat by Sept. 30, and you are automatically entered for a chance to win a suite for a River Bandits home game in April 2013! Call 563-322-6348 (563-3-BANDIT) for more information or visit www.riverbandits.com to download the season ticket order form. 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



Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2012


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.

OurSports Central