MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

River Bandits Squander Late Lead in 4-2 Loss to Snappers

Published on May 16, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


With a chance to gain ground against the Midwest League Western Division-leading Beloit Snappers, the Quad Cities River Bandits wasted a stellar start by left-hander Kyle Hald, as Snappers catcher Matthew Koch hit a go-ahead, three-run home run against right-handed reliever Brandon Creath in the seventh inning of a 4-2 Snappers win at Pohlman Field in Beloit, Wis.

The third straight loss dropped the River Bandits (19-20) below .500 for the first time since April 7, when they were 1-2. Quad Cities is now 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Snappers (25-15), who have won five straight games.

In a bid for his first win of the season in his seventh start, Hald matched his longest outing with six shutout innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out five batters. He allowed only one baserunner to reach third base and left with a 2-0 lead after six innings.

The River Bandits took a first-inning lead when third baseman Tyler Rahmatulla hit a two-out double to left field and was singled home by designated hitter Colin Walsh, who collected his team-high 26th RBI. Quad Cities has scored first in 10 of the last 11 games but has won only four of those contests.

The River Bandits scored again in the fourth. With two outs, catcher Juan Castillo hit a double to left field. The next batter, first baseman David Medina, hit a single up the middle to score Castillo and give Quad Cities a 2-0 lead.

Creath (2-3) began the seventh inning by walking the first two batters he faced. After an unsuccessful sacrifice by first baseman Rory Rhodes, Koch hit a 3-2 pitch out of the park to center field, giving Beloit a 3-2 lead. Creath struck out designated hitter Tyler Grimes but was removed after two-thirds of an inning in which he allowed one hit and three runs to take his third straight losing decision.

Left-hander Danny Miranda entered for Quad Cities to get the final out of the seventh, but he allowed Beloit an insurance run when second baseman Adam Pettersen homered to left field leading off the eighth.

With a 4-2, ninth-inning lead, left-hander Ryan O'Rourke allowed a single by Walsh but retired left fielder Anthony Garcia on a strikeout and Castillo on a groundout to earn his second save. Garcia finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, snapping his 18-game on-base streak.

Quad Cities and Beloit will turn around to play the second game of the series Thursday morning at 11 a.m. Right-handers Sam Gaviglio (2-2) and Matt Summers (3-2) are scheduled to start for the River Bandits and Snappers, respectively.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return home Wednesday, May 23, to start a three-game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on another Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by Mix 96. Fans can bring copies of their bills to the ballpark to be entered in a drawing, from which two will be selected and paid by the River Bandits up to $100 each. 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 May 16, 2012


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