Sinnery Nearly Immaculate in Hawks' Loss

May 3, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Critical errors in the sixth and eighth innings kept the South Bend Silver Hawks from extending their winning streak to eight on Friday night as the Quad Cities River Bandits rallied from a 2-0 deficit to steal the last game of the three game series by a score of 3-2.

Brandon Sinnery got the start for South Bend (18-7) and came into the contest leading the Midwest League with a 0.90 ERA. He did not disappoint as he was dominant through the first six innings and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, allowing just one unearned run in seven innings of work while giving up just two hits.

The Silver Hawks, who lead the Midwest League Eastern Division, got on the board in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. Jordan Jankowski started for Quad Cities (16-10) and quickly retired the first two batters. Designated hitter Brandon Drury broke the early deadlock by launching a 1-1 offering into the left-field seats for his second homerun of the season, aided by a thirteen knot wind.

The Hawks, the Class-A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, added a second run in the bottom of the second inning. Catcher Roidany Aguila led off the inning with a hard single up the middle. With two outs and Aguila still on first, shortstop Pedro Ruiz grounded a base hit through the right side to advance Aguila all the way around to third. Second baseman Fidel Pena came up clutch with a ringing double to right field to score Aguila. Jankowski was able to retire to center fielder Socrates Brito on a groundout to second base to avoid any further trouble.

The offenses would come up empty over the next four innings as the middle innings turned into a strikeout-fest. Sinnery struck out seven Bandits over the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings while Jankowski and Quad Cities reliever Brian Holmes (3-2) nearly matched him with five strikeouts of the Silver Hawks over the same innings.

With two outs in the seventh, it looked like Sinnery might get out of the inning until Jesse Wierzbicki reached first on a throwing error by Hawks shortstop Ruiz. Miles Hamblin spoiled Sinnery's gem by singling back up the middle to center. Roberto Pena followed with a slow grounder that was fielded behind the second base bag. After an attempt to get Hamblin at second, Ruiz picked up the loose ball and fired home. Ruiz's throw was short allowing Wierzbicki to score the unearned run on E-6 throwing. Sinnery would complete the seventh with a 2-1 lead. He tossed 94 pitches, fanning eight River Bandits, while allowing just two walks.

The River Bandits, Class-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros, knotted the game in the eighth on Teoscar Hernandez's solo homerun to left off Hawks reliever Chris Capper (2-1). South Bend threatened in the eighth as Brito beat out an infield bunt single to the second baseman. Brandon Drury then singled to left. But that would be all for the Hawks as Quad City reliever Holmes started a 1-6-3 double play to end the rally.

In the ninth, Wierzbicki continued to pluck at the Hawks' feathers as he led off with a double to the right field corner. Wierzbicki quickly advanced to third after Capper's pickoff attempt at second was well ahead of Ruiz covering the bag and sailed into center. Brito fielded the ball but dropped it before making the throw resulting in E-8 fielding and Wierzbicki on third with no outs. Hamblin's single to shallow right plated Wierzbicki to give Quad City the 3-2 lead that closer John Neely (S, 4) needed to shut the door on South Bend and end their seven game winning streak.

It's giveaways galore Saturday night at Coveleski Regional Stadium! The Silver Hawks will be giving away fleece blankets to the first 500 fans, on top of nine flat screen televisions. First pitch is at 7:05pm as the Silver Hawks begin a three-game battle of division leaders as they take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels. For South Bend, Blake Perry (0-1, 4.97 ERA) will start against Tyler Duffey (3-1, 2.60) for the Kernels.



Midwest League Stories from May 3, 2013


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