MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Strong Start by Hernandez Leads Quad Cities to 4-1 Win

Published on May 26, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits relied on strong pitching and timely hitting Saturday night, beating the Cedar Rapids Kernels 4-1 at Perfect Game Field at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the River Bandits' second consecutive win.

Left-hander Hector Hernandez (3-3) turned in arguably his best start of the season, pitching six innings and allowing just one run on four hits, walking three and striking out six. In three starts against the Kernels this season, Hernandez has allowed just three earned runs over 19.1 innings of work, on ten hits and seven walks.

The River Bandits (23-25) scored twice in the top of the third inning. Center fielder Nick Martini doubled to lead off the inning and after a Virgil Hill groundout, Luis Mateo singled and advanced to third on an error by right fielder Andy Workman, scoring Martini from second. Kernels' starter Eswarlin Jimenez hit River Bandits' shortstop Matt Williams with a pitch, and Tyler Rahmatulla scored Mateo from third with a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat, giving Quad Cities a 2-0 lead. Mateo has now scored a run in Quad Cities' last eight games, a team-high.

Cedar Rapids (22-26) scored once in the bottom of the sixth inning, on a double play turned by Quad Cities with runners on the corners. The ground ball off the bat of Frazier Hall scored Ryan Jones from third, and Kaleb Cowart struck out to end the inning in the following at-bat.

Quad Cities added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth, when Colin Walsh hit a two-run home run to left off Jimenez that scored Rahmatulla, who led off the inning with a single. With the homer, Walsh is now tied for the Midwest-League lead at eleven, with Miguel Sano of the Beloit Snappers.

Travis Miller, Bob Revesz and Heath Wyatt combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Quad Cities, allowing just one hit in relief of Hernandez. With a scoreless ninth, Wyatt earned his sixth save of the year for the River Bandits. Quad Cities' bullpen now has a scoreless streak of 9 2/3 innings, dating back to the sixth inning of the May 24 loss against Wisconsin.

On Sunday, Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids will play a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. Right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (1-2) will start for the River Bandits and left-hander Michael Johnson (2-3) will start for Cedar Rapids in the opener.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park to host the Beloit Snappers at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, to begin a six-game home stand with Men in Black III Night and a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by Mix 96. 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 26, 2012


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