Williams Homers in Return to Lineup, Bandits Fall to Kernels

July 9, 2022 - Midwest League (MWL)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release

Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Cam Williams homered in his first back in the lineup since May 15, but it wasn't enough for the Quad Cities River Bandits, who fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 9-2 on Friday night at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

All 11 runs in the ballgame came on home runs and it was the Kernels who struck first, with Seth Gray taking Bandits' starter William Fleming deep for a three-run shot in the first inning.

Working with an early lead, Kernels right-hander David Festa cruised through the first third of the game, retiring the first 11 Quad Cities hitters he faced before his offense struck again with back-to-back homers in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of Jake Rucker (two-run) and Dylan Neuse (solo).

The fourth inning would be the final frame for Fleming, who allowed six runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in his 4.0-inning start.

In the fifth, the River Bandits finally got their first hit against Festa, a Peyton Wilson single, and loaded the bases against the right-hander, but after a seven-pitch at-bat, Diego Hernadnez struck out swinging to end the threat.

Festa would return for the sixth, his final frame, and recorded his eighth strikeout to complete the outing.

After Patrick Halligan tossed a scoreless fifth and sixth himself, Williams ended the shutout bid and homered against reliever Matthew Swain, but the Kernels responded in the bottom half with their third three-run inning of the night, as Alerick Soularie left the yard as well with a three-run blast off Halligan.

Hernandez added his fifth home run of the season with a solo homer in the eighth to give the Bandits their second run, but it was too little too late, as Ryan Shreeve closed out the contest with 1.1 scoreless innings for Cedar Rapids.

In his second start as a member of the Royals' organization, Fleming (0-1) took the loss for Quad Cities, while Festa (5-0) remained perfect in his High-A campaign.

The River Bandits will make up Thursday's postponed game as part of a seven-inning doubleheader tomorrow, with game one of the twin bill beginning at 5:35pm at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Rito Lugo (0-0) will make his Bandits' debut and get the game one start against Cedar Rapids' Sean Mooney (2-2, 2.54).

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• Valenzuela Homers in Friday Night Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Williams Homers in Return to Lineup, Bandits Fall to Kernels - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Williams Homers in Return to Lineup, Bandits Fall to Kernels - Quad Cities River Bandits

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