Quad Cities wins rubber match over Cedar Rapids
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The River Bandits defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-4 on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Taylor Jones hit his 5th home run of the season and Erasmo Pinales earned the win in relief for the Bandits.
The Bandits (35-30) fell into an early hole. In the first, Cedar Rapids (37-31) scored twice. Travis Blankenhorn tripled to lead off the game and score on Jermaine Palacios’ RBI single. Jaylin Davis added to the Kernels lead with an RBI double. Quad Cities responded in the bottom of the inning on Alvarez’s RBI single and an RBI ground out from Ronnie Dawson. Tied at two in the fourth, Jones clubbed a tie-breaking home run to left to make it 3-2 Bandits. Jones ripped an RBI single in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-2.
In the eighth, the Kernels cut the lead to one on Lewin Diaz’s sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Davis tied the game with an RBI single to left. The throw from left was cut off and the throw to second resulted in a close play at second involving Davis. Bandits’ manager Russ Steinhorn protested the call, resulting in his ejection.
In the bottom of the eighth, Quad Cities threatened with runners on the corners and no one out. Marcos Almonte hit a ball back to the mound that was fielded by Kernels pitcher Alex Robinson. Robinson threw out Daz Cameron at third. With the score still tied, Robinson loaded the bases with one out. Alvarez plated the eventual winning run with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Wander Franco.
Gabriel Valdez started for the Bandits, lasting six innings, allowing two runs on six hits in a no-decision. Kernels’ starter Clark Beeker also received a no-decision after 4.2 innings, surrendering four runs – three earned – on eight hits. Pinales (3-1) blew the save in the eighth, but bounced back in the ninth to earn the win. Robinson (1-5) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
With the win, the Bandits are one game behind Cedar Rapids and a game and half behind Kane County in the Midwest League West Division with three games to play. The top two finishers in each division in the first half qualify for the playoffs.
Quad Cities heads to Beloit to finish the first half. RHP Carlos Sanabria (2-2, 6.30) heads to the mound tomorrow night in the opener against Beloit RHP Mitchell Jordan (1-6, 5.04). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Jake Levy has pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. on riverbandits.com and 1170 AM KBOB.
