One-run win hands Bandits series opener in Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The River Bandits beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-6 on Thursday night at Perfect Game Field. Troy Sieber and Abraham Toro-Hernandez hit back-to-back jacks in the fifth. Jesus Balaguer earned the win out of relief.
Ronnie Dawson roped a singled up the middle in the second to give the Bandits (31-15, 68-46) a 1-0 lead. Ben Rortvedt collected an RBI single for the Kernels (20-26, 59-57) in the third to tie the score. A two-run single from Luis Payano regained the lead for the Bandits, 3-1, in the fourth. Back-to-back homers from Sieber and Toro-Hernandez extended the lead to 5-1. Cedar Rapids used a solo homer from Jimmy Kerrigan and an RBI single from Shane Carrier to trim the score to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Quad Cities took a 7-3 lead in the seventh inning. Dawson hit a ball to third base with two outs. The throw was wide and up the line allowing a run to score. Dawson got in a run-down and retreated to first safely, allowing the second run to score, making it 7-3 Bandits. Amaurys Minier hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Christian Cavaness hit an opposite field homer to lead off the eighth, puling Cedar Rapids to within two runs. Lewin Diaz followed with an RBI single in the eighth, to make it a one-run game.
Carlos Sanabria pitched 4.2 innings, allowed three runs on six hits while striking out six and walking five in a no-decision. Devon Carr allowed three runs on three hits and three walks over 2.1 innings. Balaguer (3-0) allowed a run in the eighth, but struck out two batters in his lone inning. Salvador Montano worked around a two-out walk to earn his fifth save. Tyler Watson took the loss for Cedar Rapids. Watson (0-2) surrendered five runs on eight hits over five innings in his start.
Game two of the four-game series is Friday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Yohan Ramirez (3-4, 4.15) toes the rubber for the Bandits. RHP Clark Beeker (10-3, 2.15) takes the ball for the Kernels. Jake Levy and Connor Onion have coverage beginning at 6:20 p.m. on 1170 AM KBOB and riverbandits.com.
