Two home runs in five-run fifth sink Bandits in rubber match
EASTLAKE, Ohio -- A five-run fifth inning buried the Quad Cities River Bandits in a 9-4 loss to the Lake County Captains Sunday afternoon at Classic Park. Myles Straw had three hits out of the lead-off spot while Kyle Tucker, Pat Porter, and Hector Roa all had RBI hits in the game. The loss cost the Bandits the series with Lake County and gave them an even 3-3 record for the six-game road trip to the Eastern Division.
The comeback came after the Captains scored the first six runs of the game, using two home runs to take the lead in the fifth. Willi Castro opened the scoring with a grand slam in the frame before Nathan Lukes launched a solo shot, his third one of the series. A double by David Amendariz added to the lead in the sixth.
The first five runs came off Chris Murphy (3-6), who had worked four scoreless before the big fifth inning. He induced three double play balls in the game and surrendered eight hits while walking two and striking out one. Matt Esparza (8-6) got the win for Lake Count. Going six scoreless innings, he allowed four hits and struck out seven. Devin Stewart made his first appearance of the year and got the Captains out of the eighth-inning jam before tossing a scoreless ninth to earn his first save of the year.
After a pair of off days, Quad Cities returns home for a nine-game, ten-day homestand starting Wednesday, July 20, against the Dayton Dragons. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT with gates opening at 6:00 for a Wacky Wednesday, featuring $10 all-you-can-ride amusement passes. Right-hander Yoanys Quiala (1-7, 4.35) gets the start for the Bandits against lefty Jacob Constante (4-7, 4.73) for the Dragons. You can catch the broadcast with Jake Levy and Lance Ragland, starting with the LLOYD Agencies Pregame Show at 6:45, on 1170 AM K-BOB, riverbandits.com and the TuneIn app; as well as MiLB.TV.
