08
Apr
2016
Kernels plate ten runs over final three innings to drop Bandits
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Quad Cities River Bandits opened their season with a 12-4 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels plated ten runs over their final three offensive innings, capped by a six-run eighth inning to put the River Bandits away. Johnny Sewald was the bright spot offensively for the River Bandits, driving in three runs and stealing a pair of bases in the loss.
The River Bandits (0-1) made four errors in the first two innings, leading to two unearned runs scoring in the Kernels (1-0) second. Rogelio Armentaros (0-1) didn't allow another run, but took the loss. He struck out five in four innings of work while allowing just the two unearned runs on five hits. Randy Leblanc (1-0) got the win, surrendering one run on three hits in five innings.
After Leblanc retired the first seven hitters he faced, the Bandits finally got to him with a one-out double by Anthony Hermelyn in the third inning. He would eventually score on a Sewald groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Still trailing by the same score, the Bandits put runners at the corners with one out in the sixth, but an inning-ending double play halted the threat. Then the Kernels began pulling away.
A ground-ball single by Christian Cavaness and a bloop double down the left-field line by Lamonte Wade plated a pair of runs in the home sixth. Then, in the seventh, A.J. Murray hit a two-run home run over the left-field wall.
After the River Bandits got a run back in the eighth with a Kyle Tucker RBI ground out, the Kernels answered with a six-run home half to put the game out of reach. Three walks and three hits in the inning did the damage, capped by a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double by Chris Paul, who had three hits in the game.
Sewald had a two-run single in the ninth to inch the River Bandits closer, giving him his second and third RBIs of the day. Quad Cities sent eight to the plate in the top of the ninth, playing hard to the final out.
Other positives for the Bandits included Hermelyn reaching base all four times and Tucker driving in his first run of the season. Ryan Deemes also pitched a scoreless inning of relief, stranding the bases loaded.
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