Seven-run seventh helps cap off year with 12-1 victory
BURLINGTON, Iowa – The Quad Cities River Bandits scored seven runs in the seventh inning en route to a 12-1 victory over the Burlington Bees in the season finale on Monday afternoon at Community Field. The Bandits knocked six hits including an inside-the-park homer from Pat Porter in the seven-run frame, the most runs scored in an inning this year for Quad Cities. Dexture McCall had four hits including a homer and triple and Marlon Avea collected three hits while Bobby Wernes knocked two doubles in the season-ending victory. The 12 runs put on the board by Quad Cities matched a season-high for runs in a game by the Bandits. Justin Ferrell retired 13-straight to close out the season-ending victory.
Leading 2-1, Avea led off the seventh with a single and Wernes followed with a double. McCall singled home Avea and Wernes scored on a ground out from Stephen Wrenn. Pat Porter knocked his ninth homer of the year, an inside-the-park blast off the right-center wall, to plate two. Arturo Michelena walked and Randy Cesar collected a two-out single. Hector Roa popped up but the ball was dropped by Matt Thiass to score Michelena. Avea’s second single of the frame scored two to cap off the frame and give Quad Cities (30-40, 61-78) a 9-1 lead over Burlington (36-34, 68-72).
Wernes kicked off the Bandit offense by doubling on the first pitch of the contest. McCall laced a ball to right-center, scoring Wernes to give Quad Cities a 1-0 lead in the first, but was out trying to stretch the single into a double.
McCall led off the third frame with a triple and came across to score on a ground out by Porter, pushing the Bandits lead to 2-0.
Jared Walsh worked a leadoff walk in the fifth and moved to third base on back-to-back groundouts. Jahmai Jones knocked a two-out single to bring home Walsh and cut the Bandit lead in half, 2-1.
Quad Cities added insurance in the eighth and ninth. Wrenn led off with a double and scored on a single from Jake Rogers. Cesar knocked a two-out single to plate Roger and put the Bandits on top, 11-1. McCall matched Porter for the team-high in homers with his ninth blast of the season, a solo-shot in the ninth to give the Bandits a 12-1 lead.
Matt Bower took no decision in his start for Quad Cities. The lefty gave up one run on three hits and a walk over 4.2 innings while striking out three. Ferrell (5-6) picked up the victory for Quad Cities. The right-hander retired all thirteen batters he faced over 4.1 innings of scoreless, hitless relief while striking out five.
Erik Manoah (0-1) took the loss in his Midwest League debut for Burlington, allowing two runs over three innings on five hits and two walks.
For information regarding the 2017 Quad Cities River Bandits season at Modern Woodmen Park, visit us on the web at www.riverbandits.com or call (563) 324-3000.
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