WINKELMAN SHUTS DOWN COUGARS AS BANDITS TAKE SERIES
River Bandits beat Kane County 3-1 in finale to take series by same countGENEVA, Ill. -- Kyle Tucker and Daz Cameron each drove in runs and Alex Winkelman tossed five scoreless innings to lead the Quad Cities River Bandits to a 3-1 win over the Kane County Cougars on a warm, hazy Sunday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. The Bandits took three of the four games in the series and finished their seven-game road trip with a 5-2 mark.
After the River Bandits (7-11) and Cougars (10-7) combined for just one run on Saturday, the starting pitchers were dueling again on Sunday afternoon. Winkelman (2-1) got the win for five scoreless innings while scattering five hits and a walk while striking out three. He hasn't allowed a run in his last nine innings on the mound.
His opposing pitcher, Cody Reed, was up for the challenge early in his first appearance of the year. He struck out eleven Bandits and at one point set down 14 Quad Cities hitters in a row. But the River Bandits finally got to Reed (0-1) in the sixth.
Antonio Nunez led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error during the play. Then Johnny Sewald laid a perfect bunt down the third base line to put runners at the corners. Cameron followed up with a bunt of his own, sacrificing himself to plate Nunez. Then Sewald took off for third during the throw back home and the throw to third skipped into the outfield, allowing Sewald to score on the play as well. Reed was charged with both runs, one earned, on three hits for the day.
Antonio Nunez led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error during the play. Then Johnny Sewald laid a perfect bunt down the third base line to put runners at the corners. Cameron followed up with a bunt of his own, sacrificing himself to plate Nunez. Then Sewald took off for third during the throw back home and the throw to third skipped into the outfield, allowing Sewald to score on the play as well. Reed was charged with both runs, one earned, on three hits for the day.
The Cougars got their run on a solo homer by Jason Morozowski in the seventh. It was the only run surrendered by reliever Ryan Deemes and the lone run he's allowed in 13 innings on the mound this season. Andrew Thome worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth before retiring the side in order in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Tucker picked up a pair of hits in the win. He's now hit safely in six straight games, safely reached base in 12 consecutive games and been on board in 16 of the 17 games he's played this season. He also drove in his team-leading seventh RBI, but Cameron kept pace by driving in his sixth of the year. Christian Correa caught another base stealer Sunday. Potential runners are now just two of six in trying to swipe bags on Correa this season. Quad Cities was outhit in Sunday's game, 11-6, but still held Kane County to just a run.
After an off day Monday, the Bandits are back at it Tuesday night when they host the South Bend Cubs to begin a three-game series and six-game home stand. There will be COMPLETELY FREE ADMISSION to Modern Woodmen Park on Tuesday night. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. CT with gates opening one hour prior. Fans can get their free tickets at the box office of Modern Woodmen Park any time starting Monday at 9:00 a.m. The game will also be available on air with Jake Levy and Lance Ragland starting at 6:45 p.m. with the Lloyd Agencies Pregame Show on MiLB.TV, K-BOB 1170 AM, riverbandits.com and the TuneIn app. ****
RIVER BANDITS BLANKED BY COUGARS
First shutout loss of the season snaps four-game win streak
GENEVA, Ill. -- The Quad Cities River Bandits offense was kept off the scoreboard for the first time in 2016 in a 1-0 loss to the Kane County Cougars Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Rogelio Armenteros allowed one run on three hits but took the loss while Kyle Tucker extended his hitting streak to five games in a losing effort.
The River Bandits (6-11) threatened with two runners aboard in the fifth and sixth innings, but couldn't push a run across either time. Kane County (10-6) got the run in their half of the sixth, when Joe Munoz softly singled to center to chase home Zach Nehrir. Armenteros allowed the Nehrir single before striking out Trevor Mitsui. During the strikeout, Nehrir stole second and pitch count forced Armenteros out of the game. Adam Whitt came to the mound and his first pitch was lofted by Munoz for the game-winner.
Taylor Clarke (2-1) was sharp on the mound for Kane County. The starter went six shutout innings, scattering four hits and a walk while striking out four to get the win. Brody Greer had a scoreless inning of relief and Jared Miller got the final six outs, allowing one hit with two outs in the ninth by Brooks Marlow, to pick up his first save of the year.
Armenteros (0-2) went 5.2 innings, allowing the run on three hits and three walks while striking out five. Ralph Garza had a perfect eighth inning, including a strikeout.
Armenteros (0-2) went 5.2 innings, allowing the run on three hits and three walks while striking out five. Ralph Garza had a perfect eighth inning, including a strikeout.
Quad Cities had their four-game win streak snapped, but can still take the four-game set from Kane County with a win in the finale on Sunday. Alex Winkelman (1-1, 8.25) takes mound for the River Bandits against Cody Reed, who makes his first appearance of the season. The final contest of a seven-game road trip begins at 1:00 p.m. CT and can be heard live on the air with Jake Levy, starting at 12:45 p.m. with the Lloyd Agencies Pregame Show on K-BOB 1170 AM, riverbandits.com and on the TuneIn app.
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BANDITS EDGE COUGARS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
Trio of pitchers strong on the mound in narrow victory
GENEVA, Ill. -- The Quad Cities River Bandits compiled just three hits, but a strong pitching performance and some help from the Kane County Cougars defense helped the Bandits to a 3-2 win Friday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Sebastian Kessay and Kevin McCanna each threw four strong innings sandwiching a scoreless frame from Ryan Deemes to help the Bandits pick up their fourth straight win.
Quad Cities (6-10) has now won the first two contests of the four-game set. All three of the runs were unearned thanks to a pair of Kane County (9-6) errors. A third-inning blunder by Joe Munoz kept the inning alive and allowed Antonio Nunez to score. Then, with the game tied 1-1 in the sixth, reliever Joel Payamps couldn't catch a flip to the first base bag and the ball rolled into the Kane County dugout, bringing Brooks Marlow in to score. Bobby Wernes followed up with an RBI groundout to plate Christian Correa and provide some insurance.
After Kessay allowed just one unearned run on one hit in four innings, Deemes (1-0) used a double play ball to face the minimum in the fifth and pick up the win. McCanna kept the Bandits in from the rest of the way for a four-inning save; his first of the year. The Cougars rattled off three straight hits in the seventh and plated a run while putting runners at the corners with one out. Correa was able to gun down a would-be base stealer and McCanna polished off a strikeout with the next pitch to end the threat.
Payamps (0-2) took the loss in four innings of relief. He gave up the two unearned runs on one hit and a walk. Junior Garcia struck out eighth River Bandits in five innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits, but did not factor into the decision. Kyle Tucker had a first-inning single off Garcia, extending his hitting streak to four games. Marlow and Johnny Sewald had the other two knocks for Quad Cities.
Quad Cities looks to guarantee a series victory and make it five wins in a row Saturday in a 1:15 p.m. CT start against the Cougars. Rogelio Armenteros (0-1, 2.08) gets the start for the River Bandits against Taylor Clarke (1-1, 2.92) for Kane County. You can hear the game live with Jake Levy, starting at 1:00 with the Lloyd Agencies Pregame Show on K-BOB 1170 AM, riverbandits.com or the TuneIn app.
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