Shortstop is the youngest of 13 players selected by the league's field managers

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 30, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits shortstop Carlos Correa has been named the shortstop on the 2013 Midwest League Postseason All-Star team. The Houston Astros prospect is the youngest player on the team that was selected by the league's 16 field managers and announced by the league on Friday.

On a playoff-bound Quad Cities club, the 18-year-old Correa holds a .318 batting average that currently ranks third in the Midwest League and first among Houston Astros full-season minor leaguers. Correa is second in the league with a .405 on-base percentage and .868 on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) average, and he also leads the River Bandits with a 138 hits, 33 doubles, and 77 RBIs in 113 games. Correa won Quad Cities Player of the Month honors in both May and June, when he hit for a combined .360 average with two home runs, 33 runs scored and 33 RBIs in 47 games.

The native of Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, and the No. 1 overall pick from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft was the starting shortstop for the Western Division All-Star team in the 2013 Midwest League All-Star Game June 18 in Dayton. Correa also won the fan vote for the final roster spot on the World Team for the 2013 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game July 14 at Citi Field in New York. In both games, Correa was the youngest player.

Correa entered the season ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Houston Astros minor league system, according to Baseball America. In midseason prospect rankings, he was the top Astros prospect according to Baseball America, ESPN.com and MLB.com, and each of three outlets ranked him among the top 10 overall prospects in baseball.

Along with River Bandits pitcher and 2013 No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel, Correa is part of the first-ever pair of consecutive No. 1 overall picks to play on the same Minor League Baseball team. The two were in the same lineup for seven of Appel's eight Midwest League starts this season.

The River Bandits have had three postseason all-stars the past two seasons, as outfielder Anthony Garcia and designated hitter Colin Walsh each earned the distinction in 2012. The Quad Cities franchise has had four Midwest League Postseason All-Stars as a Houston Astros affiliate. Outfielder Richard Hidalgo (1994), left-handed pitcher Tony Mounce (1995) and designated hitter Jim Thomas (1998) were each postseason all-stars.

Correa and the River Bandits (40-25 second half, 78-56 overall) will take the field at Modern Woodmen Park for their final three regular season games Saturday through Monday, and the team begins a best-of-three Midwest League Western Division semifinal with Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits' final homestand of the regular season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 31, with a Dallas Clark Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Barrel House 211 and CBS4 when gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Fireworks will also follow the game. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

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Quad Cities wins ninth game in its last 11 and keeps Wisconsin one game out of a playoff spot

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (AUG. 28, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski allowed one run on four hits in six innings, and left fielder Danry Vasquez hit a go-ahead two-run triple in a three-run sixth inning that helped the visitors to a 4-2 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium Wednesday night.

Playoff-bound Quad Cities (39-25 second half, 77-56 overall) won for the ninth time in the last 11 games to push its overall record a season-best 21 games over .500. With a loss, the defending Midwest League Champion Wisconsin (30-35, 59-71) remained one game behind Clinton (31-34, 64-70) with five games remaining to determine the final second-half playoff spot in the Western Division.

Devenski (4-3) pitched into the sixth inning for a fourth straight start and won for the fourth time in five starts. But he fell behind in the first inning, as Timber Rattlers shortstop Orlando Arcia hit a one-out single, and left fielder Victor Roache brought in the first run with single to center field. Around lone doubles in the second and third innings, Devenski kept the Timber Rattlers off the scoreboard for his final five innings. After a walk leading off the fourth, he induced a double play to begin a string of eight batters retired to end his outing.

Timber Rattlers right-hander Austin Ross was sharp for a second straight start against Quad Cities. Having allowed one hit in six shutout innings in Davenport Aug. 12, Ross opened the game by walking second baseman Tony Kemp before retiring 13 straight hitters. River Bandits catcher Roberto Pena broke the hitless spell with a one-out single in the fifth inning, but Ross finished five shutout frames.

In the sixth inning, left-hander Alan Williams (0-1) started by walking Kemp, who drew four walks in five plate appearances Wednesday. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez placed a sacrifice, and shortstop Carlos Correa drew a walk. Vasquez hit a ground ball down the first-base line that went into the right-field corner to bring in both runs and bring Vasquez to third base. On the next pitch, third baseman Rio Ruiz singled past the dive of Wisconsin third baseman Matt Garza for a 3-1 lead.

Right-hander Richard Rodriguez allowed Wisconsin to come within 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, as Garza hit a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Max Walla. Quad Cities answered the next half-inning, as Kemp scored when second baseman Adrian Williams misplayed a ground ball. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson ran his hitless streak to 8 2/3 innings with a perfect eighth, and right-hander Andrew Walter ran his scoreless streak to 10 1/3 innigns with a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save in as many nights.

Wednesday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount Thursday, Aug. 29. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Quad Cities continues its final regular season road series in Wisconsin at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. River Bandits left-hander Joe Bircher (3-3) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers right-hander Ryan Gibbard (4-6).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits' final homestand of the regular season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 31, with a Dallas Clark Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Barrel House 211 and CBS4 when gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Fireworks will also follow the game. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

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Quad Cities loses first extra-inning road game on Burlington's two-out, 10th-inning rally

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AUG. 26, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits were twice within an out of a one-run victory Monday night, but the Burlington Bees had a ninth-inning, two-out, game-tying double by Wade Hinkle, and following a 10th-inning dropped third strike, an eventual walk-off single by Pedro Toribio in a 3-2 Bees win at Community Field.

Quad Cities (37-25 second half, 75-56 overall) had its four-game winning streak snapped one day after clinching a second-half playoff berth. With a loss by Clinton (31-32, 64-68) Monday in Beloit, a Quad Cities win or Clinton loss in the final week of the season will seal a first-round match-up for the River Bandits with Cedar Rapids (42-20, 82-48), with Quad Cities hosting Game 1 at 7 p.m. Sept. 4.

Monday's game started as a pitchers' duel between Bees left-hander Ryan Crowley and River Bandits left-hander Josh Hader. Quad Cities got to the scoreboard in the second inning, as left fielder Danry Vasquez hit a leadoff single, and third baseman Rio Ruiz lined an RBI single down the right-field line for a 1-0 lead. Crowley then set down 12 batters in a row and only allowed one more runner to reach second base as he went on to match a season high with eight innings pitched. He allowed four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.

Hader made the lead hold through six shutout innings. He retired the first six batters before a leadoff single from third baseman Garrett Cannizaro in the third. But Hader induced a double play and later picked off a runner in the fourth inning. He struck out six batters - his most with the River Bandits - and only allowed one runner to reach scoring position.

Right-hander Zach Morton started the seventh inning and worked around two hits to keep the 1-0 lead into the ninth. Right fielder Riley Good led off the ninth with a single and went to second base on a sacrifice. Hinkle lifted a two-out fly ball down the left field line just beyond Vasquez's reach to bring in the tying run. Morton yielded four hits and one earned run with one strikeout in three innings.

In the River Bandits' first extra-inning road game since May 31, Ruiz and second baseman Austin Elkins each doubled in the 10^th inning on consecutive one-out pitches from right-hander Kurt Spomer for a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the 10^th, right-hander Patrick Christensen got the first two batters before Bees center fielder Chevy Clarke reached first base on a slow grounder between the pitcher's mound and home plate. Clarke stole second with designated hitter Matt Scioscia batting, and when Scioscia swung at strike three that got away from catcher Jobduan Morales, Clarke came around to score, because Morales' throw got away from first baseman Bobby Borchering. Right fielder Riley Good then beat out a ground ball to the right side of the infield, and Toribio followed by slapping a single through the left side to bring home pinch runner Julio Concepcion for the winning run.

Quad Cities plays its series finale in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor (7-3) will start against Bees left-hander Brandon Love (4-6).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits' final homestand of the regular season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 31, with a Dallas Clark Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Barrel House 211 and CBS4 when gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Fireworks will also follow the game. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

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Ticket information forthcoming for Sept. 4 playoff opener at Modern Woodmen Park

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AUG. 25, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-handers Mark Appel, Jamaine Cotton and Patrick Christensen combined to allow one run on four hits to the Burlington Bees, and Rio Ruiz and Roberto Pena each homered in a 5-1 victory that clinched the team a playoff berth Sunday afternoon at Community Field.

Quad Cities (37-24 second half, 75-55 overall) won its fourth straight game to become the first Midwest League team to clinch a second-half playoff berth. The River Bandits will open the postseason Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Modern Woodmen Park against either Cedar Rapids or Beloit - both first-half qualifiers. With a loss by Clinton (31-31, 64-67) Sunday in Beloit, any combination of Quad Cities wins and Clinton losses adding to two will seal a first-round match-up for the River Bandits with Cedar Rapids (42-20, 82-48).

As they did in Saturday's series opener, the River Bandits took a first-inning lead. Second baseman Tony Kemp drew a leadoff walk against left-hander Tyler DeLoach (5-5), and shortstop Carlos Correa drilled an RBI double over right fielder Julio Concepcion.

Appel (3-1) allowed the Bees' only run in the bottom of the first inning, as shortstop Angel Rosa singled off the glove of first baseman Bobby Borchering and scored on Bees first baseman Wade Hinkle's two-out double to left field. Appel worked around a pair of second-inning walks by getting a ground-ball double play and responded to lone baserunners each of the next three innings with inning-ending strikeouts. He finished five innings for the third time this season while allowing four hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

The score remained 1-1 until one out in the top of the fourth inning, when Ruiz lifted a fly ball over the left-center field fence for his 11^th home run and a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Pena hit his fifth home run over the left-field fence to make it 3-1. Quad Cities extended the lead in the fifth inning, as center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a one-out single and went to third base on a two-out single by left fielder Danry Vasquez. When Rosa tried to catch Vasquez rounding first base, the ball got away, allowing Hernandez to score. Borchering then greeted right-hander Andres Perez with a popup that dropped between the pitcher's mound and home plate, allowing Vasquez to score.

The Bees were hitless following a fifth-inning leadoff single by catcher Sandy Martinez. Cotton started the sixth with a 5-1 lead and set down the first six batters he faced. An eighth-inning leadoff walk was all that kept him from three perfect innings. Christensen struck out the first and last batters in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal Quad Cities' first playoff berth since 2011 - the year of the franchise's fifth Midwest League Championship. The River Bandits have made the playoffs four of seven seasons as a Houston Astros affiliate.

Sunday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount Monday, Aug. 26. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Monday, Aug. 26. Quad Cities continues its series in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. Monday. River Bandits left-hander Josh Hader (2-0) will start against Bees left-hander Ryan Crowley (5-4).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits' final homestand of the regular season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 31, with a Dallas Clark Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Barrel House 211 and CBS4 when gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Fireworks will also follow the game. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

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