Wisconsin hits three home runs and one-hits Quad Cities for series-opening win

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 10, 2013) - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored three first-inning runs and hit three home runs - including two by left fielder Victor Roache - while their pitchers combined to one-hit the Quad Cities River Bandits in a 7-0 final in front of 5,544 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

The River Bandits (29-18 second half, 67-49 overall) had just one hit for the second time in a game this season, matching their season low from a 4-1 loss May 20 against Beloit. The Timber Rattlers (21-27 second half, 50-63 overall) allowed their fewest hits to an opponent this season, while not allowing the home team to advance a runner to second base until two outs in the ninth inning. The 7-0 loss was the largest shutout defeat for Quad Cities since dropping an 11-0 final at home to Beloit Aug. 21, 2012.

Timber Rattlers right-handers Tyler Wagner (9-8) and Harvey Martin combined for the shutout, with the former allowing a fourth-inning single by River Bandits left fielder Danry Vasquez. Wagner went five innings, giving up two walks and striking out five. Martin earned his second save by working around two hit batters and striking out one in the final four innings.

Wisconsin had a fast start against left-hander Joe Bircher (3-2). Center fielder Tyrone Taylor doubled to left field leading off the game and scored on a one-out RBI single by third baseman Mike Garza. Roache then hit the first of his two home runs to right-center field for a 3-0 lead. Bircher retired the next six hitters before allowing right fielder Michael Reed's third-inning double to left field that preceded another RBI single from Garza.

With a 4-0 lead, Wisconsin added a run in the fourth inning, as first baseman Parker Berberet hit a leadoff tiple and scored on a single by catcher Tyler Roberts. Garza led off the fifth inning with his fourth home run of the season for a 6-0 lead. Bircher gave up the first six runs - all earned - on nine hits while striking out four batters in the first five innings.

Roache tallied the final Wisconsin run by taking right-hander Daniel Minor's first pitch of the seventh inning out to left field. It was Roache's fifth home run in 10 games against the River Bandits and his 20^th overall this season. Minor finished two innings from the Quad Cities bullpen, and right-hander Patrick Christensen worked around two hits to strike out four batters across the eighth and ninth innings.

The loss dropped Quad Cities 1 ½ games behind Cedar Rapids (31-17, 71-45) in the second-half standings. Peoria (25-23, 63-52) closed within 4 ½ games of the River Bandits for second place in the second half. The River Bandits have 22 games, including 12 at home, to finish the season.

The River Bandits will continue their series with Wisconsin at 5 p.m. Sunday. River Bandits left-hander Brian Holmes (3-3) will face Timber Rattlers right-hander Jorge Lopez (6-7).

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits' next home game is Sunday, when the the first 2,000 fans receive a Joe Mauer Bobblehead courtesy of Prairie Farms and FOX18. 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.

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Third baseman wins club's Player of the Month, promoted right-hander wins Pitcher of the Month

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 7, 2013) - Third baseman Rio Ruiz is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for July, and right-handed pitcher Jordan Jankowski is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Tuesday.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their eight minor league affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

Ruiz, the Astros' fourth-round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, had his best month of the season with a .279 batting average, three home runs and a team-high 15 RBIs in 23 games at third base. The 19-year-old Covina, Calif., native had seven multi-hit games, six doubles and one triple for a .477 slugging percentage during July. Until July 20, he had a 26-road-game on-base streak that is currently tied for second longest in the Midwest League this season. Through Monday, Ruiz was second on the team with eight home runs and third with 47 RBIs and a .399 slugging percentage.

Jankowski, the Astros' 34th round pick in 2012, posted a 1.86 ERA while walking just one batter in six outings spanning 19 2/3 innings in July. The McMurray, Pa., native's 0.72 walks-plus-hits-per-inning-pitched (WHIP) was the best among River Bandits pitchers who threw at least eight innings in the month. Earlier this season, Jankowski was named a Midwest League All-Star. The 24-year-old was promoted on Monday to advanced Class-A Lancaster after going 3-1 in 26 games, including 12 starts for Quad Cities. He threw 89 2/3 innings and was ranked fourth in the Midwest League with a 2.61 ERA. His 1.07 WHIP on the season was also third best in the league.

Below is a list of the Players and Pitchers of the Month this season for Quad Cities:

Month Player Pitcher

April Teoscar Hernandez Vincent Velasquez

May Carlos Correa Lance McCullers

June Carlos Correa Colton Cain

July Rio Ruiz Jordan Jankowski

Through Monday, every Astros minor league affiliate has a .500 or better record, and they are a combined 369-270 for a .577 winning percentage - the best among any organization's minor league system. Five affiliates - Triple-A Oklahoma City, Double-A Corpus Christi, advanced Class-A Lancaster, short-season Class-A Tri-City and rookie-level Greeneville were each in or tied for first place in their respective divisions through Monday. Corpus Christi and Lancaster have already clinched playoff spots with first-half division titles.

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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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Bobby Borchering and Brian Blasik homer to lift Quad Cities past Cedar Rapids by one-half game

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AUG. 6, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Mark Appel retired the first 10 Cedar Rapids Kernels he faced Tuesday night in a career-high five innings and his first professional victory, while the offense continued its hot hitting to push the club into first place in the second-half standings following a 7-2 win at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

 

For a second straight game, Quad Cities (27-16 second half, 65-47 overall) gave its starting pitcher a 3-0 lead before he took the mound. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez again led off with a single, and shortstop Carlos Correa's one-out double to center field put runners at second and third bases against left-hander Josue Montanez (4-5). Left fielder Danry Vasquez flied to center field to drive in Hernandez, and first baseman Bobby Borchering followed with a towering blast to left field for his third home run as a River Bandit and a 3-0 advantage for the visitors.

 

The River Bandits added another run in the fourth inning, when catcher Roberto Pena doubled off the wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Brian Blasik, who added the next run with his third home run of the season to left field. Montanez lasted through seven innings, allowing five hits and five earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts.

 

Appel (1-0) cruised through the first 10 batters with only one ball hit to the outfield. In the fourth inning, he issued a one-out walk to Kernels first baseman Niko Goodrum for the home team's first baserunner. In the fifth inning, left fielder Max Kepler grounded a ball that second baseman Tony Kemp dropped for an error. Two batters later, catcher Tyler Grimes lifted a one-out single to right field for the Kernels' first hit. After a groundout by designated hitter Bo Altobelli, second baseman Joel Licon hit a two-run single to right-center field for the Kernels only runs, slicing the lead to 5-2. But Appel retired the next batter to complete five innings and make himself eligible for his first professional win.

 

Right-hander Patrick Christensen made his Quad Cities debut starting the sixth inning. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, striking out five and allowing one hit. Quad Cities added a run on an eighth-inning RBI double by Correa, who had 12 hits in the four-games series, and a ninth-inning tally on right fielder Jordan Scott's RBI single. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson got the final three outs.

 

Tuesday's victory put Quad Cities one-half game ahead of the Kernels (27-17, 67-45) for first in the Western Division second-half standings and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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 Wednesday, Aug. 7.

 

The River Bandits open a six-game home stand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Clinton LumberKings. River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (6-5) will face LumberKings right-hander Victor Sanchez (3-5).

 

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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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Cedar Rapids snaps Quad Cities' longest regular season winning streak in more than six years

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AUG. 4, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits came within two outs of their longest regular season winning streak in 11 years Sunday, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels took advantage of an error by center fielder Teoscar Hernandez to score the tying run, and Joel Licon had a walk-off single for the last of his team's three ninth-inning hits in a 3-2 Kernels victory at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Quad Cities (25-16 second half, 63-47 overall) had won seven straight games and sought the club's longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2002. Shortstop Carlos Correa had three singles - including a go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth inning - to tally seven hits in the first two games of the series, and River Bandits pitchers only allowed two hits through the first eight innnings. Quad Cities left 11 runners on base and suffered its second walk-off defeat of the season - and first since June 8 in Peoria.

The River Bandits took a first-inning lead against Kernels right-hander Jose Berrios, who allowed singles by left fielder Danry Vasquez and shortstop Carlos Correa before walks to designated hitter Dan Gulbransen and first baseman Bobby Borchering, the last of which forced home the game's first run. With a 1-0 lead, left-hander Brian Holmes took the mound for his first Midwest League start since May 26. Center fielder Jonathan Murphy hit a leadoff triple and later scored when right fielder Adam Brett Walker II hit into a fielder's choice.

Holmes and Berrios kept the 1-1 tie through their six-inning starts. Berrios overcame six walks and five hits to strike out three batters and strand eight runners on base in the first six innings. Holmes kept Cedar Rapids hitless from the second batter of the game until one out in the fifth inning, and he did not allow a runner into scoring position after the first inning. In a season-high six innings, Holmes gave up two hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

Cedar Rapids (27-15, 67-43) used left-hander Brandon Bixler and right-hander Madison Boer (1-0) for scoreless seventh and eighth innings respectively, but Boer allowed Hernandez's ninth-inning leadoff double off the left-field wall. Vasquez grounded out to advance Hernandez to third base, and Correa singled through the middle of a drawn-in infield for a 2-1 lead.

After two scoreless innings by River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor, right-hander Juan Minaya (1-5) started the bottom of the ninth inning. Second baseman Jorge Polanco hit a one-out single to right field, and Walker lined a single to center, where Hernandez had the ball go under his glove and roll to the warning track, which scored Polanco and put Walker on third. After an intentional walk to first baseman Max Kepler, Minaya struck out designated hitter Travis Harrison. But Licon grounded an 0-1 pitch up the third-base line for a two-out, game-winning single.

The River Bandits continue the series in Cedar Rapids at 6:35 p.m. Monday. Quad Cities left-hander Josh Hader will make his Midwest League debut against Kernels right-hander Christian Powell (2-4).

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday, Aug. 7. 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.