PEORIA, Ill. (April 26, 2014) - The Quad Cities' bullpen fired five shutout innings but the River Bandits managed just six hits in a 3-2 loss Saturday to the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Field.
Quad Cities held a 2-1 advantage in the third inning, but Peoria shortstop Juan Herrera led off the frame with a single against River Bandits starter Michael Feliz before promptly stealing second. Herrera was able to tag up and reach third on a fly ball off the bat of Carson Kelly to Quad Cities' rightfielder Brett Phillips. Feliz walked Ronald Castillo and then struck out Kenny Peoples-Walls before Castillo stole second, setting up a second-and-third, two-out situation. The Quad Cities right-hander got Steve Bean to rollover on a groundball behind the first base bag, but it was out of reach of a diving Conrad Gregor, scoring two runs and giving Peoria a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.
Feliz (1-1) allowed three runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts in three innings to suffer the loss.
The River Bandits would muster just one hit offensively throughout the rest of the game, not having anyone get past second base. Quad Cities left 10 runners on base.
Joe Scanio came on in relief of Silfredo Garcia, who surrendered two runs on five hits with three walks and two punchouts in 4.1 frames. Scanio (2-1) worked 2.2 scoreless innings, yielding a lone hit and two walks with a strikeout, to earn the win. Kyle Barraclough was perfect in the eighth and ninth innings, fanning two, to earn his first save of the season.
Brett Phillips led off the game with a triple down the rightfield line and scored when Chan-Jong Moon looped a single to center a batter later.
However, Peoria answered immediately in the home half of the first. Feliz walked C.J. McElroy, who immediately swiped second and scored on Juan Herrera's single to tie the game at one. Herrera went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Tyler White led off the top of the second with a groundball single to left before Garcia struck out James Ramsay. Jon Kemmer then roped a double off the left-centerfield wall to put runners on second and third with one out. Peoria brought the infield in, which paid off when Thomas Lindauer grounded out to third, keeping the runners put with two outs. However, Garcia then fired a wild pitch, which brought White to the plate and gave Quad Cities a 2-1 advantage.
Zach Morton and Evan Grills each worked two shutout innings of relief. Morton gave up just one hit with a walk and strikeout. Grills was able to scatter two hits and a walk before yielding to Patrick Christensen, who worked a perfect eighth.
Quad Cities hopes to salvage the three-game series by sending Gonzalo Sanudo (2-0) to the mound against Peoria's Chase Brookshire (0-2). First pitch will be at 2:30 p.m. CT.
UP NEXT: Markdown Monday opens the next River Bandits homestand on April 28. Bleacher and berm tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos are $2 each. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game against the Clinton LumberKings. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, 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 110 feet over the playing field, is opening in May, along with a carousel, a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.
