Quad Cities extends winning streak to four games, wins 10th of 12 meetings with Kane County
DAVENPORT, Iowa (JUNE 22, 2013) - Jesse Wierzbicki waited until his sixth and final at-bat in the 11th inning Friday night to extend several personal and team streaks, but he delivered a walk-off RBI single for the Quad Cities River Bandits, who completed a rally from a 5-0, seventh-inning deficit for a 6-5 win over the Kane County Cougars in front of 4,077 at Modern Woodmen Park.
The River Bandits (3-0 second half, 41-31 overall) won their fourth straight game and defeated Kane County (0-3, 30-39) for the fifth time in as many games at Modern Woodmen Park. For a second consecutive game, Quad Cities had 15 hits, with shortstop Carlos Correa and left fielder Ruben Sosa each collecting four hits to lead all players. Correa laced a one-out triple inside the first-base line with one out in the 11th inning before Wierzbicki extended a seven-game hitting streak and 21 game on-base streak with a single to right-center field against Stephen Perakslis (1-3), who has suffered each of his losses this season against Quad Cities.
Quad Cities held Kane County to just four hits, and left-hander Colton Cain no-hit the visitors while walking one batter in the first four innings. In the fifth inning, however, he walked Cougars third baseman Jeimer Candelario, and first baseman Rock Shoulders doubled to left field for his team's first hit. With the infield in and one out, right fielder Reggie Golden hit a ball off the glove of shortstop Carlos Correa that went into shallow center field and brought in two runs for a 2-0 lead. Cain allowed two hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out four in five innings. Kane County extended the lead with home runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Center fielder Albert Almora drove a Jamaine Cotton pitch out to left field for a two-run shot in the sixth, and Shoulders led off the seventh with his league-high 14th homer and a 5-0 lead. The Cougars did not record a hit the rest of the game.
After failing to score in the first six innings against left-hander Michael Heesch, the River Bandits found their offense in the seventh against right-hander Armando Rivero, making his Minor League Baseball debut. Designated Brian Blasik drew a leadoff walk, and second baseman Austin Elkins homered for the second straight game to make it 5-2. Sosa, center fielder Brett Phillips and right fielder Teoscar Hernandez each singled to close within 5-3, and catcher Roberto Pena's two-out infield single trimmed the gap to 5-4.
In the ninth inning, Phillips drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a sacrifice and scored the tying run when Golden bobbled Correa's one-out single to right-center field. Right-hander Juri Perez (2 2/3 innings), and right-hander Gera Sanchez (1 1/3 innings) combined to no-hit the Cougars for the final four innings, though Quad Cities pitchers matched a season high with six walks.
Saturday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Sunday, June 23. 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 Sunday, June 23.
The River Bandits and Cougars will play the series finale at 5 p.m. Sunday, when Quad Cities looks for its third sweep of Kane County this season. River Bandits All-Star right-hander Lance McCullers (3-4) will start against Cougars right-hander Felix Pena (2-1).
UP NEXT: To celebrate "Half-way to Christmas", the River Bandits will give away three free 32" flat-screen TVs on Flat Screen Family Sunday presented by KWQC and B100. The first 1,000 fans will receive free sunglasses from Mediacom for the home stand finale. 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.
