PEORIA, Ill. (April 9, 2015) - Designated hitter Sean McMullen homered and drove in three runs, first baseman Jamie Ritchie had a team-high two hits and an RBI on his 22nd birthday, and right-hander Kevin Comer pitched four hitless relief innings to help the Quad Cities River Bandits win a 7-3 season opener over the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park Thursday night.
After trailing 3-1 through the first three innings, Quad Cities scored once in the fourth and two unearned runs in the fifth to take the lead for good. All nine spots in the team's batting order had at least a run or a hit, with seven players having hits, and seven scoring a run. Center fielder Derek Fisher drew three of the team's seven walks against five Peoria pitchers.
Each team missed an early scoring opportunity. River Bandits left fielder Bobby Boyd led off the season by hustling out a double to left-center field against Chiefs right-hander Jack Flaherty. Second baseman Mott Hyde had a foul-bunt strikeout, and Fisher walked. Boyd was thrown out trying to steal third base by catcher Steve Bean. Third baseman Nick Tanielu reached when shortstop Oscar Mercado dropped a popup, putting Fisher at third base and Tanielu at first. But Bean threw out Tanielu trying to steal to end the inning with no runs.
In Peoria's half of the second inning against left-hander Chris Lee, designated hitter Nick Thompson drew a leadoff walk and Hyde mishandled a grounder by right fielder Collin Radack. Bean bunted into a fielder's choice that put runners at first and third, but Lee got first baseman Alex DeLeon to ground out to Hyde, who started an inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.
The River Bandits took the game's first lead in the third inning. Third baseman Kristian Trompiz led off with a sinking blooper that evaded Chiefs left fielder Blake Drake. After left fielder Bobby Boyd's sacrifice moved Trompiz to third base, right-hander Jack Flaherty struck out shortstop Mott Hyde but then threw a pitch in the dirt to Fisher, allowing Trompiz to score the season's first run.
In the bottom of the third, Drake led off by striking out but reahing first base on a wild pitch. Second baseman Darren Seferina lined a single to right field, and center fielder Magneuris Sierra hit a game-tying single to left field. Seferina scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by third baseman Danny Diekroeger, and Sierra scored on Thompson's single to right-center field for a 3-1 Peoria lead.
Flaherty allowed one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts but came out after warm-up pitches in the fourth inning and was replaced by right-hander Will Anderson. Ritchie then grounded a leadoff double down the first-base line, went to third base on right fielder Ryan Bottger's single and scored on McMullen's sacrifice fly to center field. In the bottom of the inning, Lee escaped a bases-loaded jam when Sierra popped out to catcher Jacob Nottingham. Lee allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks in a four-inning start.
In the pivotal top of the fifth inning, Chiefs right-hander Fernando Baez walked Boyd, Mercado made an errant throw to second base on a fielder's choice, and Fisher walked to load the bases. Hernandez hit a game-tying sacrifice fly before Ritchie walked to load the bases. Bottger struck out before Nottingham was hit in the back by a 2-2 curve ball to force in a run and give Quad Cities a 4-3 lead.
Comer began the fifth inning and retired the first 11 batters he faced, only allowing one baserunner when he hit Thompson with a pitch in the eighth. The lead grew with McMullen hitting a two-run home run to right field off right-hander Zach Loraine in the eighth inning and Fisher, Hernandez and Ritchie hitting three consecutive singles in the ninth inning. River Bandits right-hander Ryan Thompson allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to finish the victory.
The River Bandits continue their opening series in Peoria at 7 p.m. Thursday. Left-hander Bryan Radziewski faces Chiefs left-hander Austin Gomber. Pregame is at 6:45 p.m. on Real Country AM 1170 KBOB, 1170kbob.com and www.riverbandits.com.
UP NEXT: The third annual Bandits Race to Home 5K presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics is at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. Registration remains open at riverbandits.com/5k through Friday. The post-race party will have live music, free bounce houses, games and food in the Party Plaza. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. Opening Day is Sunday, April 12, at Modern Woodmen Park! Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
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