Carlos Correa hits ninth home run of the season in opener between playoff-bound clubs
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 31, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits shortstop Carlos Correa gave his team a 4-2 lead with a fifth-inning home run Saturday night, but the Beloit Snappers pitchers set down the next 13 batters, and Snappers right fielder John Wooten and first baseman Matt Olson each homered in a 5-4 comeback victory in front of 5,126 at Modern Woodmen Park.
In the first game of the final regular season series for two playoff-bound clubs, Quad Cities (41-26 second half, 79-57 overall) had its four-game winning streak snapped and lost its last seventh straight game against Beloit (34-33, 77-60) at Modern Woodmen Park. The River Bandits last defeated Beloit in Davenport on Aug. 19, 2012.
Quad Cities took the lead in the first inning, as second baseman Tony Kemp singled to right field, and center fielder Teoscar Hernandez doubled to left. Two batters later, left fielder Danry Vasquez grounded out to bring in Kemp for a 1-0 lead.
In his first start since July 4, River Bandits right-hander Juan Minaya did not allow a hit until a third-inning, two-out single by left fielder Aaron Shipman. In the fourth inning, Snappers shortstop Daniel Robertson hit an infield single before Minaya picked up his fourth and fifth strikeouts. Wooten then hit a 1-2 pitch to the Built Ford Tough Deck in right field for his 20th home run and a 2-1 Beloit lead. Minaya retired the next four batters to complete five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fifth, catcher Jobduan Morales and right fielder Jordan Scott drew consecutive walks against right-hander Dylan Covey (1-1), who threw a wild pitch to advance both runners into scoring position. After Covey fanned Kemp and Hernandez, Correa ripped a soaring liner to the Modern Woodmen Berm in left field for a three-run home run - his first since Aug. 9. Covey struck out Vasquez to finish five innings with five hits allowed, four earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts.
With a 4-2 lead, right-hander Richard Rodriguez (0-1) started the top of the sixth inning by allowing a double to designated hitter Ryan Mathews and single to shortstop Daniel Robertson. With one out, Olson drilled a ball over the right field fence for his team-high 23rd home run and a 5-4 Snappers lead. Rodriguez came back to retire 11 of the next 13 batters to finish a season-high four innings, while yielding four hits, three earned runs and one walk with three strikeouts.
Three Snappers relievers were perfect after Covey. Right-haner Sam Bragg struck out one batter in the sixth inning, and right-hander Nolan Sanburn struck out two batters while retiring all six he faced in the seventh and eighth innings. Right-hander Tyler Vail struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning for his seventh save. Quad Cities had just five hits, and each team left only left three runners on base.
Quad Cities continues its final regular season series against Beloit at Modern Woodmen Park at 5 p.m. Sunday. River Bandits left-hander Josh Hader (2-0) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Kyle Finnegan (1-0).
UP NEXT: Arthur & D.W. will be at Modern Woodmen Park for the final Flat Screen Family Sunday, when three lucky fans will win new flat-screen TVs. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. for Bark in the Park, and as part of Fan Appreciation Weekend, the River Bandits players will sign autographs on the field at approximately 35 minutes before the 5 p.m. game. Kids Run the Bases after 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.
