On first night of 2013 First-Year Player Draft, 2012 No. 1 overall pick finishes triple shy of cycle
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (JUNE 5, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits shortstop Carlos Correa had a home run, RBI single and three-run double in his first three plate appearances to post a five-RBI game that led his team to a 9-5 victory over the first-place Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium Thursday night.
Less than 45 minutes after the Houston Astros made their first selection of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, Correa - Houston's pick with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 draft - blasted a 2-1 pitch from right-hander Jose Berrios (4-3) deep to left field for his first homer since hitting two April 21 at Wisconsin. It was Correa's fourth Midwest League home run and the first allowed by Berrios this season.
The River Bandits (33-25) extended the lead in the second inning, as third baseman Rio Ruiz drew a walk, second baseman Austin Elkins singled and right fielder Ariel Ovando singled to load the bases. Left fielder Jordan Scott watched four balls to force in a run, and center fielder Ruben Sosa hit into a fielder's choice to bring in another. With Correa batting, Sosa took off for second base, and when the throw from catcher Jhonatan Arias went there, Ovando scampered home for a 3-0 lead. Correa then smacked a line drive that hit just a few feet below the top of the left-field wall, which allowed Sosa to score, although Correa was thrown out at second base on the play.
The Kernels (37-21) answered with the first batter in the bottom of the second inning, as first baseman Dalton Hicks homered to left field off right-hander Vincent Velasquez. It was the only run against Velasquez, who allowed five hits and a season-high three walks while striking out three batters in 4 2/3 innings.
Quad Cities extended the lead with another big inning in the fourth against Berrios with help from the Kernels defense. Catcher Jobduan Morales walked before two consecutive errors by second baseman Candido Pimentel loaded the bases with no outs. Correa stepped to the plate and bounced a ball down the third-base line into the left-field corner, allowing Morales, Scott and Sosa to score on a bases-clearing double. Berrios stayed in to fan designated hitter Miles Hamblin for the pitcher's sixth strikeout before walking first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki. Berrios went a season-low 3 1/3 innings while allowing season highs with nine runs, six earned runs and four walks.
With a 9-1 lead, Velasquez allowed a walk and two-out single before leaving with two outs in the fifth inning. Right-hander Jamaine Cotton (1-2) entered and got the final out before working three more innings. The Kernels scored two unearned runs in the seventh inning, and Hicks added his second home run leading off the eighth inning. Right-hander Gera Sanchez pitched the ninth inning and allowed another run to the Kernels, who out-hit Quad Cities, 10-6. The victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Friday, June 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 Friday, June 7.
The River Bandits will start right-hander Daniel Minor (3-1) in the rubber match against Kernels right-hander Christian Powell, who is scheduled to throw his first Midwest League pitch at 6:35 p.m. Friday.
UP NEXT: Reservations can be made from now until June 10 for the River Bandits Father's Day Cookout and pre-game catch scheduled for Sunday, June 16. Check out www.riverbandits.com for details or call 563-324-3000. 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.
