Quad Cities turns second triple play of the season and remains 1 1/2 games behind Cedar Rapids
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AUG. 11, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez homered twice to drive in all five of the team's runs in a combined shutout effort from left-hander Brian Holmes and right-handers Zach Morton and Juan Minaya for a 5-0 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 4,171 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.
On a day of highlights, the River Bandits (30-18 second half, 68-49 overall) turned their second triple play of the season. With a 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning, Morton allowed back-to-back singles by catcher Parker Berberet and third baseman Alfredo Rodriguez. With both runners taking off on a pitch, center fielder Lance Roenicke hit a fly ball down the right-field line. River Bandits right fielder Jordan Scott made the catch before reaching the foul line, and he threw to first baseman Bobby Borchering to double off Rodriguez. Borchering then tossed to shortstop Austin Elkins at second base for the 9-3-6 triple play. Elkins was also part of a ground-ball, 5-4-3 triple play on April 28 at home against Great Lakes.
Quad Cities' last two triple plays before this season came in 2007, when second baseman Jaime Landin and first baseman Brandon Buckman were each part of triple plays May 31 against Clinton and June 16 against Beloit.
Holmes (4-3) was stellar in going six innings for a second straight start to earn his first win since May 3. He allowed three singles and a walk while striking out seven batters. He had three 1-2-3 innings and set down the final seven batters he faced. Morton worked around two hits and a walk in the seventh and eighth innings, and Minaya pitched around a single in a scoreless ninth inning. The Timber Rattlers (21-28, 50-64) were held to six hits and no runs after a seven-run, 12-hit, three-homer showing Saturday night.
Wisconsin starter Jorge Lopez (6-8) retired the first seven River Bandits hitters, including four on strikeouts, before Scott had a one-out bunt single in the third inning. Scott was later thrown out trying to steal third, but Elkins and second baseman Tony Kemp hit consecutive singles with two outs. Hernandez then drove an 0-1 offering to the Modern Woodmen Berm for a 3-0 lead. The four-hit, three-run inning was the only offense against Lopez, who retired seven straight hitters following the home run and finished with six strikeouts.
In the eighth inning, Kemp reached against right-hander Jono Armold on a fielding error by second baseman Chris McFarland. Hernandez then hit a 3-2 pitch just over the left-field fence to the berm, capping his 3-for-4, five-RBI game. His two home runs and five RBIs matched career highs set July 20, 2011, when he played in the Dominican Summer League against a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate.
Sunday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Monday, Aug. 12. 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 Monday, Aug. 12. The River Bandits will play the rubber match of the series Monday at 7 p.m. against Wisconsin. Quad Cities right-hander and 2013 No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel (1-0) will face right-hander Austin Ross (0-0).
