Quad Cities loses first extra-inning road game on Burlington's two-out, 10th-inning rally
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AUG. 26, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits were twice within an out of a one-run victory Monday night, but the Burlington Bees had a ninth-inning, two-out, game-tying double by Wade Hinkle, and following a 10th-inning dropped third strike, an eventual walk-off single by Pedro Toribio in a 3-2 Bees win at Community Field.
Quad Cities (37-25 second half, 75-56 overall) had its four-game winning streak snapped one day after clinching a second-half playoff berth. With a loss by Clinton (31-32, 64-68) Monday in Beloit, a Quad Cities win or Clinton loss in the final week of the season will seal a first-round match-up for the River Bandits with Cedar Rapids (42-20, 82-48), with Quad Cities hosting Game 1 at 7 p.m. Sept. 4.
Monday's game started as a pitchers' duel between Bees left-hander Ryan Crowley and River Bandits left-hander Josh Hader. Quad Cities got to the scoreboard in the second inning, as left fielder Danry Vasquez hit a leadoff single, and third baseman Rio Ruiz lined an RBI single down the right-field line for a 1-0 lead. Crowley then set down 12 batters in a row and only allowed one more runner to reach second base as he went on to match a season high with eight innings pitched. He allowed four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Hader made the lead hold through six shutout innings. He retired the first six batters before a leadoff single from third baseman Garrett Cannizaro in the third. But Hader induced a double play and later picked off a runner in the fourth inning. He struck out six batters - his most with the River Bandits - and only allowed one runner to reach scoring position.
Right-hander Zach Morton started the seventh inning and worked around two hits to keep the 1-0 lead into the ninth. Right fielder Riley Good led off the ninth with a single and went to second base on a sacrifice. Hinkle lifted a two-out fly ball down the left field line just beyond Vasquez's reach to bring in the tying run. Morton yielded four hits and one earned run with one strikeout in three innings.
In the River Bandits' first extra-inning road game since May 31, Ruiz and second baseman Austin Elkins each doubled in the 10th inning on consecutive one-out pitches from right-hander Kurt Spomer for a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, right-hander Patrick Christensen got the first two batters before Bees center fielder Chevy Clarke reached first base on a slow grounder between the pitcher's mound and home plate. Clarke stole second with designated hitter Matt Scioscia batting, and when Scioscia swung at strike three that got away from catcher Jobduan Morales, Clarke came around to score, because Morales' throw got away from first baseman Bobby Borchering. Right fielder Riley Good then beat out a ground ball to the right side of the infield, and Toribio followed by slapping a single through the left side to bring home pinch runner Julio Concepcion for the winning run.
Quad Cities plays its series finale in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor (7-3) will start against Bees left-hander Brandon Love (4-6).
UP NEXT: The River Bandits' final homestand of the regular season kicks off Saturday, Aug. 31, with a Dallas Clark Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Barrel House 211 and CBS4 when gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Fireworks will also follow 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.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!
*****
