Every Bandit records at least one hit and run scored in victory
PEORIA, Ill. (April 27, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits sent 10 men to the plate in a four-run fifth and then 10 more in a five-run sixth while getting a dominant outing from Gonzalo Sanudo Sunday to crush the Peoria Chiefs 15-3 at Dozer Park. Every single Bandit in the lineup scored a run and recording a hit, with six registered multi-hit games.
Brett Phillips set the tone with an opposite-field home run to leadoff off the game. The shot was Phillips' second of the season and the first leadoff home run by a River Bandit since Teoscar Hernandez's on July 28, 2013 at Beloit. Quad Cities would add one more in the first after Chan-Jong Moon singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a groundout to short and scored on Conrad Gregor's bouncer to first.
Quad Cities would add two more runs in the second, courtesy of an RBI singles by Jon Kemmer and Brett Phillips to go up 4-1.
With the score that way in the fifth inning, Peoria starter Chase Brookshire struck out Moon to begin the frame. However, Brookshire yielded back-to-back singles to White and Gregor before walking McDonald to load the bases. The Chiefs then called on Chris Thomas, who hit James Ramsay with a pitch to bring in a run. Jobduan Morales then laced a single to right to score two more runs. After Kemmer struck out, Thomas Lindauer singled to center for Quad Cities' fourth run of the inning to make the score 8-1. All told, the River Bandits would send 10 men to the plate with four hits in a four-run frame.
With the big lead, Sanudo (3-0) worked his way through a scoreless fifth, finishing with a run allowed on just three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Brookshire (0-3) surrendered seven runs on eight hits with three walks and two punchouts in 4.1 frames.
Quad Cities continued to pound Peoria pitching in the sixth. The Chiefs turned to Blake McKnight, who retired two of the first three batters of the frame. However, he allowed back-to-back singles to Ramsay and Morales, the latter scoring a run, before walking Kemmer. Lindauer ripped his second RBI single, this one plating two runs, in as many innings to make it a 11-3 game. An error on Peoria rightfielder Ronald Castillo allowed two more runs to come home, giving the River Bandits a 10-run lead. Quad Cities sent 10 men to the plate for the second consecutive inning, scoring five runs on five hits.
The score would remain 13-3 until the eighth when Kemmer homered to left for his second bomb of the year. On the very next pitch, Morales clubbed a home run to almost the same spot to make it 15-3. Morales finished a triple short of the cycle in his 4-for-6 day, matching career-highs with four hits and three runs scored. Kemmer went 2-for-5 with a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Adrian Houser worked three innings of relief, allowed two unearned runs on a hit in the sixth while fanning four. Andrew Walter got two outs in the ninth before the game entered a lightning delay with the bases loaded. After 31 minutes, the game was called and the Bandits completed a 3-3 roadtrip.
Quad Cities returns home for a doubleheader tomorrow to kickoff a five-game series with the Clinton LumberKings. The Bandits will send Andrew Thurman (2-1) to the mound against Clinton's Eddie Campbell (1-1). First pitch will be at 6:00 p.m. CT.
UP NEXT: A doubleheader on Markdown Monday opens the next River Bandits homestand on April 28. Bleacher and berm tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos are $2 each. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. for the 6 p.m. Game 1 start against the Clinton LumberKings. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, 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 110 feet over the playing field, is opening in May, along with a carousel, a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.
