Quad Cities rides two-out, seven-run rally in the fifth inning to 11-5 win over Kane County
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 4, 2015) - With seven two-out runs in the fifth inning, the Quad Cities River Bandits broke a 2-2 tie in an eventual 11-5 victory over the Kane County Cougars, and all nine River Bandits batters had a hit to help the team clinch the best overall regular season record in the Midwest League for the first time in 23 years in front of 3,649 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.
Four River Bandits had two hits to help Quad Cities (41-25 second half, 86-48 overall) clinch the league's best record for the first time since a franchise-best 91-46 regular season mark in 1992. The River Bandits also had seven extra-base hits among 13 total to bounce back from consecutive losses for the first time since a season-long six-game losing streak Aug. 9-15. After allowing two runs in the first three innings, River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (7-4) recovered to scatter eight hits, two walks and a hit batter with five strikeouts in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.63 - the best among Houston Astros minor leaguers.
In the first inning, both of the River Bandits' hits were for extra bases, as center fielder Bobby Boyd tripled down the first-base line with one out and scored on a two-out RBI double to right field by right fielder Ramon Laureano against Cougars starter Ethan Elias (11-6). James allowed Kane County (45-21, 81-53) to tie the game in the second inning. Second baseman Henry Castillo and designated hitter Dawel Lugo each singled, while a throwing error by second baseman Jose Fernandez put both runners in scoring position with nobody out. Catcher Michael Perez struck out and third baseman Joe Munoz grounded to shortstop Kristian Trompiz, who threw to catcher Marlon Avea at home plate to retire Castillo. Cougars right fielder Victor Reyes then singled to center to score Lugo from second for a 1-1 tie.
In the top of the third, the Cougars took their only lead, as center fielder Colin Bray and first baseman Marty Herum each singled to start the inning. Left fielder Cody Regis flied out to right for the first out, and although neither runner made a full attempt to advance, Laureano's throw bounced into the River Bandits dugout on the third-base side to score Bray and send Herum to third base with nobody out. James then slammed the door on the rally, striking out Castillo and Lugo swinging, keeping the score at a 2-1 deficit.
Quad Cities tied in the fourth inning, as designated hitter Drew Ferguson doubled to left-center field, went to third base on a groundout and scored on a two-out throwing error by Munoz. With a 2-2 game in the bottom of the fifth inning, left fielder Jason Martin walked and was retired at second base on Boyd's bunt. Boyd then stole second base and went to third base on first baseman Bryan Muñiz's fly ball to right field. With two outs, Laureano tripled to left-center field to score Boyd for a 3-2 lead. Ferguson and Fernandez both drew walks against Elias, who exited with the bases loaded. Jose Martinez, the first man in from the pen for Kane County, walked Trompiz to score Laureano and increase the Quad Cities lead to 4-2. Third baseman Wander Franco drove in a pair with a single to right field, and catcher Marlon Avea followed that with a two-run double on a line drive down the left-field line to make it 8-2. Martin, batting for the second time in the inning, singled to right-center field to score Avea and cap the inning that closed with a 9-2 Quad Cities lead.
Muñiz scored the River Bandits' final two runs. After a leadoff infield single in the sixth inning, two wils pitches put him at third base before Fernandez hit an RBI single to center field. In the bottom of the eighth, Muñiz hit a booming solo home run - his third in eight days and fourth in the Midwest League - over the Modern Woodmen Berm in left field to give Quad Cities an 11-2 edge. Kane County rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth against Angel Heredia on Reyes' first career home run - and the first allowed by Heredia in more than a year - that tallied three runs to make it 11-5, but Heredia got the next three batters to ground out to Trompiz to end the game.
The River Bandits conclude their season series with playoff-bound Kane County with their regular season home finale at 7 p.m. Friday. Right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (8-4, 3.72) will start for Quad Cities, while left-hander Josh Taylor (3-3, 3.54) starts for the Cougars.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits will have fireworks following the game Friday, when the team will be celebrating Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Bierstube, with Friday Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
