BANDITS BREAK THROUGH RAIN, COLD FOR 9-3 WIN
In a ballgame that saw sporadic rainfall and 50 degree temperatures, Quad Cities (24-27) took control of the game in a momentum-turning fifth inning before blowing things open in the sixth. The victory evened up the series at 1-1, as the two clubs will take Wednesday off before resuming the four-game set in Burlington (21-30) on Thursday.
The score was tied 2-2 when Alex Castellanos recaptured the lead for the River Bandits in the top of the fifth. After missing the previous two games with a tight lower back, the 22-year-old infielder clubbed a two-out double off the wall in left. Moments later he broke for third and stole the base, while the catcher's errant attempt to cut him down sailed into left field. Castellanos popped up and raced home to give Quad Cities a 3-2 advantage.
In the bottom half of the frame, reliever Ramon Delgado made sure the lead stood up. The Arizona native found himself in a jam with men at the corners, just one out, and the Bees' two best hitters due up. Undaunted, however, Delgado responded with a pair of swinging strikeouts against Eric Hosmer, the third overall pick in the 2008 draft, and Nick Francis, Burlington's leader in home runs and RBI, to retire the side and preserve the lead.
In the next half inning, Quad Cites put the game out of reach. Bees' reliever Henry Barrera issued three consecutive one-out walks to load the bases before hitting Jairo Martinez to force in a run. After Barrera was removed from the game, Brett Lilley greeted his replacement by ripping a two-run double down the right field line to stretch the lead to 6-2. There were men at second and third with two outs when Casetellanos laced a low line drive into center to drive home both baserunners. As the throw from the outfield went to the plate Castellanos advanced to second, and the catcher's attempt to throw him out sailed into center. But the center fielder was out of position and the ball kept rolling, enabling Castellanos to come around and score to cap a six-run inning and establish a comfortable 9-2 margin.
Though Burlington pushed across a run in the seventh, the game had long since been decided. Delgado (4-1) won his fourth consecutive decision for the River Bandits, while Derrick Saito (1-4) took the loss after allowing the decisive unearned run in the fifth.
Early on, Quad Cities took a first-inning lead before Burlington battled back to tie the score.
With a slight drizzle falling from the sky, Brett Lilley and Travis Mitchell opened the game with consecutive singles. They stood at first and second with one away when Osvaldo Morales sent a bouncer to the shortstop, but as Angel Franco moved to his right the ball bounced off his chest. After he picked it up and threw it over the first baseman's head, both runners scored for a 2-0 Quad Cities lead.
The Bees fought back to tie the score with two runs in the fourth before the River Bandits took the lead for good in the fifth.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue a 10-game road stretch with game three of a four-game commuter series in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Quad Cities returns to Modern Woodmen Park on June 6 to kick off an eight-game homestand, the last of the first half. It starts with John Deere Night on a Rockin' Saturday that will feature a post-game concert by Superfly Samurai as well as '80's Night and a free CPR course! Ladies Night presented by Redken follows on a U.S. Bank Family Sunday, as the ladies will be taken care of with free massages and other female-oriented promotions while the kids will run the bases after the game and get player autographs. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Night will honor QCA Special Olympians in addition to a fantastic post-game fireworks display. Every Tuesday is an Economic Stimulus Tuesday with 2-for-1 tickets and free dinner for kids 12-and-under!
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Under new ownership and management in 2008, the Quad Cities River Bandits topped 207,000 fans for only the sixth time in team history and the first time in 12 years. Having recently completed one of the most successful seasons in the history of the franchise - and with a renewed dedication to fans, sponsors and the Quad Cities community - the return of the River Bandits has brought a resurgence of support for the team. Banditwear, season tickets and mini-plans, and individual game tickets are on sale for the 2009 season by calling (563) 3-BANDIT or heading to www.RiverBandits.com. But hurry - good seats are going fast!