Strong pitching leads Bandits to third straight win over Kernels

July 28, 2024 – Midwest League (MWL)
Quad Cities River Bandits Press Release

Davenport, Iowa – The Quad Cities River Bandits allowed just three hits on Saturday as they defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels 4-1 at Modern Woodmen Park.

The Kernels connected for two hits with two outs to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Kevin Maitan’s RBI single accounted for the club’s lone run and was their last hit until the eighth inning.

With Quad Cities starting pitcher Ethan Bosacker only scoring two runs above the minimum in the final four innings of his start, Trevor Werner hit a two-run double against Ricky Castro in the third inning to give the Bandits a 2-1 lead.

The right-handed pitcher from Cedar Rapids threw 4.0 innings in relief of starter Connor Prielipp, who threw 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his first start of the season for the Kernels. He saw the Bandits regain the lead in the sixth inning, taking a 4-1 lead thanks to an RBI groundout by Shervyen Newton and a run-scoring single by Omar Hernandez.

While the Kernels managed just one hit, they gave up five total hits against the trio of Connor Fenlong (1.1 IP, hold), Chazz Martinez (1.2 IP, hold) and Ben Sears (1.0 IP, save), but the Quad Cities relievers held the three-run lead intact and extended the bullpen’s scoreless streak to 10.0 innings.

Bosacker (2-1) earned the win for the Bandits by striking out four and completing his third straight 5.0-inning start, while Castro (0-1) struggled in the loss in his High-A debut, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Sears (10) made his 10th save of the season, leading him in runs, and turned in a scoreless ninth inning.

Quad Cities will try to sweep the six-game series tomorrow afternoon, sending Frank Mozzicato (5-7, 3.24) to the mound against Cedar Rapids’ C.J. Culpepper (2-1, 3.26). First pitch at Modern Woodmen Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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