Quad City River Bandits at Cedar Rapids Kernels
April 27th, 2004
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| Cedar Rapids |
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E-Gomon 2, LOB QC-8, CR-5, 2B-Phillips, Garcia, HR-Whitrock (8th inn/3 run/Pullin)), Pali (7th inn/2 run/Brandon), SB-Pali, Kimpton, Wilson, Cosby, CS-Pali, SACB-Rutgers
HBP-Spataro (Posey), Rutgers (Pullin), SO-Brown, Rodriguez, Span, Phillips 2, Kendrick, Kimpton, BB-Spataro
Umpires-Scott Jarrard, Tyler Funnerman
T-2:45, A-1,489
Quad City Times
by Steve Batterson
It seems they don't make ballparks big enough for Scott Whitrock these days.
The Quad Cities River Bandits outfielder belted his league leading fifth home run of the season and his second in as many days Tuesday night to finish off the Bandit's come from behind 7-3 victory over Cedar Rapids.
"It's been going well. I've been working with Rudy (Hernandez, the Quad Cities hitting coach) and he's pointed out a few little things that have helped me a lot." said Whitrock, who hit just three home runs in 91 games for Quad Cities a year ago.
Whitrock's three run blast, part of a 3 for 4 game at the plate, allowed the Bandtis to secure a split in it's short two game series with the Kernels, finishing off a five run rally with two outs in the top of the eighth.
Denard Span opened with a leadoff single, but still was on first with two out when Brock Peterson reached on a grounder that bounced off third base.
Mark Zamojc and J.R. Taylor followed with run scoring singles to center that erased the 3-2 lead that the Kernels had opened on a two run homer by Matt Pali in the bottom of the seventh.
Whitrock followed with his homer to left center, part of the 13 hit effort by the Bandits that equaled the team's best effort of the season.
"Scott's definitely got it going." Quad Cities manager Kevin Boles said. "He's been the type of guy you want to have on the team at any level. He's hitting it well, but he's a good guy with the rest of the team, he'll break up the double play and do all those types of things."
Matt Moses missed his seventh straight game. The Bandits third baseman, off to a .333 start at the plate, hasn't seen action since being hit in the left knee by a pitch during an April 20th game at Dayton.
Minnesota's first selection in the 2003 draft will take a few batting practice swings off a tee today, Boles said.
"We're trying to get him ready by the end of the week." Boles said.
The Bandits made a pair of roster moves. Pitcher Levale Speigner, out since spraining his right ankle on April 18 at Burlington, and outfielder Justin Arneson, out with a strained right quadriceps since April 14, we both activated before the game.
They fill the spots of pitcher Billy Mauer and infielder Ben Pattee on the Quad Cities roster.
Mauer was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, while Pattee is out with a strained right oblique muscle.
How They Scored
Cedar Rapids 3rd
Matt Brown struck out. Nick Kimpton reached on a fielding error by Dusty Gomon at first, took third on a single to right by Bobby Wilson, Kimpton scord, Wilson took second on a double steal. Sean Rodriguez struck out. Quan Cosby ground out to second.
Quad Cities 5th
Scott Whitrock singled to right, took second when Ryan Spataro was hit by a pitch. Both advanced on a sacrifice by Paul Rutgers. Denard Span struck out. Alex Garcia doubled to left, scoring Whitrock and Spataro. Kyle Phillips struck out.
Cedar Rapids 7th
Brandon Wood singled to right, scored when Matt Pali homered to left. Blake Balkcom singled to left. Howie Kendrck struck out. Brown flew out to center. Kimpton struck out.
Quad Cities 8th
Span singled to center. Garcia popped out. Phillips struck out. Brock Peterson reache don an infield single to third, moving Span to second. Mark Zamojc singled to center, scoring Span and moving Peterson to second. J.R. Taylor singled to center, scoring Peterson. Whitrock homered to left center. Spataro walked, took second when Rutgers was hit by a pitch. Span grounded out to the mound.
Cedar Rapids Gazette
by Jeff Johnson
As Kevin Boles walked into the visiting clubhouse at Memorial Stadium after his team's 7-3 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels last night, he dropped his clipboard on a desk, took a deep sigh and uttered to no one in particular "It's over".
After three weeks of hotels, bus trips and late night fast food runs, the Quad Cities River Bandis finally get to find out what it's like to be the home team.
The Bandits player their first 19 games of the Midwest League season on the road while the renovation of John O'Donnell Stadium in Davenport was completed. There were trips to Beloit, Kane County, Burlington, Dayton and Peoria.
Monday and Tuesday nights were short commuter treks to Cedar Rapids. Almost fittingly, the Bandits long journey came to a nice conclusion, thanks to a five run eighth inning.
Quad Cities christens John O'Donnell Thursday night against Burlington.
"It's tough when you don't have the last at bat every night. That's a tough way to play." said Boles, the Quad Cities manager. "The thing we always tried to be is positive. The players have never complained. They've put in a full effort every day. We've got some tough guys. Some guys with good character."
That was shown last night. Matt Pali's two run home run in the bottom of the seventh gave the Kernels (11-8) a 3-2 lead. It would have been easy for Quad Cities to pack it in.
But the Bandits didn't, bunching together four singles, a walk, a hit batsman and Scott Whitrock's three run home run for a huge eighth inning.
"It's a great feeling knowing we've got a day off (today) and then we get to come home to a brand new park." said Whitrock, who leads the MWL with five homers.
The Bandits went 9-10 on it's road trip and gained a little respect from opponents in the process.
"No, I can't identify with them," said Kernels starting pitcher Micah Posey. "Last year, the most games we played on the road in a row was 13. And I remember that was just pure chaos. I was like 'Man, I hope we don't have any more like that."
"That was the first thing I checked when I looked at the schedule this season."
Aaron Pullin (2-1) took the loss, thought he couldn't be completely blamed. Pullin was left in the game longer than usual because the Kernels' bullpen has been used heavily lately.
Von Stertzbach and Bob Zimmermann, who have shared closer duties the first three weeks, were not available because they threw a combined five innings in Monday night's extra inning Kernels win. Today's off day is coming at a perfect time.
"They've been working their tail off down there." Posey said. "Those guys have been really good. This day off will give them a day off and they definitely deserve it."