News release from the TinCaps:
River Bandits Make History, Top TinCaps
(July 19, 2013) – The TinCaps lost, 6-3, Friday night to the Quad Cities River Bandits, who made history in the process. Quad Cities became the first ever team in Minor League Baseball history to have two consecutive No. 1 overall selections from the MLB First-Year Player Draft in the lineup together. Starting pitcher Mark Appel struck out four in four innings and shortstop Carlos Correa hit a two-run home run. The Houston Astros selected Appel with the top pick in last month’s draft and acquired Correa first in 2012.
Quad Cities (15-11, 53-42) seized control of the game in the top of the fourth when it broke a 2-2 tie with three runs. Fort Wayne (10-17, 53-43) starter Matthew Shepherd struck out the first batter of the inning but then pitched into trouble. Dan Gulbransen doubled, Bobby Borchering singled, Jordan Scott tripled, and Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly, as the River Bandits moved in front 5-2 and chased Shepherd (4-2) from the game.
Corey Adamson initially gave the TinCaps a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he hit his third home run of the season off Appel. With one out and Luis Domoromo at first base after a single, Adamson launched a first-pitch changeup from the right-hander into the sold-out seats. That lead was erased, however, when Correa responded in the top of the third inning with his shot that went beyond the Home Run Porch in left field and caromed off The Harrison to tie the game.
The only other offense for the TinCaps came in the bottom of the fourth. Appel, who had thrown four scoreless innings in his only other Midwest League start so far, surrendered a solo homer to Gabriel Quintana. Fort Wayne’s third baseman brought his team with two at 5-3, while he extended his season-long hitting streak to 15 games with his sixth long ball of the year.
The River Bandits added an insurance run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Rio Ruiz. Daniel Minor (6-1) received credit for the victory out of the bullpen, blanking the TinCaps across three innings. Appel didn’t pitch long enough to earn the win, but limited Fort Wayne to four hits and no walks in his four frames. With the win, Quad Cities also took the series, 2-1.
The TinCaps start a new three-game set at Parkview Field Saturday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 6:05 (one hour earlier than typical). Fort Wayne is scheduled to start Bryan Rodriguez (1-4, 3.86), while Cedar Rapids runs out Tim Atherton (5-2, 2.45). The game can be heard on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com, and seen on XFINITY Channel 81.
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