Game Notes: Quad Cities River Bandits @ Kane County Cougars (8/14/14)

Final Score

Cougars 4, River Bandits 1

Game Summary

It was a relatively quick game that started as a pitchers duel. The River Bandits (60-61) had a few early chances, but couldn't push a run across. Meanwhile, the Cougars (77-45) didn't see a base runner until the 5th. Quad Cities manufactured a run in the 6th and with their pitching, it seemed like a good chance of holding up. But the Kane County bats came to life in the 8th when they scored their 4 runs and shut the door in the 9th to lock down the sweep.

Pitchers of Record
W: Jasvir Rakkar (1-0)- 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB. The Canadian prospect came in in the 8th to maintain the status quo, and did well. Gave up all fly ball outs, but hey, whatever works.
L: Troy Scribner (0-2)- 7.1 IP, 3 R (3 ER), 5 H, 10 K. The undrafted 23-year-old looked really good, retiring the first 14 men he faced. (Full confession: I alluded to the perfect game to my wife trying not to jinx it. My bad.) He had no problems up until the 8th, when the first four guys all hit the ball pretty hard... Especially the last guy he faced.

Key Stats

• Trey Martin (KC)- 1-3, HR (2), 3 RBI. I was up getting Dippin Dots during the rally. A leadoff double was followed by a line out and a base hit to set the stage for what turned out to be Martin's game-winner. I could tell purely by sound it was hit well, but I had to rely on other fans to know that it was gone, just over the wall by the scoreboard.
• Duane Underwood (KC)- 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K. The Cougar starter only lasted 5 because of a fairly high pitch count. After a perfect first inning, he gave up a single and a walk to start the second inning. A groundout moved the runners over, but a great play at first nailed the runner going home for the second out and he escaped. In the third, the River Bandits loaded the bases with one out but Underwood struck out the next two guys. Then in the 4th after giving up a leadoff single, catcher Victor Caratini threw out the runner trying to steal. Underwood then walked the next batter before inducing an inning-ending double play.
• James Ramsay (QC)- 1-5, 1B, 2 SB. The Astro's 2013 7th round pick hit the ball really well last night. He opened the game with a rocket the opposite way that Shawon Dunston, Jr. made a great catch at the wall on. He singled with one out in the third, stole second ahead of a Bobby Boyd walk, then swiped third as part of a double steal. He would advance no further. Keep an eye on this guy though; he's got 28 steals on the season. In just over a full season's worth of games, he's only hitting .243 between short-season A-ball and the Midwest League, but he's got a .336 on base percentage and 35 steals in 46 attempts.

Final Thoughts
Growing up, heading out to Geneva to catch a Cougars game was always a treat. After a few year hiatus, it was good to get back for an amazing game last year. I'd wanted to bring Kristen along for a game out here, so we went with my dad and Logan. I think Kristen mainly came for the food (there were funnel cakes right behind our seats), but overall I think she had a pretty good time. As for the game, the Cougars have had some magic at home this season, and it showed last night as they came from behind late to rally and win. They've already locked up a playoff berth after winning the Midwest League Western Division First Half title, but they've just kept rolling, and are in first place in the second half too. Maybe we'll see a 2014 Midwest League Championship for this amazing Minor League program.