NFL
By: Zachary Draves
The friendly confines are not limited to Wrigley but permeate through the air of Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, home of the minor league Quad City River Bandits and High A league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
A literal carnival-like atmosphere that includes a ferris wheel in left field mixed with the family-friendly comradery that is often synonymous with the minors while providing a great sense of relaxation and taking in the humbleness of those on the field looking to make their dreams a reality.
The River Bandits came into their June 3rd contest against the Beloit Snappers, A league affiliate of the Miami Marlins in good standing from being 1st in the High A Central Division with the Snappers right behind them.
This game also took on a significant meaning as it was Mental Health Awareness Night and the River Bandits donned a green ribbon on their jerseys, a very timely message considering an ever-increasing awareness of mental wellness in sports as a result of Naomi Osaka’s public acknowledgment of her own inner struggles.
The following highlights explain it all as provided by the River Bandits:
Pitching dominated through the first half of the game and saw Quad Cities’ starter, Grant Gambrell strike out five of the first seven batters he faced through two innings.
However, in the top of the fifth, Dustin Skelton broke the scoreless tie with a two-run homer that gave the Snappers the 2-0 lead.
While only recording three “Ks” on the night, Zach King scattered four Bandits’ baserunners through a scoreless five-inning start that included avoiding a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the bottom of the first.
With Gambrell out of the game after Griffin Conine reached on an error to start the sixth, Beloit’s offense came to life against right-hander, Yohanse Morel who allowed the first four Beloit batters he faced to reach and surrendered a three-run blast to Troy Johnston that extended the Snappers’ lead to 5-0.
The River Bandits sparked a rally in the bottom of the seventh and tagged Josh Simpson for a four-run frame, thanks to his wild pitch, which scored Logan Porter, and then RBI from Eric Cole on a single, Tyler Gentry on a fielder’s choice, and Vinnie Pasquantino on a triple that cut the Q.C. deficit to one.
Unfazed, Beloit immediately responded against left-hander A.J. Block in the top of the eighth and pushed their lead back to 7-4 with a two-run double from Ynmanol Marinez who plated Johnston and Ricky Aracena.
Quad Cities got an RBI triple from Tucker Bradley, his third hit of the game, that scored Porter in the eighth, but Josh Roberson navigated Beloit out of the inning after the one run and handed the ball to Tyler Mitzer who picked up his fifth save of the season after working a scoreless ninth. Ending a streak of four losses, Zach King (1-4) got the win for the visitors, while Gambrell (2-1) took his first loss of the season despite his quality start.
The River Bandits (17-10) continue their series against Snappers (15-13) until June 6th.
