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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Ankiel's homer not enough

May 26, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Rick Ankiel slugged his first home run of the season to give Quad Cities a lead, but it was short-lived as Lansing exploded for 13 runs on 15 hits in a 13-4 Swing loss Thursday night at John O'Donnell Stadium. The Swing and Lugnuts split the four-game series for the second time this year, finishing their season-series deadlocked at 4-4.

With Clinton also falling, the Swing remain half a game back and in second place in the MWL-West. However, Wisconsin did win at Kane County to pull within half a game of the Swing. With 23 scheduled games remaining in the first half, only one game now separates the top three teams in the Midwest League's Western Division. Only the top two qualify for the postseason, and Wisconsin comes to town for a four-game set beginning on Friday.

After Lansing (24-22) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, Quad Cities (28-18) battled back in the bottom half. After Simon Williams and Brandon Yarbrough walked to open the frame, Jarrett Hoffpauir hit a one-out sacrifice fly to put the home team on the board. One batter later, on a 1-2 pitch, Ankiel turned on a breaking ball and lifted a home run high to right-center, giving the Swing a 3-2 lead.

Ankiel was 2-for-4 on the day with the homer, a double, and a line drive to right in which the lefty was robbed by a leaping Juan Peralta grab. Ankiel has six RBI in four games for the Swing, and has driven in at least one run.

The Lugnuts then tied the game at three with a single run in the fourth before exploding for four runs each in the fifth and six innings, and finally capping their scoring with two more in the seventh. Cory Patton went 1-3 on the day, but drove in five runs with a long home run and two sacrifice flies. In the sixth inning, two of the four runs scored on consecutive wild pitches.

Despite the rout Simon Williams continued to batter Lugnuts pitching, blasting his third homer of the year to center field in the fifth inning. On the season, Williams is 8-for-25 against Lansing with all three of his home runs and 10 of his 15 RBI.

Dennis Dove (4-3) started for Quad Cities, but was knocked around to the tune of seven runs on eleven hits in only 4.1 innings. Michael Gross then came in to yield 4 runs – three earned – on four walks and a hit. Justin Knoff, Kevin Ool, and Jaymie Torres also came on to pitch for the Swing though the game was out of reach.

Danny Core (1-1) picked up the win for Lansing, though he was touched for four runs on four hits through five innings.

UP NEXT: The Swing begin four-game series with third-place Wisconsin on Friday night, as Quad Cities sends Quinton Robertson (0-0, 4.70) to the mound against righty Jason Snyder (4-4, 3.67). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 will begin at 6:45. Tickets are available to all Swing home games by calling (563) 328-2000.

PROMOTION: The first 1,000 fans through the gates on Friday will receive a Swing T-Shirt, courtesy of I-Wireless, The Dispatch, KWQC TV6 and WLLR. In addition, fans will receive a Swing Cheer Card with a complimentary copy of The Dispatch.

HOMESTAND REPORT: The Swing's current homestand runs through Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. The Swing will be giving away I-Wireless Swing T-Shirts on Friday night, and BirdZerk! will come to town on Saturday. Sunday night will be a 7:00 start time followed by post-game fireworks, courtesy of KWQC-TV6, and Monday will be a special Memorial Day matinee.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from May 26, 2005


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