MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits Beat Rattlers to Win 9th Straight

Published on May 8, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa - After a first-inning, one-out home run by Wisconsin Timber Rattlers center fielder Brandon Diaz, Quad Cities River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee and right-hander Kevin Comer combined to hold the visitors scoreless for the rest of a 4-1 victory and their team's ninth straight win in front of 1,480 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.

With the best record in affiliated professional baseball, Quad Cities (22-6) has won nine straight games for the first time in exactly 13 years. The team's last winning streak of at least nine games was a 10-game streak April 26-May 7, 2002.

Entering Thursday with six straight losses, the Timber Rattlers (8-20) took their first lead in three games in the first inning. With one out, Diaz hit a drive over the right-field wall in front of the Built Ford Tough Deck for his first home run since July 2014 - and the first Midwest League home run allowed by Lee (2-2) since Aug. 15, 2014.

In the bottom of the first inning, the River Bandits responded with two outs against right-hander Cy Sneed (1-3). Center fielder Derek Fisher hit double down the right-field line that landed just beyond the dive of right fielder Elvis Rubio. Catcher Jacob Nottingham then singled to left field to score Fisher for the tying run. First baseman Bryan Muî=B1iz then grounded to shortstop Luis Aviles, who misplayed it for an error to continue the inning. With runners at first and second bases, River Bandits second baseman Alex Hernandez capitalized by grounding a single into center field that scored Nottingham for a 2-1 Quad Cities lead.

Lee held the 2-1 lead for the rest of his second straight five-inning, one-run start against Wisconsin. He worked around a bunt single in the second inning, a leadoff base runner from an error by third baseman Kristian Trompiz in the third inning, a walk in the fourth inning, and a single and walk in the fifth inning. He allowed three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Sneed did not allow a hit after the first inning and faced the minimum in the second through fifth innings. Shortstop Thomas Lindauer drew a walk with one out in the second inning but was thrown out trying to steal second base to end the inning. Sneed did not allow another base runner, allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

Comer began the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead and retired the first two batters before third baseman Tucker Neuhaus put a bunt single toward Trompiz. Neuhaus was awarded third base after Trompiz fielded and then discarded the ball to the third-base dugout. But two pitches later, Trompiz caught a foul popup by second baseman Dustin DeMuth near the third-base dugout to end the inning.

In leaving 10 runners on base, Wisconsin had its best scoring threat in the top of the seventh inning. Catcher Greg McCall hit a leadoff double to right-center field and went to third base on a bunt single by shortstop Luis Aviles. Comer then struck out left fielder Mitch Meyer before hitting Diaz to load the bases. With one out, Comer struck out designated hitter Carlos Leal swinging and first baseman Sthervin Matos looking to keep the 2-1 Quad Cities lead.

Quad Cities added two runs against right-hander Josh Uhen. With two in the seventh inning, Trompiz grounded an infield single down the third-base line and scored when left fielder Jason Martin drove a double to left-center field. In the eighth inning, designated hitter Mott Hyde, Fisher and Nottingham hit consecutive one-out singles to make it 4-1.

Comer struck out the side around a two-out walk in the eighth inning and struck out all three batters in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season. He recorded the final nine outs on strikeouts and yielded three hits and one walk in four shutout innings.

The River Bandits, who have allowed only 10 runs in their last 10 games, continue their series with Wisconsin at 7 p.m. Friday.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 8, 2015


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