MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits Blown Out In Series Opener

Published on July 19, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits trailed from the get-go on Saturday night, as the Fort Wayne Wizards batted around in consecutive innings on their way to a 14-3 win at Modern Woodmen Park.

Quad Cities (15-14, 48-45) trailed by 14 runs before cracking the scoreboard on Aaron Luna's solo homer in the fifth. Fort Wayne (13-16, 50-49) sent a combined 22 men to the plate in the third and fourth innings, scoring 13 times on 14 hits to seize control.

The Wizards struck first with an unearned run in the opening frame, but it was a pair of big innings that blew the game wide open.

There was one out and a man on in the third inning when five consecutive Wizards' hitters reached base. After Felix Carrasco drew a bases loaded walk for a 2-0 lead, Yefri Carvajal checked in with a two-run single. Later in the frame the bases were juiced again as Brad Chalk drove home a pair of runs with a double to left-center. Before it was all said and done, 10 men came to the plate and six of them scored, putting Fort Wayne ahead by a comfortable 7-0 margin.

One inning later, 12 batters came to the plate as the game spiraled out of control. Reliever Dylan Gonzalez was on the mound when Robert Perry opened the top of the fourth with a solo homer to right. Following a double by Lance Zawadzki and a pair of singles by Justin Baum and Carrasco, Carvajal made it five straight hits to open the inning when he launched a three-run homer out of the yard to left. Two outs later the Wizards rattled off three consecutive hits that led to two more runs, making it a 14-0 ballgame.

Meanwhile, Cory Luebke (1-0) cruised to the win in his second start since joining the Wizards from the California League. The left-hander out of Ohio State allowed two runs on three hits over five solid innings of work. He faced the minimum through 4.2 frames before the River Bandits broke through in the fifth.

Luna got Quad Cities on the scoreboard with two outs in the frame, launching his second homer in as many nights and his third in just 10 pro games since being drafted in the ninth round out of Rice University. After Tommy Pham reached on an infield single, Ismael Cardona slapped a run-scoring double down the right field line that cut the deficit to 14-2.

In the eighth, Pete Kozma doubled home D'Marcus Ingram for the final tally of the game.

Ryan Kulik (1-3) suffered the loss for Quad Cities, failing to make it out of the third inning. He was touched for seven runs - six earned - on nine hits over 2.2 frames. Gonzalez did not fare much better, yielding seven runs in just one inning of work.

Brandon Garner came in with two outs in the fourth, though, as the River Bandits bullpen took over and shut down Fort Wayne the rest of the way. After allowing the first two men he faced to reach on consecutive singles, Garner began a stretch in which he, Matt Spade, and Eduardo Sanchez retired 15 in a row and 16 of the last 17 batters of the game.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue their series against the Fort Wayne Wizards at Modern Woodmen Park with a Rally Towel Giveaway and a special 5:00 p.m. start on a U.S. Bank Family Sunday. The homestand concludes with Quad Cities Home Builders and Remodelers Association Night at the Ball Park on Monday, sponsored by Countrywide Bank. The homestand finale will also feature half-price margaritas on a Margarita Monday as well as Batman Night for the release of The Dark Night. Bandit Wear featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the popular You-Pick-10 Plan are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 3-BANDITS!

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Midwest League Stories from July 19, 2008


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