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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits Build Big Lead, Hold off LumberKings

May 19, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


CLINTON, Iowa (May 19, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Derek Fisher hit a career-high three doubles in his first three-hit game of the season, and third baseman Nick Tanielu drove in three runs to help the visitors build an 8-1 lead in an eventual 8-5 victory over the Clinton LumberKings at Ashford University Field Tuesday night.

Five River Bandits had multi-hit games, and every player in the lineup reached base on a hit or walk, as Quad Cities led from the first inning until the final out to improve to 5-0 against Clinton and move professional baseball's best record to 31-8. Quad Cities also increased its Midwest League Western Division lead to a season-high eight games over the Cedar Rapids Kernels (23-16).

In the first inning against LumberKings left-hander Patrick Peterson (4-4), River Bandits catcher Jamie Ritchie hit a leadoff single to right field, and Fisher grounded a double down the first-base line. Designated hitter Mott Hyde walked to load the bases, and Tanielu hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ritchie. Left fielder Sean McMullen singled to right field to reload the bases, and right fielder Ryan Bottger added a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Fisher for a 2-0 Quad Cities lead.

With Tuesday's scheduled starting pitcher, Chris Lee, traded to the Baltimore Orioles organization Monday, right-hander Francis Martes made his Midwest League debut. He began by walking LumberKings center fielder Aaron Barbosa and shortstop Chris Mariscal, but got second baseman Nelson Ward to line out to second base and third baseman Joe DeCarlo to line out to first baseman Bryan Muñiz for an unassisted, inning-ending double play - the first of three Quad Cities turned in the game.

The River Bandits added a run in the third inning, as Fisher doubled off the left-center field wall, and Hyde singled to center field. With runners at first and third bases, Tanielu struck out before McMullen grounded into a fielder's choice for an RBI. With three runs of support, Martes allowed one hit and struck out five batters in his first 3 2/3 innings, but Clinton (16-23) scored its first run with two outs in the fourth inning. Left fielder Chantz Mack walked, right fielder Estarlyn Morales was hit by a pitch, and first baseman Kristian Brito hit an RBI single. Martes finished four innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Fisher and Tanielu combined for another run in the fifth inning, with the former doubling down the left-field line and the latter lifting a triple to right-center field off the glove of Morales. In the sixth inning, Bottger hit a leadoff single into left field, second baseman Alex Hernandez walked with one out, and shortstop Kristain Trompiz hit an RBI single to left field, with Bottger eluding the tag of catcher Daniel Torres at home plate. Ritchie followed with a two-run double down the left-field line that ended Peterson's outing after 5 1/3 innings, in which he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Left-hander Jarrett Brown retired Fisher on a flyout, which sent Ritchie to third base. Brown's wild pitch scored Ritchie - a run charged to Peterson - for an 8-1 Quad Cities lead.

Following Martes, right-hander Kevin Comer (4-0) began the fifth inning and retired the first six batters he faced. In the seventh inning, Morales hit a leadoff single to left field, and Brito singled to right field. With runners at first and third bases, Comer got designated hitter Taylor Zeutenhorst to ground to Hernandez, who started a double play, with a run scoring to make it 8-2.

Comer kept the lead at six runs until the ninth inning. Mack and Morales began with consecutive singles, and Brito grounded to Hernandez, who tagged Morales and threw to first base for a double play. Needing one out to end the game, Comer walked Zeutenhorst, allowed an RBI single to Torres, walked Barbosa and allowed an RBI single by Mariscal. With the bases loaded, right-hander Aaron Greenwood made his Midwest League debut, walking Ward to make it 8-5, before fanning DeCarlo with the tying run at first base for his first career save.

The River Bandits continue their series at Ashford University Field in Clinton on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., when River Bandits right-hander Akeem Bostick (1-0) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Lukas Schiraldi (3-3).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits need your vote in two online contests. The team's logo is in Baseball America's Logo Mania, and the R.I.A. Federal Credit Union Lane Evans Patriot Seats are up for "Best Seat in the House" on MiLB.com. Links to vote are at riverbandits.com. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

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