MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits Can't Hold Lead, Bees Even Series

Published on August 21, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Friday night, but a two-run homer by Nick Francis in the sixth inning put the Burlington Bees ahead for the first time and the bullpen cemented a 5-3 win at Modern Woodmen Park.

Four different Quad Cities (24-29, 54-69) players registered multi-hit games, but the River Bandits mustered just two hits against a Bees bullpen that locked down the final 3.1 innings. Burlington (24-29, 53-70) scored the final four runs of the ballgame after falling behind early, with the homer by Francis giving them the lead for good.

The River Bandits scored first for the second straight night, rallying for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Jason Stidham turned on a one-out pitch and ripped a double into the right field corner, while Domnit Bolivar followed with a two-base hit to left-center that gave Quad Cities the lead. Roberto Espinoza chipped in with a grounder through the left side, and a close play at the plate went the River Bandits' way when the ball fell out of the catcher's glove on the tag attempt and Bolivar scored for a 2-0 lead.

The Bees cut the lead in half with a single run in the top of the third, but Rich Racobaldo got it back with one swing of the bat in the bottom half of the frame. There two outs when the 37th-round pick in the June draft turned on a 3-2 pitch and blasted a laser onto the left field berm, notching his first Midwest League homer with a solo shot that made it a 3-1 ballgame.

In the middle innings, however, Burlington continued their comeback. David Wood led off the fourth with a single and eventually scored all the way from second on an infield hit by Jose Bonilla. In the sixth, Francis followed a leadoff walk with a two-run homer to left-center, catapulting the Bees to a 4-3 lead.

Patrick Norris tripled and scored in the seventh to make it 5-3, but the insurance run hardly seemed to matter after the Burlington bullpen took over. Lefty Blaine Hardy fanned three over 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Barry Bowden (10) then worked a perfect ninth inning for the save, as the duo combined to retire nine of the last 10 batters of the game.

Manauris Baez (7-5) earned the win for the Bees despite allowing three runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. Jorge Rondon (1-3) was dealt the loss for Quad Cities after giving up four runs - three earned - on eight hits over five frames.

UP NEXT: Saturday is Jimmy Buffett Night, as fans will take advantage of specials on Landshark Lager and the River Bandits will wear Buffett-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off during an in-game silent auction to benefit Genesis Health System's Flu Free Quad Cities campaign. After the game, the Fry Daddies will hit the stage for a live concert. The homestand concludes on the final U.S. Bank Family Sunday of the year with a Tailz 'Er Waggin' Dog Day of Summer featuring a Dog House giveaway!

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 21, 2009


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