Bandits Get Revenge, Even Up Series
Published on May 3, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
The Quad Cities River Bandits jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on from there Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark, evening the series with a 5-3 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Quad Cities (16-11) was led by Domnit Bolivar, whose first-inning triple started the scoring before his sixth-inning double proved to be the decisive hit. West Michigan (16-11) was baffled by River Bandits pitching for most of the day, mustering just three hits through the first seven innings before threatening a late comeback.
On the heels of a 16-3 loss on Friday night, Quad Cities was determined to jump out to an early lead on Saturday afternoon.
Bolivar got things started with a one-out triple, but after Pete Kozma struck out it looked like the Whitecaps might escape a top of the first inning jam for the second straight day. Andrew Brown had other ideas, however, pulling a 1-2 pitch through the hole on the left side to score Bolivar and put Quad Cities on the board. After a balk moved Brown to second, Paul Vazquez checked in with a two-out base hit of his own, lining an RBI-single to right to give the River Bandits a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Kozma doubled and scored for a 3-0 advantage. The 18th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Kozma's base hit extended his current hitting streak to eight games, a stretch that began on April 16, just one day after his first eight-game streak of the season came to an end. Kozma is hitting .390 over his last 17 games, encompassing both hitting streaks.
The River Bandits added a pair of important insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Justin Roberson and Jose Garcia each reached base with one-out singles, setting the stage for Bolivar to deliver a clutch two-out hit. The 18-year-old third baseman added to his big day with a two-run double to left, giving Quad Cities a healthy 5-0 advantage.
Eduardo Sanchez (2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen for Quad Cities, tossing three shutout innings before the Whitecaps got to him in the bottom of the eighth. After allowing a leadoff double to Kody Kaiser, Sanchez walked the bases loaded and hit a batter to force in a run before being taken out of the ballgame.
Cardoza Tucker, Jr. (2) limited the damager from there, allowing two inherited runners to score but escaping the eighth with a 5-3 lead. The River Bandits' closer followed with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, going two frames to notch his second save of the year.
While he did not figure into the decision, River Bandits starter Thomas Eager turned in another strong performance. The 22-year-old from California tossed four shutout innings and allowed just one hit, striking out one and inducing two double plays to help work around three walks. The Cardinals' fifth round pick in the 2007 draft, Eager has now thrown 10 consecutive innings without allowing a run dating back to April 23.
Ramon Garcia (3-3) took the loss for the Whitecaps, as the lefty continues his return to the Midwest League two years after dominating the circuit in 2006. Off to a strong start after an injury riddled 2007, the River Bandits jumped all over him to the tune of five runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings of work, raising his ERA from 2.70 to 3.46. Garcia struck out five and walked two, allowing the two-run double to Bolivar before being removed from the game in the sixth.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue their six-game road trip with the rubber match of a three-game series in West Michigan on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CT. They return to Modern Woodmen Park for a four-game home set against Kane County on May 8, a series that will not be affected by the current flooding of the Mississippi River. The series starting May 8 will kick off with a Thirst-day Thursday and an Ocho de Mayo fiesta with half-price beer, wine, margaritas and Mexican food, then continues with a FIREWORKS Friday, featuring a throwback River Bandits jersey auction to benefit the ALS Association. Saturday's game will feature a home cap giveaway courtesy of Orthopaedic Specialists before a Rockin' Saturday, and the festivities will also include a variety of promotions for Genesis Military Appreciation Night, including military displays and an exhibition game featuring the Military All-Stars at 4:00 p.m. The series will conclude on a U.S. Bank Family Sunday, featuring clowns, face-painters, and the chance for kids to run the bases after the game! Merchandise 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!
Midwest League Stories from May 3, 2008
- Slide reaches three as Kernels fall to Fort Wayne, 10-9 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Wisconsin blasts past Lansing to take set - Lansing Lugnuts
- Snappers Take Series' Third Game; Roster move - Great Lakes Loons
- Rattlers take series - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Bees Score 7 in 4th, Beat Dragons 10-7 - Dayton Dragons
- Italiano, Cougars Even Set with L'Kings - Kane County Cougars
- Home win streak ends with loss to River Bandits - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Bandits Get Revenge, Even Up Series - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Score Early, Hang on for 4-3 Win - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars Latest Roster Addition Led A's System In Stolen Bases Last Season - Kane County Cougars
- Wizards conjure late rally to beat Kernels, 7-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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