Bandits Lose Series, Chiefs Clinch Playoff Spot
August 27, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
The Quad Cities River Bandits watched an opposing team clinch a playoff berth on Thursday night, losing a 2-1 affair to the Peoria Chiefs at O'Brien Field.
Quad Cities (25-34, 55-74) lost for the ninth time in their last 11 games, falling to a season-low 19 games under .500 as their playoff aspirations continue to fade away. While the River Bandits are now five games out of a potential playoff spot with 10 games to play, Peoria (37-22, 75-53) punched their ticket to the post-season with the victory and will now set their sights on clinching the Western Division crown.
The Chiefs opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. David Macias lined a single to center and advanced to third on a base hit by Ryan Flaherty. With men at the corners and nobody out, Rebel Ridling drove a sacrifice fly to right that gave the home team a quick 1-0 lead.
Peoria added to the advantage in the fifth. Macias opened the frame with a bunt single while a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. D.J. LaMahieu sent a bouncer to the right side that nearly resulted in an inning-ending double play, but the batter narrowly beat out the turn throw to first as Macias crossed the plate for a 2-0 score.
The River Bandits pushed across their lone run in the seventh. Domnit Bolivar led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. There was one out when Jack Cawley stung a liner to left, scoring the runner with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Quad Cities carried that momentum into the eighth inning, using a walk and an infield single to put two men aboard with just one out. But Chiefs' reliever Kevin Kreier (3) struck out Xavier Scruggs and Frederick Parejo swinging to end the threat, and then went on to throw a 1-2-3 ninth for the two-inning save.
Aaron Shafer (10-8) earned the win with six shutout innings, allowing just four singles while fanning a pair and walking one to beat the River Bandits for the second time in three tries this season.
Eric Fornataro (0-4) took the loss for Quad Cities. Despite turning in his best outing since joining the club, the righty was touched for two runs on five hits over five innings.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue an eight-game road stretch with the opener of a four-game series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night in Clinton, and will be back at Modern Woodmen Park for the final three regular season home games of the year from September 2-4. The action resumes with a Modern Woodmen Half-Price night on Wednesday, September 2, as the first 1,000 fans will get a special River Bandits hat and the famous Klement's racing sausages will be in attendance. The last Thirst-day Thursday of the year will also be Tattoo Night, and fans that get a free River Bandits tattoo will be able to show it at the box office for a free berm ticket to any game in 2010! Lastly, the 2009 regular season will conclude with Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, September 4, featuring the first-ever Bandit Wedding and one last pyrotechnic extravaganza on a Fireworks Friday!
Midwest League Stories from August 27, 2009
- Cougars Drop Finale to Beloit - Kane County Cougars
- "Lefty" Wilson, Lugnuts Doff 'Caps, 3-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Miller, Loons Blank Tincaps, 10-0 - Great Lakes Loons
- Loons Throttle TinCaps, 10-0 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Lansing Rallies Late Beat The Caps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Chiefs Headed to Playoffs After 2-1 Win Thursday - Peoria Chiefs
- Bandits Lose Series, Chiefs Clinch Playoff Spot - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bees and Timber Rattlers Rained Out - Burlington Bees
- Weather Stops Rattlers In Burlington - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Hawks Take Three Game Lead with Sweep - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Hawks Complete Sweep of Dragons - Dayton Dragons
- Kernels and LumberKings cancelled - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Loons, Jenkins Create Gem of a Promotion - Great Lakes Loons
- Douglas activated from DL, Palacios sent to Oneonta - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Gameday August 27th - Dayton Dragons
- Ex-Snappers Head to AZ Fall League - Beloit Sky Carp
- Chiefs Playoff Tickets Go on Sale Thursday - Peoria Chiefs
- Embark on a Genesis Summer Movie Series adventure with The Goonies - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Tincaps Top Loons, 5-1 - Great Lakes Loons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
