MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits outlast LumberKings

Published on June 29, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


A series of intriguing pitching match-ups continued on Sunday afternoon, as Nick Additon threw seven strong innings and the Quad Cities River Bandits held on for a 4-3 win against Blake Beavan and the Clinton LumberKings at Alliant Energy Field.

Quad Cities (6-5, 39-36) also got another home run for Matt Arburr, who has now gone deep in three of his last four games and is hitting .393 with four homers and eight RBI in his last seven games. Clinton (3-9, 44-34) was unable to figure out Nick Additon as the River Bandits' left-handed starter got the better of Blake Beavan, the Texas Rangers' first-round pick in the 2007 draft and the 17th overall selection.

Additon (6-2) became the first River Bandit to win six games in 2008, allowing three runs - two earned - on just four hits over seven innings of work. The 20-year-old from Florida had given up only two hits and no earned runs through his first six frames before Clinton tagged him for a pair of solo homers in the seventh. Additon struck out four and walked one in the victory.

Meanwhile, the River Bandits got to Beavan in the top of the first inning. Adron Chambers led off the ballgame with a line drive single to right, and one out later Francisco Rivera pulled a groundball single through the right side that put men at the corners. There were two away when Charlie Kingrey dumped a flare single in front of the center fielder, scoring Chambers for a 1-0 lead.

Beavan retired seven consecutive batters following Kingrey's run-scoring knock, but that streak ended with one big swing of Arburr's bat in the fourth. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder led off the top of the inning with a solo homer to left-center, clubbing his team-leading 13th longball of the year. Two outs later, Domnit Bolivar added a solo shot of his own - just his second of the year - to run the River Bandits' lead to 3-0.

The score was 3-1 when Quad Cities added another run in the seventh. D'Marcus Ingram led off the inning with a single through the left side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a groundout advanced the runner to third, Rivera delivered a two-out single the other way, slicing a base hit to left that made it a 4-1 ballgame.

But in the bottom of the seventh, the LumberKings tightened things up dramatically. Jonathan Greene turned on a one-out offering and belted a solo homer to left center. Just one pitch later, Tim Smith drove a ball down the right field line that also left the yard. The back-to-back homers brought Clinton to within a 4-3 score in a span of just two pitches.

In the eighth inning, the LumberKings nearly evened things up. After Engel Beltre drew a two-out walk from reliever Wayne Daman, Andres James legged out an infield single to the left side of the diamond that induced a throw from Bolivar at third. As the throw trickled past Rivera at first, Beltre advanced to third before rounding the bag and racing home. But Rivera pounced on the ball and fired to Roberto Espinoza, who effectively blocked the plate and tagged the runner to end the inning and preserve the 4-3 lead.

Daman (2) came back out for the ninth and mowed down the heart of the Clinton lineup in order to notch a two-inning save.

Beavan (4-5) took the loss, dropping his fourth consecutive decision. The two home runs he allowed were the first given up at Alliant Energy Field this season, but they ran his total to nine on the year through 62.2 innings of work. He allowed three runs on five hits in all, striking out five and walking one over five frames.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits are in the midst of a four-game weekend series in Clinton against the LumberKings, but will return to Modern Woodmen Park on Tuesday for a seven-game homestand. The home stretch kicks off on July 1 against the Cedar Rapids Kernels with Halloween in July, also the Davenport Noon Optimists' Youth Appreciation Night, a Margarita Monday, and a Two-for-Tuesday! A Wacky WINS-day follows with guaranteed prizes for everyone in attendance on an IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union Night. As Independence Day looms, Thursday, July 3, will be a Thirst-day Thursday with half-price drink specials while the game will be followed by the City of Davenport's Red, White, and BOOM fireworks display. The River Bandits will celebrate the Fourth of July one night later with the biggest fireworks extravaganza of the season on Friday while also honoring those that serve our community on Hometown Heroes Night. After Cedar Rapids leaves town, the homestand continues July 5-7 against the Peoria Chiefs, as Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg makes his final regular season trip to Modern Woodmen Park. 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 June 29, 2008


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