MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits Survive With Two-Out Hits

Published on August 14, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits were determined to leave Elfstrom Stadium with a series split on Friday night, and that is exactly what they did after overcoming 12 stranded baserunners and a squandered three-run lead during a 4-3 win over the Kane County Cougars.

Quad Cities (22-25, 52-65) scored all four of their runs on two-out hits, including a tie-breaking single by Jason Stidham in the eighth that turned out to be the game-winner. Kane County (23-25, 64-54) again struggled to solve the River Bandits bullpen, as a pair of Quad Cities relievers combined for 3.2 scoreless innings to finish a series in which they allowed just one earned run over 17.1 frames.

The River Bandits consistently had runners on base in the early innings against Cougars' starter Shawn Haviland, seizing an early lead but failing to take full advantage of their scoring opportunities. Over the first three frames, Quad Cities put three runs on the scoreboard but also stranded seven runners.

After failing to convert on a bases-loaded, nobody-out opportunity in the first, the River Bandits opened the second inning with consecutive singles. The next two men were retired, but after a walk loaded the bases, Xavier Scruggs came through with a two-out, two-run single to give Quad Cities a 2-0 lead.

Singles by Jack Cawley and Ryde Rodriguez put men at the corners for the River Bandits in the third. In danger of letting another opportunity slip through their fingertips, Jarred Bogany delivered a two-out RBI-single to right-center, giving Quad Cities a 3-0 cushion.

But the Cougars slowly chipped away and eventually evened the score. Franklin Hernandez singled to lead off the third and scored on a base hit by Chris Berroa. The fourth inning began with a triple by Steve Parker and, moments later, Mike Spina's sacrifice fly pulled Kane County to within one run. Spina had a hand in the game-tying run as well, yanking a leadoff double down the left field line in the sixth and scoring on a one-out single by Petey Paramore to make it a 3-3 ballgame.

But in the eighth, Stidham came through with the decisive hit. Domnit Bolivar started the rally with a leadoff walk, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and tagging up to head to third after a fly out. That is when Stidham delivered the two-out single, looping a 3-1 pitch over the second baseman to give the River Bandits a 4-3 edge.

Dave Carpenter (10) came in for the ninth despite having thrown two innings during Thursday night's 15-inning marathon. After a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt, the closer struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Ladendorf and leadoff man Nino Leyja - both swinging - to nail down the save.

Gary Daley (4-3) earned the win, taking the mound with a man on and a man out in the sixth and proceeding to throw 2.2 frames of hitless baseball. Cougars' reliever Scott Deal (1-3) suffered the loss, tossing 2.2 innings of relief and allowing the decisive run on two hits.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park on Saturday for an eight-game homestand, kicking things off with DHCU Night featuring a Rascal bobblehead doll giveaway for the first 2,000 fans, post-game fireworks, and a post-game Dueling Pianos concert thanks to Nan's Piano Bar on a Rockin' Saturday.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2009


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