MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Bandits take two, sweep Chiefs

Published on May 14, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Tommy Pham homered twice and the Quad Cities River Bandits overcame a four-run deficit in game two of Wednesday's doubleheader, knocking off the Peoria Chiefs by scores of 3-2 and 7-4 to sweep the twin bill at O'Brien Field.

Quad Cities (19-17) has now seen Pham homer in each of his first three games since joining the River Bandits, who have won three of their last four games since snapping a five-game losing streak on Saturday. Peoria (14-24) will try to salvage a series split in the finale on Thursday.

After opening the game on Monday with a homer on the first pitch of the night, Tommy Pham was a bit more patient in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader. The 20-year-old center fielder waited until pitch number two to take his first swing, but once again launched a solo homer out of the yard to left field. Pete Kozma followed with a single to center and eventually scored on a base hit by Andrew Brown, giving the River Bandits an early 2-0 lead after the top of the first.

On the mound, Quad Cities starter Thomas Eager retired the first five batters that he faced before running into trouble with two outs in the second. It started with a homer by Jovan Rosa that cut the deficit to 2-1. Dylan Johnston added a laser to right that went for a double, and Elvis Lara promptly tripled him home to even the score at 2-2.

The River Bandits did not waste much time recapturing the lead. Consecutive one-out walks in the top of the third put a couple of men aboard with one out, and Charlie Kingrey checked in with a single up the middle that gave Quad Cities a 3-2 advantage.

Eager (2-1) picked up the win with a strong outing, holding the Chiefs to two runs on four hits over five solid frames. Outside of the three batter stretch in the second that led to both Peoria runs, the right-hander out of Cal Poly retired 15 of the other 16 batters he faced and set down the side in order three times. Cardoza Tucker, Jr. (2) twirled a hitless bottom of the seventh inning to earn the save.

Alberto Cabrera (1-5) took the loss for Peoria despite turning in a quality start. The 19-year-old Dominican allowed three runs on five hits over six innings of work.

Early in game two of the doubleheader, it appeared the River Bandits might have to settle for a split.

Quad Cities starter Eduardo Sanchez walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first, marking the fifth time in the last six games that the pitching staff issued a walk to the first batter they faced. Marquez Smith then opened the scoring with an RBI-single. Another walk and a hit batsman loaded the bases with two outs for Mario Mercedes, who cleared the bags with a three-run double to put Peoria ahead by a 4-0 score.

Refusing to rest on their laurels, the River Bandits stormed back from there to score the final seven runs of the game.

In the top of the third, Mike Folli led off with a single to center and Pham followed with his second homer of the day and third longball in as many games. Later in the frame Brown chipped in with a two-out double, setting the stage for Matt Arburr to break out of a 1-for-17 skid with a mammoth two-run bomb to left that tied the score at 4-4.

Two innings later, the River Bandits took the lead. Kozma was at first when Kingrey sliced a double down the third base line, scoring the runner for his team-high 23rd RBI of the year. One pitcher later Kingrey raced home to score on a wild pitch, and Brown's team-leading fifth homer of the season capped the three-run inning and secured the 7-4 lead.

Sanchez (3-1) earned the win despite a shaky start, rebounding from a four-run first inning to allow just one hit the rest of the way. The 19-year-old Venezuelan registered a career-high six strikeouts and lasted a career-high five frames, yielding four runs on three hits, four walks, and two hit bastmen. Pete Parise (2) took it the rest of the way, retiring six of the seven batters he faced to earn the save.

Steve Vento (3-1) suffered the loss out of the bullpen for the Chiefs, roughed up for three runs on three hits over two innings of work.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits are in the midst of a seven-game commuter trip that continues with the series finale in Peoria on Thursday and winds down over the weekend with a three-game series in Burlington. Quad Cities will return to Davenport to welcome in Ryne Sandberg and the Peoria Chiefs on Monday, May 19, for Indiana Jones Night. The series will continue with Make-a-Wish Night on May 20, an autographed baseball giveaway on May 21, and Bad Fad Night on a Thirst-day Thursday on May 22. 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!

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 14, 2008


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