MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Chiefs Avoid Sweep, Walk-Off with Win over Swing

Published on July 15, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities entered play on Sunday afternoon looking for a series sweep, but the Peoria Chiefs had other ideas, as Blake Lalli's run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth sent the Swing to a 6-5 loss.

Quad Cities (12-10, 50-41) was not intimidated by rehabbing starter Wade Miller, plating two runs against the Chicago Cubs' hurler before a series of lead changes put the game in the hands of the bullpens. Peoria (13-10, 44-48) avoided the sweep with the victory, knocking the Swing out of first place in the process and moving a half-game ahead of Quad Cities in the Western Division standings.

The game was tied at five heading into the bottom of the ninth when Peoria's Ryne Malone singled against Armando Carrasco (2-1) to lead off the inning. After a bunt moved the runner to second and Russ Canzler was intentionally walked, Lalli delivered a liner down the right field line that dropped in fair to score Malone for the 6-5 win.

Alex Maestri (4-3) picked up the victory for the Chiefs, tossing the final two innings without allowing a baserunner.

Before the late drama, the story of the game was Miller, making his first rehab start since being shut down in late May. The nine-year major league veteran began his appearance blazing out of the gates, striking out five of the first six batters he faced and cruising through his first two innings before the Swing got to him in the third. Quad Cities rallied for two runs on three hits in his final frame, sending Miller to the showers trailing 2-1after 39 pitchers. In all, the 30-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on four hits over three innings, striking out five without issuing a walk.

The Chiefs gave Miller a lead in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with nobody out against Swing starter Brandon Dickson. After Wellington Castillo struck out swinging Alfred Joseph rolled a swinging bunt towards third, driving in Canzler on the groundout. Dickson then got Matt Camp to line out, escaping the inning with just one run allowed and a 1-0 deficit.

In the top of the third, the Swing rallied to take the lead. Christian Lopez got it started by slapping a leadoff single to right against Miller, and then moved to third on a base hit by Antone DeJesus. There was one out when Jared Schweitzer singled on a flare to shallow right that dropped down to score Lopez and move DeJesus to third. One batter later, a sacrifice fly to deep right by Tony Cruz gave Quad Cities a 2-1 advantage.

But while Miller left the game in line for the loss, the Chiefs got him off the hook in the bottom of the fourth. A pair of walks left men at the corners with two away when Camp came up, and the left-handed hitter drove them both home with a double to center that put Peoria back out in front, 3-2.

Quad Cities was down by a 5-2 count heading into the sixth, when a bout of wildness from reliever Casey Lambert allowed them right back into the game. Lambert walked the first three batters of the inning, and Christian Reyes made him pay by belting a two-run double the other way to right-center. After a one-out walk and a pitching change the bases were loaded for Lopez, who was hit by a pitch on the leg to force in the game-tying run and even the score at 5-5.

TICKETS: Tickets for all events at John O'Donnell Stadium can be purchased by calling the Swing of the Quad Cities ticket office at (563) 328-2000, coming to the box office located at the stadium along South Gaines Street, or by logging on to www.swingbaseball.com.

UP NEXT: After an off day on Monday, the Swing head to Midland, Michigan, for the first time ever to face the Great Lakes Loons in a four-game set beginning on Tuesday. All Swing games feature a radio broadcast that can be heard on WKBF AM-1270 or online at www.swingbaseball.com, with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from July 15, 2007


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.

OurSports Central