Diaz's Homer Lifts Silver Hawks in 10th

Published on June 9, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Davenport, IA - Alberto Diaz's solo home run in the top of the tenth inning broke a 6-6 tie and lifted the South Bend Silver Hawks to a 7-6 victory over the Quad Cities River Bandits on Wednesday night. With the win, the Silver Hawks improved to 5-3 in extra innings game and have started this nine game road trip with two straight wins.

A back-and-forth game that featured four ties and four lead changes finally went the way of the Silver Hawks for good when Diaz launched a 1-2 pitch from Jesse Simpson (LP, 3-1) over the wall in left-center. The blast was Diaz's second homer this season and he now has a personal season high six game hitting streak.

Bradin Hagens (WP, 1-3) had allowed the tying run in the bottom of the ninth on a two out RBI single by Michael Swinson, but came back out to pitch the bottom of the tenth inning. After allowing a two out single and throwing a wild pitch to move the tying run to second base, Hagens got a soft liner from Ryde Rodriguez to end the ballgame and earn his first win of the season.

The River Bandits struck first against South Bend starter Eric Smith (ND) in the bottom of the second. Ivan Castro led off with a double and scored on a RBI single from Rodriguez. Smith settled down to get the next three batters to get out of the inning, and ended up retiring the next eight in a row.

Quad Cities starter Dan Calhoun (ND) was chased after just 3.1 innings on the mound. The Silver Hawks scored an unearned run against Calhoun in the third when Matt Helm reached on an error and scored on a RBI double from Andrew Fie to tie the game at 1-1. Helm gave the Silver Hawks the lead with a two-run single in the fourth inning, ending Calhoun's night early. After Bobby Borchering, Matt Davidson, and Alberto Diaz all singled to load the bases, Helm ripped a single into center for two RBIs and the 3-1 Hawks lead.

Quad Cities would come back and tie the game against Smith in the fifth. Frederick Parejo homered to lead off the inning, his first of the season. Michael Swinson followed with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Jenkins, knotting the game at 3-3.

After the Silver Hawks took the lead when Helm scored on a passed ball in the top of the seventh, Quad Cities answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead at 5-4. Brian Budrow (ND) allowed three hits including a RBI double from Niko Vasquez before turning it over to bullpen mate Chris Odegaard (ND), who walked in a run with the bases loaded.

South Bend got the lead back at 6-5 when Helm drove in two runs on a triple that was lost in the lights by right fielder Rodriguez. Borchering and David Nick scored on the blunder, putting the Silver Hawks out in front again. Helm's four RBI night was his second in the last four games.

The Silver Hawks are now 29-30 on the year and within one game of .500 for the first time since May 11th when they were 16-17.

The Silver Hawks and River Bandits wrap up the three game series on Thursday night with an 8:00 PM Eastern Time first pitch. RHP Scottie Allen (2-1, 3.32 ERA) will start for the Silver Hawks against RHP Scott Schneider (5-1, 2.19 ERA) for Quad Cities. Pregame coverage begins at 7:40 PM Eastern Time on 1620 ESPN Radio and online at www.silverhawks.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 9, 2010


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