MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Error Costs Bandits

Published on July 5, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits appeared to be on their way to a comeback victory on Sunday afternoon, but their lead quickly disappeared after a costly error in the eighth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Quad Cities (4-6, 34-46) has lost four of their last five games despite a run of good starting pitching, including two in a row to a first-place Cedar Rapids (8-2, 48-32) club that has scored the go-ahead run in their final at-bat in each of the first two games of the current four-game series.

The River Bandits overcame a pair of early deficits to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, prepared to attack the final two frames with ace set-up man Joel Pichardo and closer Dave Carpenter.

After issuing a leadoff walk to pesky leadoff hitter Matt Crawford in the eighth, Pichardo induced a key double play ball to clear the bases with two outs. Tyson Auer then rolled a two-out single up the middle which seemed harmless when Beau Brooks lifted a routine fly ball high in the air to right.

But right fielder Kyle Conley, making his professional debut, took a step back before coming in on the ball, and though he was able to position himself underneath the pop up he could not make the catch. As the ball bounced to the ground, Auer raced home all the way from first to tie the score. One batter later, Gabe Jacobo ripped a double down the left field line to give the Kernels a 4-3 lead.

Andrew Taylor came in for the ninth, working around a two-out walk to lock down his third save of the year. That made a winner out of Christian Scholl (3-0), who struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning and was rewarded by the ensuing rally.

Pichardo (1-1) suffered both the blown save and the tough-luck loss for Quad Cities, surrendering two unearned runs on two hits and a walk in .2 innings. Prior to the late drama, Brett Zawacki turned in a solid start with 5.1 frames of two-run ball, while Matt Frevert tossed a scoreless 1.2 innings out of the bullpen and struck out three.

Early on, Crawford keyed a pair of rallies for Cedar Rapids. He singled and scored in both the first and third innings, coming around on a double by Brooks in the opening frame before crossing the plate on a groundout by Auer in the third.

But each time, the River Bandits had an answer. Travis Mitchell singled home Jose Garcia to even the score at 1-1 in the top of the third. In the sixth inning, Matt Carpenter's leadoff triple turned into another game-tying run when Jarred Bogany's bounce-out made it 2-2.

Quad Cities took their only lead of the game in the top of the seventh. Mitchell singled to start the rally while an error and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Charlie Cutler checked in with a sacrifice fly, putting the River Bandits ahead, 3-2.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue their four-game road series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Monday at 6:35 p.m., but will return to Modern Woodmen Park for a six-game homestand against the Lansing Lugnuts and Clinton LumberKings beginning on Wednesday, July 8. It begins with the Optimists Youth Appreciation Night, featuring Halloween in July as well as a Rhythm City Casino Guaranteed Prize WINS-day. The first 2,000 fans to Thursday's ballgame will receive President Barack Obama bobblehead dolls while everybody will enjoy $2 draft beer and fountain Pepsi products on a Thirst-day Thursday that will pay tribute to the hit sitcom, The Office. A Fireworks Friday follows with an appearance from Chicago Bears great and Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. A bobblehead doll featuring Steve Dillard, Quad Cities' all-time winningest manager, will be handed out on Saturday courtesy of Mel Foster agent Keith A. Allborty, and the Rockin' Saturday also includes a post-game concert by Elvis Himselvis on Elvis Night! Fans arriving early to Sunday's game will receive the 2009 River Bandits Team Poster thanks to Swiss Valley Farms on another Tailz ‘Er Waggin' Dog Day of Summer, also a U.S. Bank Family Sunday. Lastly, the homestand concludes with a special 1:00 p.m. start time on Monday, a Summer Camp Day and Harry Potter Day!

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Midwest League Stories from July 5, 2009


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