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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Extra frames sting Swing

July 25, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities led for most of the game but sloppy play late in the contest allowed the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays to take a 5-4 decision in ten innings on Monday night at John O'Donnell Stadium. Because the Burlington Bees picked up their 11th straight win on Monday, the Swing fell out of first place for only the second time all season long.

Quad Cities (19-12, 55-45) is now 2-3 on the homestand, having suffered all three losses in extra inning ballgames. Southwest Michigan (17-14, 50-50) used the win to jump into a three-way tie for first place in the Midwest League's Eastern Division, along with West Michigan and South Bend.

Down 3-1 after a run in the seventh inning, the Devil Rays jumped to their first lead in the eighth, as Craig Markel led off the frame with a double. After a Fernando Perez single put runners at first and third, Jaymie Torres entered the ballgame with two outs. It was not his day, however, as the righthanded reliever hit the first two men he faced with the first two pitches he threw, the second one forcing in a run to pull the Devil Rays within 3-2. With the bases loaded and two outs, Patrick Cottrell hit a chopper towards the right side of the infield. The ball squirted past the glove of Calvin Hayes and bounced into shallow right, scoring two runs for a 4-3 Devil Rays lead.

The Swing evened the score back up in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Matt Shepherd tripled into the left-center gap and scored on Ankiel's sacrifice fly to center.

The teams traded goose eggs in the ninth, and the Devil Rays took the lead in the top of the tenth. John Jaso drew a one-out walk and, after both Southwest Michigan hitting coach Skeeter Barnes and first baseman Chris Nowak were ejected for arguing following a Nowak strikeout, Cottrell drilled a double into left. An intentional walked loaded the bases, and then Travis Schlichting popped a sacrifice fly to center for the decisive run.

The Swing could not mount a threat in the bottom of the ninth, as closer Jose de la Cruz sent the Swing down in order for his 13th save of the season.

The late struggles overshadowed another strong outing from Michael Cooper, who allowed just one run in 6.2 innings in his third Swing start. The 17th round pick out of Fresno St. did not issue a walk, and carried a shutout into the sixth before leaving the ballgame. Through three starts he has yet to pick up a decision, but boasts a 2.20 ERA with nine strikeouts and only two walks.

The Swing jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Sparkplug Matt Lemanczyk jumpstarted the rally with an infield single, extending his hitting streak to a season-best 13 games. Lemanczyk swiped second and moved to third on a throwing error before Rick Ankiel walked. Nick Stavinoha singled into shallow right to bring home Lemanczyk for the game's first run, and then Chris Patrick doubled down the left field line to bring home Ankiel. Eric Verbryke capped the rally with a groundout up the middle to score Stavinoha for a 3-0 Swing lead.

The Devil Rays finally broke through in the top of the seventh inning, as Reid Brignac, John Jaso and Patrick Cottrell each came up with singles to load the bases, and Shaun Cumberland lined to center to score Brignac.

Michael Gross (1-4) suffered the loss for Quad Cities, allowing the decisive run in two innings of work, striking out three and walking three.

For Southwest Michigan it was Tony Perez (3-0) picking up the win after retiring three of the four men he faced in the ninth.

UP NEXT: The Swing continue their series with the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays on Tuesday night, with game two of the four-game set. Quad Cities sends RHP Mark McCormick (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against RHP Matt Larson (3-2, 3.88). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pre-game coverage on WKBF AM-1270 will begin at 6:45.

PROMOTION: Tuesday night's game will feature American Legion Post 26 ceremonies. Tickets are available for all Swing games by calling (563) 328-2000.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 25, 2005


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