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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Ferris powers Swing to split

August 19, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities snapped out of their recent offensive doldrums Friday night, tallying seven runs on nine hits in the second game of a doubleheader as they split a twin bill with the Peoria Chiefs at John O'Donnell Stadium. Mike Ferris collected four RBI in the nightcap as the Swing earned a 7-4 victory over Peoria, while the Chiefs used a six-run fifth inning to win the opener, 6-2.

With 16 games remaining in the regular season, the Swing (31-24, 66-57) maintain their position as the frontrunner in the chase for a second half playoff berth. Beloit, Burlington, and Kane County all entered the day at two games back, fighting to become the two playoff qualifiers. Peoria (25-29, 60-64) now sits 5.5 games behind the Swing, still holding on to their own postseason aspirations.

In game two, the Swing jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning. After a two-out groundball single into center from Nick Stavinoha, Mike Ferris worked ahead in the count before pulverizing a fly ball to deep right field, a no-doubt home run to give the Swing a 2-0 lead. The blast was Ferris' team-leading 14th of the season, and his fifth of the second half.

Swing starter Tyler Adamczyk did not allow a hit - although Peoria pushed across an unearned run - through the first four innings, and the Swing opened up a comfortable lead in the bottom of the third frame. Matt Leamnczyk walked, Matt Shepherd singled, and Stavinoha was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ferris kept the pressure on, ripping a two-run double into the right field corner for a 4-1 Swing lead. After Chris Patrick was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases, Wes Swackhamer drove home a run with an infield single, and Juan Lucena capped the scoring with an RBI double. When the dust cleared, the Swing had pushed six runs across five runs on four hits to take a commanding 7-3 lead.

The Chiefs knocked Adamczyk from the game in the top of the fifth inning, when Drew Larsen led off the frame with a single to center to snap the brief no-hit bid. After a walk and an error loaded the bases, Peoria scratched across runs on a Bo Flowers bounceout and a single from Luis Rivera. Eric Patterson would later homer in the sixth inning, rounding out the scoring.

Matt Trent (1-0) picked up his first Quad Cities victory with 1.1 innings of relief work, allowing only the Patterson home run. Mike Sillman then came in to close the door, nailing down his 20th save of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh inning that included a strikeout. Though not figuring into the decision, Adamczyk pitched well in the spot start, allowing two runs on two hits in 4.1 innings.

In the first game, Peoria pounded Swing starter Matt Scherer for six run s on eight base hits in the bottom of the fifth inning on their way to a 6-2 victory. The contest was a continuation of last Saturday's suspended game at Peoria, and was consequently picked up as a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning.

Sam Fuld blasted a solo homer to start the fifth, and after an RBI triple from Patterson it was Jesse Schmidt providing the muscle with a two-run blast. One out later back-to-back doubles plated another run, and Luis Rivera capped the rally with a two-out single into right, scoring Alan Rick.

Quad Cities avoided the shutout in the top of the eighth inning, when Matt Shepherd dropped a two-out RBI single into shallow right. The knock brought home Cody Palmer and Wes Swackhamer, providing the only Swing runs in the opener.

Scherer (9-7) had not allowed a home run since July 11, a stretch of 35 innings, before the fifth inning on Wednesday night. The righthander is now 7-2 in ten starts since the All-Star break.

For Peoria it was Grant Johnson (3-6) notching the win, taking advantage of having tossed the first two innings six days earlier in the postponed game. Johnson hurled the final seven frames today to register the complete game victory, scattering six hits in the process.

UP NEXT: The Swing continue their series with the Peoria Chiefs on Saturday night, with Phillip Andersen (4-1, 2.95) on the mound against Jesse Estrada (6-10, 5.25). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 to begin at 6:45.

PROMOTION: The first 1,000 fans through the gates before Saturday's game will receive a baseball cap courtesy of Pepsi. For more information about Swing promotions or tickets, log onto www.swingbaseball.com. Tickets are also available for all Swing games by calling (563) 328-2000.

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