MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Gabriel catch helps Swing sneak out another

Published on June 27, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities pulled out another one-run thriller Tuesday night at Alliant Energy Field, hanging on for a 5-4 win over the Clinton LumberKings for the second night in a row. Randy Roth and Bryan Anderson each homered for the Swing, helping Quad Cities improve to two games over .500 for the first time since April 15.

Quad Cities (4-2, 38-36) led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, and were on top by a score of 5-3 with three outs remaining. Clinton (3-3, 26-49) charged hard in the late going for the second consecutive night, only to have their rally squashed by right fielder Chad Gabriel.

Danny Borne was on the hill for the Swing in the bottom of the ninth, and the ace reliever retired the first two batters of the frame without incident. After two consecutive singles with a stolen base sandwiched in between scored a run to bring the LumberKings to within one, Brian Stitt came on to try to lock up his ninth save of the year. As the potential game-tying run stood at first base Jose Vallejo sent a line drive into right, but Gabriel came racing in and laid out to make a diving catch, saving the game and the 5-4 Swing victory.

The play that dropped everybody's jaw, however, came in the top of the eighth inning. Slugger Randy Roth stepped to the dish with the bases empty, one out, and the Swing nursing a 4-3 lead, but he did not waste any time in extending that advantage. On the first pitch he saw, the 24-year-old Louisiana native bashed his league-leading 15th home run to left field, a towering moonshot that cleared the scoreboard that sits atop the wall. The top of the scoreboard is an estimated 40 feet off the ground at Alliant Energy Field, but Roth awed the crowd by clearing it with one swift swing of the bat.

Adam Daniels secured the win for Quad Cities, improving to 4-6 with his second straight victory. The 23-year-old Oklahoma State product allowed two runs on seven hits, giving up a pair in the sixth to snap a stretch in which he did not allow an earned run over 17 consecutive innings. The southpaw fanned two and walked two while giving up seven hits.

In the top of the second, the Swing reached the scoreboard first. Bryan Anderson, Gabriel, and A.J. Van Slyke hit consecutive singles with one out to load the bases. Jose Martinez sent a bouncer towards short, but Clinton had to settle for the force out at second as it was hit too slowly to turn the double play. That allowed Anderson to score the game's first run, and one batter later Casey Rowlett drove Gabriel home with a liner to right that gave Quad Cities a 2-0 advantage.

In the top of the sixth, Anderson muscled up and gave Quad Cities a little extra breathing room. With Daniel Nelson at first base and two away, the 19-year-old catcher worked the count full before belting a two-run shot beyond the wall in right field. The Swing extended their lead to 4-0 on his second home run of the year, both of which have come against LumberKings' pitching

Clinton was trailing by four runs when they cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth. John Mayberry drew a one-out walk and Freddie Thon singled to put men on first and second. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Brian Valichka brought one runner home on a single through the left side of the infield and Truan Mehl plated the other on a sacrifice fly to center to pull the LumberKings to within 4-2.

Clinton put men on the corners with just one out in the bottom of the seventh. Anderson was able to cut down Vallejo trying to steal second to quiet the rally for a moment, but with two away Terry Blunt sent a base hit down the right field line to plate John Whittleman. Though Blunt was cut down trying to stretch the hit into a double, the Swing lead was cut to 4-3.

Omar Poveda (1-9) took his Midwest League leading ninth loss of the year, allowing four runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work. The 18-year-old struck out three without issuing a walk, leaving the game behind 4-0.

UP NEXT: The Swing of the Quad Cities will wrap up their series in Clinton with the LumberKings on Wednesday, as RHP Kyle Sadlowski (4-2, 4.35) takes the hill opposite LHP Zach Phillips (2-5, 4.84). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and coverage on Progressive Talk AM-1270 will begin at 6:45 p.m.

NEXT HOMESTAND: The Swing will return to JOD for a four-game set with the Fort Wayne Wizards beginning on Monday, July 3.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: The game on Monday, July 3, will feature an extravagant fireworks blowout as part of the Red, White, and BOOM celebration (KWQC/Q106.5/The District/Davenport One). There will also be fireworks on Tuesday, July 4 (KWQC/KUUL).

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Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2006


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