MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Hochevar, Bees knock Swing out of first

Published on August 21, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities fell short of completing their third series sweep of the season Monday night, as Luke Hochevar, the top overall pick in the 2006 draft, led the Burlington Bees to a 5-3 win at Community Field. Thanks to Kane County's 11th-inning win over Cedar Rapids, the loss drops the Swing into second place in the Midwest League's Western Division, a half-game behind the Cougars and a half-game ahead of third-place Beloit.

Though Kane County's win over Cedar Rapids knocked Quad Cities (34-23, 68-57) out of first place, the loss by the Kernels dropped the Swing's magic number to make the playoffs to four. Burlington (23-35, 58-67) ended a five-game losing streak with the win, and is now 1-1 in the two games started by Hochevar.

Hochevar, who famously played four games for the independent Fort Worth Cats while holding out after being drafted 40th overall by the Dodgers in 2005, threw four strong innings Monday night. On a 50-pitch limit, the University of Tennessee product used 47 pitches to go one batter deep into the fifth frame while stretching his scoreless innings streak since joining the Bees to six. The only hit he has given up in the affiliated minor leagues came on a Bryan Anderson single in the first inning, as three strikeouts helped him overcome the one hit, one walk, and one hit batsman.

For the third consecutive game Burlington scored first. The Bees put the leadoff man aboard and advanced him to third base with less than two outs in each of the first three frames, leading to single runs in the second and third innings. After getting ahead with a 2-0 count to lead off the bottom of the second, Brady Everett drove a double into left-center and later scored from third on a wild pitch. When the speedy Felix Peralta led off the next inning with a triple, Josh Johnson's one-out double gave Burlington a 2-0 edge after three innings of play.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Bees doubled that lead. Jose Duarte singled and stole second base with one out. Mario Lisson followed with a hard-hit groundball down the third base line that Daniel Nelson grabbed with a spectacular diving play, but when the third baseman's low throw to first skipped away, Duarte came around to score and Lisson moved to second. After the baserunner stole third, Everett's two-out base hit gave the Burlington a 4-0 lead.

Having scratched across just one hit over the first five innings, Quad Cities finally reached the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Jose Salazar singled through the right side of the infield, and one batter later Nelson checked in with a ground-rule double that one-hopped over the wall in right-center. After Casey Rowlett got jammed on a pitch and lined out to third Jon Jay's groundout to second served as the only run-scoring play in the inning, putting the Swing on the board despite a 4-1 deficit.

Quad Cities trailed 5-1 when they added another unearned run in the top of the eighth. Daryl Jones drew a leadoff walk and stole second base, advancing to third when the catcher's throw bounced into center field. One out later Nelson drove a sacrifice fly to deep center, making it a 5-2 ballgame.

The Swing made it interesting in the ninth, in part thanks to a pair of controversial calls that extended the game. Jay's double opened the inning on a positive note, but with men on second and third and nobody out Tyler Greene bounced into a double play. Jay came home from third when Mark Hamilton was granted an infield single on a grounder towards third base, despite the fact that first baseman Miguel Vega appeared to tag Hamilton's body after being pulled off the bag by an errant throw. Moments later Chad Gabriel hit a grounder to the hole at shortstop, but pinch-runner Shane Robinson beat a force attempt on a bang-bang play at second base. Despite arguments on both plays, reliever Kraig Schambough made the umpire's decisions moot by notching a game-ending strikeout to preserve a 5-3 win for his 11th save of the year.

Adam Daniels (7-11) suffered the loss, as control problems caused him to fall behind hitters in the count. In only 4.1 innings, the southpaw from Canada allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits while fanning six and walking three. Since throwing seven scoreless innings in his first August start, Daniels has gone 0-3 over his last three outings with a 5.71 ERA and 23 hits allowed in 17.1 innings of work.

UP NEXT: After a pair of off-days, the Swing will begin a home-and-home series in Peoria against the Chiefs on Thursday night, as RHP Adam Ottavino (1-2, 3.97) will take the mound for the opener. 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 John O'Donnell Stadium for a six-game homestand on Saturday, August 26. Quad Cities will host Peoria Chiefs in the final two games of a home-and-home series before welcoming the Kane County Cougars into town for a four-game set beginning on Monday, August 28.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: A KWQC/River 104.9 fireworks show will follow the game on Saturday, August 26, while Sunday's contest will be a Mix 96 Family Fun Day. A Q106.5 $1 Monday comes your way on August 28, with hot dogs, popcorn, and soda available for just a buck each, while Tuesday night's game will be Credit Union for Kids Night in association with the Children's Miracle Network. US Cellular Night at the ballpark will be on Wednesday, August 30, and the homestand will conclude with a Pluckers/97 Rock Thirsty Thursday on the final day of August.

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