Kozma extends hitting streak to 10 in loss
Published on July 24, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
Brian Letko cruised through nine strong innings for the complete game victory on Thursday night, leading the Lansing Lugnuts to a 6-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Oldsmobile Park.
Quad Cities (17-16, 50-47) fell behind early and never recovered, unable to get anything going against the Lugnuts' efficient left-hander. Letko became the first Lansing (20-12, 59-44) pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete since July 21, 2007, when Rei Gonzaelz tossed a five-hit shutout to beat the Swing at John O'Donnell Stadium.
Letko (2-2) was efficient and effective all night long, needing just 89 pitches to go the distance and inducing as many double play balls (4) as hits allowed. The River Bandits mustered just one run on four hits against him, as four of Quad Cities' eight baserunners were erased by twin killings just one batter after reaching base. Sixteen of Letko's 27 outs were recorded thanks to groundballs, as the southpaw fanned four and walked two.
Meanwhile, the Lugnuts jumped out to an early lead for the second straight night. Justin Jackson led off the first inning by clubbing a double to right-center, eventually finding himself at third base with two outs. David Cooper hit a groundball up the middle that Pete Kozma was tracking down behind the bag, but as the shortstop dove the ball caromed off second base and into center field. That allowed Jackson to score easily for a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Lansing went back to work. There were men at first and second with one out when Jackson singled home the first run of the frame. After another base hit loaded the bases, Kevin Ahrens picked up an RBI with a groundout to second. One batter later, Cooper capped the rally with a double down the right field line that scored a pair. Cooper's second and third RBI in the first two innings put Lansing out to a comfortable 5-0 lead.
The deficit was 6-0 when the River Bandits scored their only run in the fourth. Adron Chambers reached on an infield single and moved to third on a double by Pete Kozma. Brett Wallace followed with a bouncer to short that was misplayed by Jackson, scoring Chambers to make it a 6-1 game.
The double by Kozma extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest by a River Bandits player this year. The Cardinals' 2007 first round selection is hitting .381 during the stretch, which has included six doubles, six multi-hit games, and six RBI while his batting average has climbed 15 points to .275.
But it was not enough, as Letko sailed to the victory.
Josh Wilson (1-5) suffered the loss for the River Bandits, although he bounced back from a rough start to finish strong. The righty allowed the leadoff batter to reach base and at least one run to score in each of his first three innings of work, yielding six runs - five earned - on nine hits over five full innings. After allowing an RBI-single to fall behind 6-0 in the third, however, the former second round pick in 2005 set down the final eight batters he faced to complete the outing.
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