MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Lough clubs leadoff homer to spark 4-for-4 night

Published on August 19, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Quad Cities River Bandits suffered their second four-game series sweep of the season on Tuesday night, as David Lough went 4-for-4 to lead the first-place Burlington Bees to a 5-1 win at Modern Woodmen Park.

Quad Cities (29-29, 62-60) entered the series in a second-place tie and just 3.5 games out of first place, but their playoff aspirations took a hit after four straight losses that dropped them three games out of a playoff spot with just 12 remaining in the regular season. Burlington (36-21, 66-60) got off to a quick start Tuesday on Lough's leadoff homer while receiving another stifling pitching performance.

The Bees wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, reaching the scoreboard in the top of the first as the fans were still filing into their seats. On just the second pitch of the game, Lough yanked a solo homer down the right field line and into the Tiki Village to stake Burlington to a 1-0 lead.

The River Bandits answered in the bottom of the second. After drawing a leadoff walk, Tommy Pham took advantage of an errant pickoff attempt and raced all the way to third. One pitch later, Blake Murphy hit a deep fly ball to center that easily plated the runner and tied the score on a sacrifice fly.

Just as quickly, the Bees recaptured the lead in the top of the third. Joe Billick led off the frame with a liner to right-center that rolled to the wall for a double. An infield single by Lough moved the baserunner to third, while Billick raced home for a 2-1 lead when Johnny Giavotella sent a bouncer up the middle that was turned into a double play.

Luis Cota (2-2) earned the win for Burlington with five strong innings. Making just his sixth start on the road to recovery from a torn labrum that cost him the entire 2007 campaign, the right-hander allowed just one unearned run on four hits over five innings of work. Brent Fisher (1) took it the rest of the way, contributing four shutout frames and yielding one hit for the save.

Burlington extended the lead with two more runs in the fifth inning and another in the seventh against the Bandits' bullpen.

Lough drew a walk to open the fifth and advanced to second on a base hit by Giavotella. Mike Moustakas followed with a single through the right side that drove home Lough and put men at the corners, while later in the frame Nick Francis singled up the middle to plate Giavotella for a 4-1 advantage. In the seventh, Jamar Walton chipped in with a run-scoring single to plate the game's final run.

J.D. Stambaugh (2-3) suffered the loss for the Quad Cities after making the spot start for scheduled starter Chuckie Fick, who was a late scratch due to illness. Stambaugh tossed three innings and allowed two runs on five hits, including Lough's game-opening homer in the first.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits take the day off on Wednesday before heading to Wisconsin for a four-game series with the Timber Rattlers starting Thursday. Quad Cities returns to Modern Woodmen Park to finish out the 2008 regular season with an action-packed Labor Day Weekend series beginning August 29. Bandit Wear featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store or calling (563) 3-BANDITS!

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 19, 2008


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