MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

LumberKings Overcome Bandits' Big Swings

July 31, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa ( July 30, 2014 ) - Brett Phillips became the first Quad Cities player in at least 16 seasons to homer in five straight games, and A.J. Reed homered for the second time in three Midwest League games, but the Clinton LumberKings overcame a 4-0 deficit and scored the deciding run in the ninth inning of a 6-5 win for the visitors in front of 2,977 at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.

Quad Cities (21-17 second half, 56-51 overall) and Clinton (14-24, 44-62) were scoreless until the fourth inning. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee struck out five in his first four innings, while LumberKings right-hander Seon-Gi Kim struck out the game's first four batters and recorded the first six outs on strikeouts. Kim had retired 10 of the first 11 batters when first baseman Chase McDonald hit a one-out single in the fourth inning for his team's first hit. Reed hit the next pitch from Kim over the right-field for his second hit - and second home run - in the Midwest League. Lee kept the 2-0 lead by getting his third ground-ball double play of the night in a scoreless top of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, River Bandits third baseman Marc Wik hit a double down the left-field line, and two batters later, with shortstop Thomas Lindauer at the plate and one out, an opossum came onto the field and delayed the game briefly. Once it was removed from the field, Kim fanned Lindauer for his season-high eight strikeout, but Phillips followed with a home run to right-center field.

Phillips' home run was his 12 th of the season and his career and gave Quad Cities a 4-0 lead. His home runs in five straight games is a feat unmatched by a Quad Cities player since at least the 1998 season. In July, Phillips has eight home runs - the most in a single month by a Quad Cities player since Tyler Greene hit nine in July 2006. The River Bandits' 29 home runs in 27 July games are their most in a single month since hitting 30 in 31 games in May 2012.

Once Lee started the sixth inning, the lead did not last until the first out. A walk by center fielder Aaron Barbosa and single by shortstop Jack Reinheimer preceded a two-run triple by left fielder Chantz Mack, who scored on designated hitter Justin Seager's RBI single to chase Lee after five-plus innings, in which he allowed four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Left-hander Chris Cotton came in and allowed a game-tying triple by catcher Marcus Littlewood and a go-ahead single by first baseman Jeff Zimmerman for a 5-4 Clinton lead. Cotton got the next three outs and did not allow a run in the rest of his 2 2/3 innings.

After Kim allowed four earned runs on four hits and two walks in five innings, left-hander Paul Fry inherited a 5-4 lead to start the sixth inning. Catcher Brian Holberton singled to left field and went to second on an error by Mack, went to third base on a single by left fielder Ryan Bottger and scored on Wik's sacrifice fly. Quad Cities would get only one hit in its final 11 at-bats and was out-hit by Clinton, 12-7.

The 5-5 tie remained until the ninth inning, when right-hander Andrew Walter allowed singles by third baseman Martin Peguero and second baseman Luis Caballero. A fielder's choice on a bunt, a wild pitch and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Mack hit popup that Lindauer caught sliding in foul territory behind third base, on which Caballero scored the go-ahead run. In the bottom of the inning, right-hander Kevin McCoy allowed a leadoff single to Bottger but stranded the tying run at second base to end his team's six-game losing streak.

Quad Cities plays the rubber match of its three-game series with Clinton at 7 p.m. Thursday. River Bandits right-hander Michael Feliz (6-3) is scheduled to face LumberKings left-hander Blake Holovach (5-4).

UP NEXT: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase will appear at Modern Woodmen Park for Pro Wrestling Night on Thursday. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a Thirst-Day with $2 drink specials presented by the River Cities' Reader. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 31, 2014


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