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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

LumberKings take opener from Swing

September 7, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities jumped to an early 1-0 lead by the Clinton LumberKings rallied for the next ten runs on their way to an 11-2 drubbing of the Swing Wednesday night at John O'Donnell Stadium. Because of their loss in the first game of the best-of-three series, the Swing face back-to-back must-win games on Thursday and Friday at Clinton's Alliant Energy Field.

The Swing manufactured a run to strike first, scoring without a base hit in the bottom of the first inning. Sean Danielson drew a leadoff walk, and swiped second on the first pitch to Matt Shepherd. Shepherd followed by dropping down a sacrifice bunt, and then Juan Lucena plated Danielson with a sacrifice fly to center.

Phillip Andersen allowed only one hit in the first three innings, but the LumberKings got to the righty in the fourth. Emerson Frostad and Billy Susdorf had back-to-back singles, and then Craig Hurba singled into center to score Frostad for a 1-1 tie. Matt Smith followed with a two-run flare double to left, and Brandon Cashman eventually capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to center.

Clinton extended the lead in the fifth inning, when Frostad ripped a three-run homer over the wall in right field, a moonshot for a 7-1 Clinton advantage. The long ball was the fourth of the season against the Swing for Frostad, who also went deep against Andersen on August 4 at John O'Donnell Stadium.

After Clinton added three more runs in the top of the seventh, the Swing ended the 10-0 Clinton run in the bottom half. Facing an 0-1 count, Nick Stavinoha yanked a solo homer to the berm in right field, ending a stretch in which starter Eric Hurley had struck out four of the last nine men he had faced.

Hurley, who allowed only an infield single in seven innings against the Swing on August 5, was again fantastic for Clinton. He surrendered just two runs on three hits, striking out nine Swing batters. The first-round pick led the Midwest League with 152 strikeouts during the regular season, and picked up right where he left off in the postseason.

The LumberKings put up another run against reliever Tyler Adamczyk in the eighth inning, and Marc LaMacchia allowed one baserunner to reach on an error in two innings to close it out.

Andersen, who had not lost since his debut on June 1, a stretch of 16 appearances, struggled in defeat for Quad Cities. The righthander, who led the Swing with a 2.96 ERA during the regular season, surrendered seven runs (five earned) on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking two.

Quad Cities was also hurt by five errors that led to four unearned runs for Clinton. Danielson and Casey Rowlett each had miscures during the four-run fourth inning, while a Roweltt error opened the door for three runs against Michael Gross and Cory Meacham in the seventh.

UP NEXT: The Swing and LumberKings continue the series on Thursday night, when Quad Cities sends Mark McCormick (1-2, 5.48) to the hill against Kea Kometani (3-2, 2.40). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 will begin at 6:45.

NEXT HOME GAME: If Quad Cities wins the series with Clinton, the Swing will host Beloit or Wisconsin in the first game of a three-game series on Saturday, September 10. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00. Playoff tickets and 2006 season ticket packages are available by calling (563) 328-2000, and more information is available at www.swingbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from September 7, 2005


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