Pham, Sanchez Lead Bandits To Series Win
May 18, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
Tommy Pham continued his power surge atop the Quad Cities batting order on Sunday afternoon, homering for the fifth time in seven games and driving in all three River Bandits runs in a 3-1 win over the Burlington Bees at Community Field.
Quad Cities (22-18) also got a stellar pitching performance from starter Eduardo Sanchez, winning the rubber match of the series to finish their seven-game commuter road trip with a 5-2 record. Burlington (16-25) did not reach the scoreboard until the ninth inning in a game that was dictated by strong pitching on both sides early on.
The River Bandits broke a scoreless tie with a fifth-inning rally that started when Luis De La Cruz reached base on a one-out error by left fielder Wilson Tucker. After Jose Garcia singled him to third and D'Marcus Ingram walked to load the bases, Pham clubbed a two-run double that one-hopped the wall in center that gave the River Bandits a 2-0 lead.
Pham added to the lead with yet another homer in the eighth. The 20-year-old center fielder turned on a 1-1 pitch and hit a towering solo shot to left, increasing the advantage to 3-0. The red-hot Pham has now homered five times and driven in 10 runs in just seven games since joining the River Bandits on May 10.
Sanchez (4-1) picked up the win with a dominating outing, holding the Bees to just two hits over five shutout innings. The 19-year-old from Venezuela struck out two and walked one, combining with piggyback starter Thomas Eager to hold the Bees scoreless on just three hits through the game's first eight innings.
Closer Cardoza Tucker, Jr. (4) then fought through a bumpy ninth inning to convert the save opportunity. The wiry right-hander allowed three singles in the inning, including a base hit by Shawn Hayes that drove home Burlington's first run and put men on first and second with one out. But with the potential game-tying run on base, Wilson Tucker struck out looking and Kyle Martin flew out to the warning track in left-center to end the ballgame.
Sam Runion (0-1) suffered the tough-luck loss in his 2008 debut, tossing six solid innings while allowing just one unearned run. He did not allow a hit through three frames or a run through four, giving up two runs on four hits and one walk in all.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park on Monday night, welcoming in Ryne Sandberg and the Peoria Chiefs while opening the brand new Hot Tub Deck! Monday's homestand-opener will be Make-a-Wish Night and Indiana Jones Night in addition to a Margarita Monday and Uniform Monday, and the series continues one night later with a Two-for-Tuesday. Make sure you come to the park early for an Autographed Baseball Giveaway on Wednesday, which will also be American Idol Night and a Wacky WINS-day. All Wednesday home games are presented by the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, entitling all members to two free kids tickets when showing their membership card at the box office. Finally, the series will conclude with Bad Fad Night on a Thirst-day Thursday, so bust out your bell-bottoms and platform shoes and enjoy half-price draft beer, wine, margaritas, and soft drinks. Merchandise featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the popular You-Pick-10 Plan are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 3-BANDITS!
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Midwest League Stories from May 18, 2008
- Four-Run Sixth Inning Highlights Wizards' 8-5 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Ninth inning rally comes up short in 6-5 loss to Clinton - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bees Comeback Attempt Falls Short - Burlington Bees
- Snappers Get the Brooms Out - Beloit Sky Carp
- Pham, Sanchez Lead Bandits To Series Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Drop Sixth Straight, Swept at Beloit - Peoria Chiefs
- Whitecaps' Kibler KO's Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dragons Homer Twice but Lose to Great Lakes 4-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Mitchinson, Cougars Cruise to Victory - Kane County Cougars
- Whitecaps take over first place - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Loons Win All Four Games in Dayton; Even Their Record at 21-21 - Great Lakes Loons
- Win Streak Ends With A Shutout - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- McCardell Activated from DL; Petsch Released - Beloit Sky Carp
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