MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Rain Suspends Bandits and Timber Rattlers

Published on June 1, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


GRAND CHUTE, Wis. ( June 1, 2014 ) - Rain delayed the Quad Cities River Bandits and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for 24 minutes in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon, but a second wave of rain suspended play with Quad Cities leading, 3-2, and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Originally scheduled for a 12:05 p.m. Monday game in Wisconsin, the River Bandits (29-26) and Timber Rattlers (25-30) will complete Sunday's game at 12:05 p.m., followed by a seven-inning game to conclude the three-game series. Sunday marked the second suspended game in the last 12 days for each team. Quad Cities had a May 21 game with Burlington suspended due to a power outage and completed May 25 for a 12-4 loss. Wisconsin had a May 26 game in Clinton suspended due to rain and completed May 27 for a 6-2, 10-inning win.

Quad Cities took the lead in the first inning Sunday, as second baseman Chan-Jong Moon drove a 2-1 fastball from right-hander Victor Diaz over the center field batter's eye for his first home run since Aug. 29, 2012. The 1-0 lead lasted until Timber Rattlers right fielder Michael Ratterree hit a towering, two-out fly ball over the left-field fence off River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer.

The River Bandits quickly retook the lead in the second inning, however, as third baseman Tyler White walked, first baseman Jon Kemmer singled to right field, and catcher Brett Booth lined the first pitch he saw down the left-field line for a double. White scored easily, but a relay by left fielder Jose Pena and second baseman Francisco Castillo to catcher Paul Eshleman got Kemmer at home plate.

Comer held the 2-1 lead until the bottom of the third inning. After striking out Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez to make him 0-for-2 in his first rehab assignment game, Comer walked Ratterree with two outs. Designated hitter Clint Coulter then hit a high popup near the right-field line, and Ratterree came all the around from first base to score the tying run.

White broke the 2-2 tie against Diaz with a one-out, line drive home run over the left-center field fence - his third of the season for Quad Cities and second at Wisconsin. In the bottom of the fourth, Comer got Castillo to pop up his first pitch to Kemmer in front of the first-base dugout, just as the rain began. Play was stopped with Quad Cities ahead 3-2, and after a 24-minute delay, left-hander Albert Minnis took over for Comer, who went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Minnis allowed an infield single by Eshleman but struck out the next two hitters to end the inning.

After Diaz pitched the first four innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts, left-hander Anthony Banda began the fifth inning with a walk, before a double play and flyout ended the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Minnis allowed a one-out single by Ratterree, who reached base in his first three plate appearances. Coulter's groundout moved Ratterree to second base with two outs, and left fielder Jose Pena fell behind 1-2 to Minnis before the umpires halted play for a second time - 20 minutes after play had resumed. The tarp stayed on the field, and the thunderstorm in the area kept the teams from completing the game Sunday.

Quad Cities has a five-game winning streak on the line when the teams resume the game Monday. Pena will be in a 1-2 count with two outs and the tying run at second base, and Quad Cities leading, 3-2. The game is scheduled to be completed to a full nine innings. In the seven-inning game, River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (2-3) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers right-hander Preston Gainey (1-3).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Craig Biggio Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Prairie Farms and FOX18 for the first 1,500 fans. 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

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Midwest League Stories from June 1, 2014


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