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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Reason for optimism, Swing win again

August 9, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities thrilled a crowd of 3,842 on hand for the annual Optimist Club Youth Appreciation Night on Tuesday at John O'Donnell Stadium, pounding out 15 base hits as they defeated the Burlington Bees, 9-2. Cody Palmer yanked four singles as part of the 15-hit Swing attack, while the top three hitters in the Swing lineup combined for eight hits and five RBI.

The Swing remain in first place, and hold a 3.5 game lead over Kane County, the current wild card holder after an 11-10 come-from-behind win over Dayton on Tuesday. Burlington, one game back when the series began on Saturday, has slid out of the wild card race for the first time since mid-July.

With the game tied, 2-2, entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Swing (63-51, 27-18) took control. Chris Patrick opened the inning with a solo homer to left field, just reaching the sloping grass berm for his fifth home run of the year. Patrick's blast was only the eighth allowed by Burlington (57-58, 23-22) starter Danny Christensen - and the second that Patrick has hit off the southpaw.

From there, the Swing began a single parade to score four more times. Mike Ferris and Palmer had consecutive base hits before Casey Rowlett drew a walk to load the bases for the top of the lineup. Matt Shepherd dropped a two-strike RBI single into center, and then Juan Lucena had a two-strike line drive to right for another RBI. Nick Stavinoha singled back up the box to drive home Rowlett for the final run of the inning.

Eventual winning pitcher Michael Gross worked a scoreless fifth and sixth innings before Jason Cairns flipped up a pair of goose eggs in the seventh and eighth innings. Quad Cities used four more hits - all singles - to pull away in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Ferris walked, and Palmer singled. With one away, Shepherd singled to load the bases before Lucena and Stavinoha followed with RBI singles to cap the scoring.

Gross got the win in relief for Quad Cities, striking out one and walking one over two hitless innings. Cairns struck out three in his two scoreless frames, and Bo Dickerson finished it out with a scoreless ninth. Starting pitcher Phillip Andersen got no decision for the Swing, striking out three but walking five while allowing two runs in four taxing innings.

The Swing took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Shepherd walked and scored on a Christensen balk, and Lucena singled and scored on Burlington shortstop Gary Perez's fourth error in two games this season. The Bees tied it up in the top of the second, as Perez drew a bases-loaded walk and Irving Falu was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded.

UP NEXT: The Swing go for the sweep as they close out the series with the Bees on Wednesday night. The Swing will send righty Michael Cooper (0-1, 3.41) to the mound against Justin Sherman (3-5, 2.95). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 will begin at 6:45.

UPCOMING PROMOTION: Wednesday will be a Hooters/97 Rock Beverage Night, featuring drink specials until 8:30 p.m. In addition, the Swing will be wearing special 1968 St. Louis Cardinals jerseys to benefit a new long-term care facility for Genesis Medical Center. Tickets are available for all Swing games by calling (563) 328-2000.

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Midwest League Stories from August 9, 2005


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