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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

River Bandits Stave off Lansing Comeback, Win 8-7

May 4, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Lansing, MI - The Quad Cities River Bandits opened up an 8-1 lead over the Lansing Lugnuts after three innings on Friday night and then held on down the stretch to escape with an 8-7 victory in front of 8,556 fans at Cooley Law School Stadium. The win was the fourth in a row for the River Bandits and assured them of a winning record on the current six-game road trip.

The River Bandits came out of the gates swinging in the first inning against Lansing starting pitcher Colton Laws. With one out, Jonathan Arauz and Michael Papierski launched back-to-back home runs to jump ahead by a 2-0 score. The long ball was the third of the year for Arauz and the first for Papierski. These were the first back-to-back home runs for River Bandits players since the series-clinching victory over Peoria in the playoffs on September 8, 2017. After a two-out single from Jake Adams, Adrian Tovalin scored him with a double into the left field corner. Before the inning ended, Marcos Almonte tacked on a run-scoring single to make it 4-0.

Kacy Clemens hit a solo home run to pull Lansing within 4-1 in the bottom of the first before the River Bandits answered back. A walk to Arauz and consecutive base hits from Papierski and Bryan De La Cruz allowed another run to score and the lead to increase to 5-1. The hit from De La Cruz extended his hitting streak to a season-best 14 games.

The lead margin grew to 8-1 after a big third inning. Tovalin walked to open the frame and then three run-scoring hits came later in the inning courtesy of Colton Shaver, Corey Julks, and Arauz.

The Bandits could not score the rest of the way and watched Lansing inch closer throughout the remaining six innings. Christian Williams drove in a run with a double in the bottom of the third inning, Norberto Obeso hit a solo home run in the fourth, and the Lugnuts scored two unearned runs on a throwing error by Shaver in the fifth to close the gap to 8-5.

The Lugnuts pulled even closer on Samad Taylor's solo home run to open the eighth inning. Obeso worked a walk in the next at bat and then raced to third on an ensuing single by Chavez Young. However, Young was thrown out trying to advance to second on the throw in from right field for the first out of the inning. Obeso scored on Kevin Vicuna's groundout to short, moving Lansing within a single run. Following a two out single by Clemens, Tanner Duncan entered the game from the bullpen and retired Kevin Smith on a fly ball to right field. Duncan retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his third save.

The teams combined for 13 extra-base hits, with eight belonging to the Lugnuts. The River Bandits finished with a season-high 14 hits in the game. Eight of the players in the lineup came up with at least one, including five players who notched multiple hits. Shaver led the team with three.

Cristian Javier, the Bandits starter, worked 4.0 innings and surrendered three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out five. Cole Watts departed without recording an out after allowing two hits and two unearned runs. Luis Garcia followed with 3.2 innings during which he allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Duncan retired all four hitters he faced with two punch outs.

The series continues Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium with the River Bandits (14-12) meeting the Lugnuts (18-10) at 6:05 p.m. The pitching match-up features River Bandits LHP Parker Mushinski (0-0. 1.76) against RHP Yennsy Diaz (3-0, 0.31) of Lansing.

All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.

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Midwest League Stories from May 4, 2018


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