MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

River Bandits Swept Aside by Playoff-Bound LumberKings

August 28, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


CLINTON, Iowa - Through the first inning-and-a-half of a doubleheader Monday night, the Quad Cities River Bandits looked like they might spoil the Clinton LumberKings' chance to clinch a playoff spot, but the home team roared back to take the lead and battered the visitors in Game 2 for doubleheader sweep at Ashford University Field.

Clinton (41-22 second half, 64-67 overall) erased a 5-0, second-inning deficit in Game 1 with a six-run inning on the way to a 7-6 win that clinched a playoff spot for the LumberKings in a third straight season. After second-place Burlington fell at Kane County Monday night, the LumberKings won, 10-1, in Game 2 to reduce their magic number to one to win the second-half Western Division title.

The River Bandits (29-34, 64-68) scored five runs in the second inning of Game 1 for a 5-0 lead, but left-hander Hector Hernandez (7-7) gave it back with six runs in the bottom of the inning, capped by a three-run home run by designated hitter Dan Paolini. Paolini added a home run and two doubles in Game 2 to finish the night 4-for-6 with six RBIs.

The only Quad Cities player to contend with Paolini's night was designated hitter Stephen Piscotty, who also went a combined 4-for-6 with two doubles in Game 2 and a single and his fourth home run in Game 1. Hits in both games extended his hitting streak to 16 games - tied for the River Bandits' longest this season, tied for fourth-longest in the Midwest League and the league's longest active streak.

LumberKings right-hander Mayckol Guaipe (5-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings for the LumberKings in Game 1 despite the River Bandits' five-run second inning, which included two Clinton errors and a two-out, two-run double by center fielder Nick Martini.

With a 5-0 lead, Hernandez began the bottom of the second inning by hitting a batter and issuing a walk. First baseman Jharmidy De Jesus hit an RBI double to right-center field to put Clinton on the board, and Hazlett hit a two-run double to left field to make it a 5-3 deficit. After a walk to center fielder Jamal Austin, Paolini blasted a three-run home run to left field, giving Clinton a 6-5 lead. Clinton added an unearned run in the third inning, and Guaipe set down 10 in a row before Piscotty homered on a line drive to left field leading off the sixth inning. Right-hander Stephen Shackleford retired the final four batters for his 10th save.

Quad Cities third baseman Anthony Melchionda hit his fifth home run in the second inning of Game 2 for a 1-0 lead, but right-hander Brad Watson (3-4) gave the run back on his first pitch to Morla, who homered to begin a three-run inning for the LumberKings. Clinton also scored five times in the fifth and twice in the sixth.

The River Bandits were swept in a doubleheader on the road for the first time since May 28, 2011, at Burlington. Their elimination number - any combination of Burlington wins and Quad Cities losses - was reduced to three. The River Bandits play their final game with Clinton Tuesday night at Ashford University Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and Quad Cities left-hander Dail Villanueva (10-6) will start against LumberKings right-hander Seon-Gi Kim (4-4).

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 28, 2012


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