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Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing capture second straight

May 18, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities won consecutive games for the first time in over a month, cruising to a 10-5 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jose Martinez powered the offense with his third home run of the season and four runs batted in, as the Swing used a five-run, two-out explosion in the fourth inning to seize control.

Quad Cities (17-21) has won two in a row for the first time since capping a season-high three-game winning streak on April 13 in Peoria, and snaps a stretch in which they had lost 11 consecutive games following wins. Cedar Rapids (19-22) has now lost three of their last four games, and are in danger of dropping their second straight series with a loss Friday night.

Leading 2-1, the Swing looked like they would go down quietly in the fourth. With two outs and the bases empty, though, Quad Cities had other ideas. Luis Cotto drew a walk to start the rally, and A.J. Van Slyke followed by reaching on a line drive that ricocheted off the pitcher. Casey Rowlett and Daniel Nelson each tallied back-to-back run scoring singles, pushing the lead to 4-1. Martinez then followed with the big blow of the inning, turning on a 1-0 pitch and sending his second home run in as many nights off the signage beyond the left field wall for a 7-1 advantage.

Quad Cities jumped out in front in the third, as Van Slyke sparked the rally with a leadoff single. Rowlett followed with a single of his own, and a walk to Nelson loaded the bases with nobody out. After an infield single by Martinez scored a run, Colby Rasmus drove a sacrifice fly into right field that gave the Swing a 2-0 lead.

In front 7-2, the Swing added another pair of runs in the seventh. Rasmus pulled a double inside the first base line that plated Martinez, and two batters later scored from third on a double play ball for a 9-2 lead. Quad Cities scored their final run in the eighth on an RBI double from Rowlett that brought Van Slyke in all the way from first.

All but one of the Swing hitters reached base Thursday night, as the visitors put 10 runs and 13 hits on the scoreboard without committing an error. Rowlett and Van Slyke had strong games at the bottom of the lineup, going a combined 6-for-7 with five runs scored and two driven in. After his batting average fell to a low point of .235 entering this series, Van Slyke has responded with hits in four consecutive at-bats.

Trey Hearne (3-1) took the win for Quad Cities, striking out five in 2.2 perfect innings out of the bullpen. Since making a spot start during a doubleheader on May 2, the righthander out of Texas A&M Corpus Christi has struck out 10 in 6.1 perfect frames since.

Adam Daniels was solid in his return from the DL, leaving the contest with a 7-2 lead although he did not qualify for the win. In 4.1 innings of work, the southpaw from Canada yielded two runs on six hits and three walks without striking out a batter.

Reliever Danny Borne, pitching for the first time in eight days, allowed his first earned run of the season in the eighth. Entering the game with only three walks on his resume all season, the native of Louisiana issued three free passes in the inning that saw the Kernels strike for two runs - one earned - as his ERA rose to 0.68 over 13.1 innings.

Cedar Rapids' Tommy Mendoza (1-5) suffered the loss, as the Swing hammered the 18-year-old for seven runs on eight hits in only four innings.

UP NEXT: The Swing of the Quad Cities will be in Cedar Rapids for the finale of the four-game series on Friday night. LHP Jaime Garcia (2-2, 2.36) is scheduled to take the hill in against Kernels' ace RHP Nick Adenhart (6-0, 1.60). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with coverage on Progressive Talk AM-1270 beginning at 6:15 p.m.

NEXT HOMESTAND: After a 12-game trip around the Midwest League, the Swing will return to John O'Donnell Stadium on May 20 for an eight-game homestand. Quad Cities will welcome two in-state rivals to town, as the Clinton LumberKings come in on May 20 and the Cedar Rapids Kernels visit starting May 25.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Saturday, May 20 will be John Deere' Employee's Night with fireworks brought to you by i-wireless, KWQC, and Q106.5. Sunday, May 21, will be a Mix 96 Family Fun Day, followed by a Q106.5 $1 Monday on May 22. If you have been waiting for Wild West Night, that is coming up on May 25 in conjunction with a 97 Rock/Pluckers Thirsty Thursday. Baseball America magazines will be distributed on May 26, and your favorite characters from the Rugrats will be at John O'Donnell Stadium the same day thanks to Mediacom and Star 93.5. The busy homestand will conclude with a baseball cap (Mountain Dew, 97 Rock, Fox-18) giveaway on May 27 and another Mix 96 Family Fun Day on May 28 - also Scott County YMCA's day at the ballpark with post-game fireworks sponsored in part by KWQC/KUUL/WOC.

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