Sports stats



MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing come back from 7-1 deficit, win on Mather's ninth-inning HR

June 8, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Joe Mather hit a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Swing rallied back from a 7-1 deficit to defeat the Peoria Chiefs, 10-7, on Wednesday night at John O'Donnell Stadium. Quad Cities reliever Jeff Randazzo struck out five men in 2.2 hitless innings and the pitching staff stranded 15 Peoria baserunners as the Swing moved into a tie for second place in the MWL-West.

With the game tied, 7-7, after the top of the ninth inning, Matt Lemanczyk drew a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a popout, Mike Ferris drew a walk to bring Mather to the plate. Mather quickly got ahead in the count, 3-0, but took a close strike to move the count to 3-1. After consecutive two-strike foul balls, the Swing outfielder stroked a full count fastball deep to left field, nearly leaving the stadium for his second walkoff homer of the season. The blast was Mather's eighth of the season, and sent the crowd of 2,957 into delirium.

Down 7-1 after four innings, the Swing began the comeback with a two-run fifth inning, as Jarrett Hoffpauir had an RBI single and scored a run on a throwing error. Quad Cities scored three more times in the sixth inning. Brandon Yarbrough had an RBI double to score Ferris, and then danced around a tag attempt to score on a two-out single from Hoffpauir. Juan Lucena, who had his second four-hit day of the season, then singled to bring home Hoffpauir, and the Swing trailed 7-6 after six innings.

Quad Cities tied it up in the bottom of the eighth inning, using three singles to plate one run. After Jake Mullinax and then Hoffpauir had one-out singles, Lucena drilled a base hit into left. Mullinax, who would have been out at the plate, got caught in a rundown to allow Hoffpauir to move to third and Lucena to second. A wild pitch scored Hoffpauir to tie the game, although Lucena was tagged out trying to score from second after an errant throw.

The Swing bullpen kept Quad Cities in the game throughout. Brian Miller worked a scoreless sixth inning in his Swing debut, striking out Alberto Garcia with the bases loaded. Randazzo struck out two in a scoreless seventh, then loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batsman in the eighth. He struck out Alan Rick to end that threat, and then struck out two straight lefties in the ninth before giving way Jaymie Torres. Torres issued a walk and allowed an infield single but struck out Luis Montanez, who had reached base in all five previous plate appearances, to set the stage for Mather.

The Chiefs took the lead in the top of the second inning, as a throwing error and Rick's RBI single put them on top, 2-0.

Lucena got the Swing on the board in the bottom half of the third, drilling a solo homer to left. Lucena went 2-for-26 during the month of April, but has batted .347 (17-49) with two home runs and 10 RBI since.

Peoria scored five more times to take a commanding 7-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Chiefs banged out five singles in the frame, including a two-out, two-run base hit from Montanez to cap the rally. The Swing responded strongly on their way to their 20th comeback win of the season.

Due to an early-season rainout at Kane County, Quad Cities (32-27) has just 10 games remaining in the first half, while the LumberKings have 11 games remaining. First place Wisconsin, currently one game ahead of the Swing, also plays 11 more games.

UP NEXT: The Swing begin a four-game series with South Bend, the MWL-East's top team, on Thursday night. The Swing will send Matt Scherer (2-4, 3.51) to the mound against Ross Ohlendorf (3-4, 3.77). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pregame coverage on WKBF AM-1270 will kickoff at 6:45.

PROMOTION: Thursday will be the annual Thrivent Financial for Lutherans night with the Swing, benefiting Special Olympics. The first 500 kids through the gates will receive baseballs, courtesy of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 8, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central