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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing continue to struggle with Silver Hawks

June 30, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities bullpen was touched for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday night, enough for the South Bend Silver Hawks to capture a 5-2 home win at Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium. The Swing have lost five of six games against South Bend this season, including the first two of the current four-game series.

Quad Cities (4-5, 38-39) has lost three games in a row for the fourth time this season, and is 8-17 when facing a left-handed starter. South Bend (7-2, 40-35) has won eight of their last 10 games dating back to the last day of the first half.

The score was tied at one heading into the bottom of the seventh when Quad Cities went to the bullpen. Frank Curreri doubled to lead off the inning against Matt Trent, and after a walk to Manny Ferrer put men at first and second the Swing were expecting a bunt. Pedro Ciriaco had other ideas, however, and sent a base hit through the vacated hole at shortstop as the Swing middle infield scrambled to cover first and third. Leyson Septimo followed with a run-scoring single through the right side, as South Bend took a 3-1 lead. After a pitching change brought Scott Vander Weg in, Justin Upton blasted his second pitch of the game deep to left field for a two-run homer. The 18-year-old prospect's fifth longball of the year gave the Silver Hawks a commanding 5-1 lead.

Ahead 5-2, Vincent Bongiovanni came on for the ninth. Though the Swing put a pair of baserunners on, Daniel Nelson struck out swinging to end the game and give Bongiovanni his fourth save of the season.

For the second straight night, the early innings did not see much action.

In the bottom of the fourth, South Bend reached the scoreboard first. With a full count, Bryan Byrne turned on a pitch and planted it on the grass beyond the right field fence for his third home run of the year - two of which have come against Swing pitching. The bomb gave the Silver Hawks a 1-0 lead.

New addition Jon Jay evened things up for the Swing two innings later. After the Cardinals made him the 74th overall pick in the 2005 draft (2nd round) earlier this month, the University of Miami product went 2-for-4 in his professional debut. That included a run-scoring triple in the top of the sixth that plated Chad Gabriel and tied the score at one.

Down 5-1 in the eighth, Randy Roth padded his power numbers. Swinging at the first pitch, the slugger from Louisiana jacked a one-out solo shot to left field to bring the Swing to within three runs with his league-leading 16th home run of the season.

Trey Hearne got the start for the Swing, putting up a solid line despite a shaky outing by his standards. The righty from Texas gave up one run - the solo shot to Byrne - on three hits in six innings, fanning four but issuing a career-high four walks. In his last six starts, Hearne has allowed just three earned runs in 38 innings. Trent (2-3) suffered the loss after allowing three runs in one third of an inning.

Ryan Schreppel (4-8) picked up the win, scattering seven hits in seven innings. He gave up one run while striking out two and walking one, but was the pitcher of record when the Silver Hawks rallied for four in the bottom of the seventh.

UP NEXT: The Swing of the Quad Cities will continue their series in South Bend on Saturday, as LHP Tyler Norrick (0-0, 2.25) takes the hill opposite the Silver Hawks' RHP Adam Howard (3-2, 3.57). First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and coverage on Progressive Talk AM-1270 will begin at 5:45 p.m.

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Midwest League Stories from June 30, 2006


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