MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing strand 11 in loss to Chiefs

Published on August 24, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities watched their magic number drop to three Thursday night despite a 3-2 loss to the Peoria Chiefs at O'Brien Field. While a solo home run by Kyle Reynolds sunk the Swing in Peoria, a loss by Cedar Rapids back in Iowa helped them inch closer towards clinching a playoff berth.

Quad Cities (34-24, 68-58) stranded 11 runners on base in the contest, unable to come up with the big hit to turn the game. Peoria (28-31, 69-59), who clinched a playoff berth in the first half by winning the Western Division, evened up the series between the two teams at four wins apiece.

Peoria opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Ryan Norwood and Ryne Malone each checked in with singles, and with one away and men on second and third a sacrifice fly by Reynolds moved both runners ahead 90 feet. Yusuf Carter followed with a run-scoring single that put the Chiefs out in front, 2-0.

Quad Cities trailed by that score when a two-out rally in the top of the fourth evened things up. With Daryl Jones at first base and Casey Rowlett at third, Daniel Nelson sent a hard-hit groundball back up the middle to put the Swing on the board and leave men on first and second. Shane Robinson followed with a bouncing ball down the third base line that went for a double, bringing home Jones to tie the game, 2-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, however, Reynolds put the Chiefs back on top with one swing of the bat. He led off the inning by blasting an 0-1 pitch over the fence in right field for his ninth home run of the year. Though Swing starter Adam Ottavino responded with three consecutive strikeouts, Peoria had already taken the 3-2 lead that eventually decided the ballgame.

Ottavino (1-3) took the loss despite a solid outing, as the Cardinals' top pick in the 2006 draft registered a career-high nine punchouts while issuing just one walk. Four of his six innings pitched saw the Chiefs go without a base hit, but a rally in the second and the Reynolds longball in the fifth gave Peoria three big runs that proved to be all the offense they would need.

Jonathan Mikrut and Chris Perez pitched in with solid innings out of the pen, allowing one hit over the final two frames.

The win went to Fabian Jimenez (6-10), who began the year with Fort Wayne before a mid-season trade between the Padres and the Cubs caused him to wind up with Chicago's Midwest League affiliate in Peoria. He scattered eight hits over five innings while allowing two runs.

Matt Avery (18) fanned two in a perfect ninth inning for the save, as the Chiefs bullpen combined to strike out seven over four hitless innings.

UP NEXT: The Swing will continue their home-and-home series with the Chiefs in Peoria on Friday night, as RHP Trey Hearne (11-3, 2.27) will take the mound against RHP Todd Blackford (9-8, 5.54). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and coverage on Progressive Talk AM-1270 will begin at 6:45 p.m.

NEXT HOMESTAND: The Swing will return to John O'Donnell Stadium for a six-game homestand on Saturday, August 26. Quad Cities will host Peoria Chiefs in the final two games of a home-and-home series before welcoming the Kane County Cougars into town for a four-game set beginning on Monday, August 28.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: A KWQC/River 104.9 fireworks show will follow the game on Saturday, August 26, while Sunday's contest will be a Mix 96 Family Fun Day. A Q106.5 $1 Monday comes your way on August 28, with hot dogs, popcorn, and soda available for just a buck each! Tuesday night's game will be Credit Union for Kids Night in association with the Children's Miracle Network, and stay late for post-game fireworks. US Cellular Night at the ballpark will be on Wednesday, August 30, which will also feature the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus. The homestand will conclude with a Pluckers/97 Rock Thirsty Thursday on the final day of August.

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Midwest League Stories from August 24, 2006


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