MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing surge to .500 mark

May 9, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Joe Mather and Derry Hammond each drilled third-inning home runs and four Swing relievers worked 5.1 strong innings as the Swing of the Quad Cities defeated the Clinton LumberKings, 10-5, on Monday night at Alliant Energy Field. With the win, the Swing moved within 3 ½ games of first place, their closest position since the first week of the season, and moved their record to .500 for the first time since Opening Day.

Down 2-0 after an inning, the Swing (15-15) took a commanding lead with three runs in the second and four more in the third inning. Brandon Yarbrough, Mike Ferris and Simon Williams each drew walks before Matt Lemanczyk split the right-center gap with a three-run double.

Quad Cities added four more runs in the top of the third inning. Mather hit a towering fly ball to left for a solo homer to open the inning and then, after Jarrett Hoffpauir reached on an error, Hammond lined a two-run blast over the wall in left. The third inning marked the second time this season that Mather and Hammond have homered in the same inning. The Swing have drilled ten home runs in only eight games against Clinton on the year.

First place Clinton (19-12) closed the Swing's gap in the middle three innings, scoring twice on Matt Scherer in the fourth inning and once more against Justin Knoff in the fifth, slicing Quad Cities' lead to 7-5.

Quad Cities added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. Williams doubled high off the wall in center, and moved to third on Lemanczyk's single. A successful squeeze bunt from Matt Shepherd – his second squeeze in five games – plated Williams for an 8-5 Quad Cities advantage.

Quad Cities added two more runs in the ninth inning, as Ferris and Lemanczyk each had RBI singles.

Matt Scherer worked 3.2 innings to get no decision for the Swing, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. He struck out four and walked three. Knoff came on in the bottom of the fourth inning, coaxing a groundout to strand three runners on base. Dennis Medina struck out one in a perfect sixth inning and Michael Gross got three straight groundouts in the seventh. Kevin Ool retired all five men he faced for his first save as a member of the Cardinals organization.

UP NEXT: The Swing have an off day on Tuesday, before returning to John O'Donnell Stadium on Wednesday as they begin a three-game series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Dennis Dove (2-1, 4.09) starts for the Swing against Fernando Rodriguez (1-2, 6.14). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 is scheduled for 6:45.

PROMOTION: Wednesday's game will be a 97 Rock/Hooters Beverage night at the ballpark, with live music starting when the gates open at 5:30 and drink specials continuing until 8:30.

HOMESTAND REPORT: Wednesday's game is the start of an eight-game homestand featuring games against Cedar Rapids and Beloit. The homestand will feature two Hooters/97 Rock Beverage nights, an appearance by the ZOOperstars on Friday, May 13, and a fireworks show on Saturday, May 14. Tickets are available to all Swing home games by calling (563) 328-2000.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from May 9, 2005


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