MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing tie HR record, hold off Kernels

Published on August 29, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Offense was the story from Veterans Memorial Stadium Monday night, as the Swing of the Quad Cities pounded out 13 runs on 17 hits to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 13-8. With the win the Swing guaranteed themselves a victory in the season series between the geographical rivals, giving them the tie-breaker over all of their closest playoff competitors.

Nick Stavinoha's third inning home run was number 110 of the season for the Swing, tying the 1999 River Bandits for the Quad Cities single-season franchise record. That year, Michael Restovich and Brian McMillin each hit 19 longballs to lead the most productive offensive team in Quad Cities history.

Quad Cities (35-28, 71-61) takes a three-game lead over Beloit and Kane County in the standings, dropping their magic number in the playoff hunt to four. Cedar Rapids (31-32, 61-72) now falls to four games behind the Swing.

The Swing jumped out to the lead in the top of the second inning. Wes Swackhamer single into center, and then Chris Patrick grounded a sharp single into left. After a bounceout moved the runners to second and third, Jake Mullinax's single to center scored both runners for a 2-0 Swing lead.

Quad Cities added to the lead in the top of the second inning. With one out, Matt Shepherd lined a single into center. Nick Stavinoha worked to a 3-1 count, then drilled a line drive that carried just above the wall in left center, leaving the yard for a 4-0 lead. The home run extended Stavinoha's hitting streak to a personal-best 11 games, during which he has belted seven home runs.

After Mark McCormick struck out five through three scoreless innings, the Kernels broke through in the fourth. With one away, Drew Toussaint tripled into the left-center gap, and then Josh LeBlanc was hit by a pitch. Warner Madrigal's blooper to right scored Toussaint to slice the Swing's lead to 4-1. Jordan Renz chopped out to third to score LeBlanc for a 4-2 Swing advantage.

Quad Cities answered with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, taking advantage of five Cedar Rapids walks. After a groundout started the inning, Fernando Cordova issued free passes to the next four batters, as Simon Williams drew a four-pitch walk to extend the Swing lead to 5-2. With two outs, Chris Patrick drilled a bases-loaded single to cap the rally, scoring Shepherd and Stavinoha for a 7-2 Swing lead.

But the Kernels made it close in the bottom half of the fifth, knocking McCormick from the game. After a single from Sean Rodriguez started the inning, McCormick hit Nate Sutton with a pitch, his third hit batsmen from the game. Michael Collins' one-out single to right loaded the bases, and then Drew Toussaint popped to shallow right, keeping the bases loaded for the second out of the inning. But McCormick wouldn't retire another batter, as Josh LeBlanc's chopped infield single scored a run, and Warner Madrigal's base hit scored two more. Jordan Renz capped the rally with a single against reliever Jason Cairns, and the Swing led 7-6 after five innings.

But the Quad Cities offense took over from there. The Swing scored a pair of runs in each of the last three innings, two of the six scored as unearned tallies thanks to three Kernels errors. Though Cedar Rapids tried to rally in the last of the ninth, Mike Sillman came on to close the door and pick up his 22nd save of the season.

Tyler Adamczyk (4-3) took the win for Quad Cities, thanks to a scorer's decision. The righthander turned in his second straight solid outing, tossing 1.1 hitless innings. Entering a one-run ballgame with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth, Adamczyk recorded a huge strikeout of Josh LeBlanc in what would prove to be a pivotal point in the contest.

For Cedar Rapids it was starter Francisco Cordova (4-5) taking the loss, as he was knocked around to the tune of seven runs on five hits and four walks in only 4.1 innings pitched.

UP NEXT: The Swing and Kernels continue the four-game series on Tuesday night, when the Swing send Nick Webber (0-2, 5.14) to the mound against Fernando Rodriguez (7-9, 4.25). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pre-game coverage on WKBF AM-1270 will begin at 6:45.

UP NEXT: The Swing will close out the 2005 regular season with a road trip through Cedar Rapids and Southwest Michigan. If they hold on to their current position they will qualify for postseason play, which would begin with a home game at John O'Donnell Stadium on Wednesday, September 7. For more information, keep posted at www.swingbaseball.com . Season-ticket packages are available for the 2006 season by calling the Swing at (563) 328-2000.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from August 29, 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