MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing Turn Triple Play, Homer Four Times in Win

Published on May 31, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


A full moon was shining in the night sky high above John O'Donnell Stadium on Thursday night, turning what figured to be a pitcher's duel into a wild affair that resulted in a 9-6 Swing of the Quad Cities win over the Clinton LumberKings. The Swing turned a triple play and homered in four consecutive innings, coming back from a pair of early deficits to rally for the win.

Quad Cities (29-24) got big games from Christian Reyes and Daryl Jones, as Reyes launched two of the Swing's season-high four homers and both players drove in four runs. Clinton (31-20) reached the scoreboard for the first time in the top of the third, snapping P.J. Walters' scoreless innings streak at 30.

LumberKings southpaw Kasey Kiker - the 12th overall pick in the 2006 draft - entered play with 17 strikeouts and just five hits allowed over 10 scoreless frames with Clinton, but the Swing rallied for three runs on three hits against him in the second inning alone. Reyes provided the power with his first homer of the night, belting an opposite-field, three-run bomb down the line in right to put the Swing on the board.

That 3-0 lead disappeared quickly, however, despite the presence of Walters on the mound for the Swing. The righty from Alabama entered play having yet to allow a run in the month of May, but was touched up for four runs - three earned - as Clinton chased him from the ballgame in the third while taking a 4-3 lead.

Brandon Buckman tied the game in the bottom of the third, blasting a towering solo homer beyond the right field fence. The homer moved him back into a tie for the league-lead with 11 home runs and 43 RBI while evening the score at four runs apiece.

Still, the Swing trailed 6-4 heading into the bottom of the fourth before Jones emerged from the dugout. The 19-year-old outfielder did not start on Thursday night, but he finished in a big way.

With men at the corners and two away, Jones entered as a pinch-hitter and promptly drilled the second pitch he saw out of the yard to right. The three-run blast was his first since opening night against the LumberKings, and it gave the Swing a 7-6 lead they would never relinquish.

Reyes capped the home run barrage with a solo shot in the fifth inning, but the 8-6 Swing lead was still a tenuous one in the top of the sixth.

Clinton had the bases loaded with nobody out when John Whittleman laced a low liner towards the second baseman. Jaime Landin snared the ball before it landed, fired to Buckman at first to double up one baserunner, and Buckman quickly threw to second to complete the triple play and get out of the jam.

Elvis Hernandez (4-3) picked up the win with 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and Kenny Maiques (12) earned his third consecutive save with a perfect ninth.

TICKETS: Tickets for all events at John O'Donnell Stadium can be purchased by calling the Swing of the Quad Cities ticket office at (563) 328-2000, coming to the box office located at the stadium along South Gaines Street, or by logging on to www.swingbaseball.com.

UP NEXT: The Swing are at John O'Donnell Stadium to wind down the week with the latter portion of a four-game home-and-home series with the Clinton LumberKings. All Swing games feature a radio broadcast that can be heard on The Truth AM-1270 or online at www.swingbaseball.com, with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: John O'Donnell Stadium will turn into Margaritaville on Friday, June 1, so chill with the Swing on Jimmy Buffett Theme Night and stay late for a spectacular fireworks display!!!

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Midwest League Stories from May 31, 2007


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