MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing use doubleheader sweep to clinch playoffs

August 27, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities swept a doubleheader from the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at John O'Donnell Stadium, clinching a berth in the post-season with a come-from-behind 6-4 win in the opener and a 6-3 decision in game two. Mark Hamilton's walkoff three-run homer in game one capped a four-run rally to set the tone for the twin bill.

Quad Cities (37-24, 71-58) seized sole possession of first place in the Midwest League's Western Division, and will welcome second-place Kane County to town for a four-game series beginning on Monday night. Peoria (29-33, 70-61) lost the season-series to the Swing, who took seven of their 11 meetings this year.

The Swing headed into the bottom of the seventh inning of game one trailing by a 4-2 score, but Daniel Nelson drew a leadoff walk to get the rally started. He scored from second base when Daryl Jones stroked a double to the wall in center, pulling Quad Cities to within 4-3. After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, there were men at the corners with two outs and the game on the line when Hamilton stepped in to play the role of hero. The slugging first-baseman out of Tulane turned on a 2-1 pitch and blasted his third home run of the year towards the Mississippi River, a three-run bomb that gave the Swing a 6-4 walkoff win.

Matt Trent (4-3) picked up the win after a scoreless top of the seventh inning, while Chiefs' closer Matt Avery (3-3) was saddled with the loss as well as his second blown save of the season. The tough right-hander entered the game with 18 saves and a 1.71 ERA, but was lit up for four runs in one inning of work.

Peoria had jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning. Alberto Garcia drove an opposite-field home run out of the ballpark to right field in the fourth inning and the Chiefs snatched a 2-0 lead. One inning later Peoria added to the score, taking advantage of a pair of walks to open the inning. With one away slugger Ryan Norwood's line drive to right-center split the gap and rolled all the way to the wall, plating both baserunners to extend the lead to 4-0.

Quad Cities started their comeback in the bottom of the fifth, when Jose Martinez - in his first game since returning from the Disabled List - hit a leadoff double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jones. In the sixth inning Tyler Greene slapped a two-out single to right that scored Rowlett and made it a 4-2 game.

After the dramatic comeback win in the opener, the Swing could smell a potential playoff berth as they headed into the nightcap.

Casey Rowlett powered the offense early on, slugging a solo home run in the first inning before checking in with a clutch, two-out single that scored another run to break a 1-1 tie in the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, however, Quad Cities blew the game wide open. Chad Gabriel connected on a three-run homer to give the Swing a 5-1 cushion, and moments later Bryan Anderson singled home Jones for the 6-1 edge.

The lead was preserved thanks to a pair of stellar defensive plays by Jones in right field. Peoria had men at the corners in a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth when Yusuf Carter hit a pop fly to right that prompted Alberto Garcia to tag up from third, but Jones fired a one-hop strike to the plate to cut him down and keep the game tied. With a slim 2-1 lead in the sixth, Blake Parker drove a two-out liner to right with two men aboard, but Jones chased it down into the corner and made a diving catch that saved a pair of runs and ended the inning.

Jason Cairns (6-4) won game two out of the bullpen after Victor Moreno tossed 3.1 innings of one-run ball at the start. The save went to Chris Perez (10), who has converted all of his professional save opportunities despite allowing two ninth-inning runs.

UP NEXT: The Swing will continue their homestand by welcoming the Kane County Cougars into Davenport on Monday night, as LHP Adam Daniels (7-11, 3.21) will take on RHP Trey Shields (10-9, 4.96). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and coverage on Progressive Talk AM-1270 will begin at 6:45 p.m.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Come to the ballpark for a Q106.5 $1 Monday, 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, which will also feature the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus. The homestand will conclude with a Pluckers/97 Rock Thirsty Thursday on Thursday, the final day of August.

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Midwest League Stories from August 27, 2006


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