MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing win, leave Kane County with split

Published on April 9, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities sent 11 men to the plate in a six-run fifth inning as they defeated the Kane County Cougars, 4-1, and salvaged a series split at Elfstrom Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Adam Daniels hurled six strong innings in the win, while Wes Swackhamer and Randy Ross registered three hits apiece to raise the Swing record to 2-2.

The story of the game early was starting pitching, as Kane County's Craig Italiano fanned seven through three innings, and both he and Daniels had one-hit shutouts heading into the fourth.

That changed in the top of the fourth, when Italiano began to lose his control with two away. Swackhamer ripped a 3-0 pitch into right field to extend the inning, and on the very next delivery Ross split the gap in left-center to knock in a run and give the Swing a 1-0 lead.

One inning later, Quad Cities would put the game out of reach. Calvin Hayes led off the frame with the first of his two singles in the inning, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Daniel Nelson was then hit by a pitch, and both runners moves up one base after another wild pitch. With men on second and third and nobody out, Italiano's third wild pitch of the inning skipped off of the inside of catcher Anthony Recker's right foot, and both runners came home to score as Recker could not find the ball. Trailing by a 3-0 score Italiano then walked Colby Rasmus, and was promptly removed from the game for southpaw reliever Brad Kilby.

Kilby would not fare much better, though. After striking out Bryan Anderson he was touched for four consecutive singles, the last one off the bat of A.J. Van Slyke with the bases loaded, scoring a pair for a 6-0 advantage. When the second single of the inning by Hayes gave Quad Cities a 7-0 lead, the Swing were well on their way to victory.

Kane County tried to rally, as Anthony Recker's three-run homer in the bottom half of the fifth pulled the Cougars to within 7-3. Each side would add another tally to their score for a final of 8-4.

Daniels (1-0) was strong in the win for the Swing, striking out six in six innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Four of those hits and all three runs came after he sat through the long six-run top of the fifth inning, and proved hittable in the bottom half of the frame.

Jeremy Zick and Jason Cairns combined for three innings of relief, allowing only one unearned run to put a cap on an impressive opening series by the bullpen. Through four games Swing relievers have tossed 13.2 innings with 11 strikeouts, allowing only one earned run and posting a 0.66 ERA.

Italiano (0-1) suffered the loss for Kane County, allowing four runs on four hits, three walks, and three wild pitches. He began to fall off with two outs in the fourth, despite a start in which he consistently threw in the mid-90s and registered eight strikeouts.

UP NEXT: The Swing of the Quad Cities return to John O'Donnell Stadium for the 2006 home-opener on Monday, as 19-year-old LHP Jaime Garcia will make his professional debut against LHP Broc Coffman (2-2, 2.99 in 2005) and the Clinton LumberKings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30, and pre-game coverage on WKBF AM-1270 will begin at 6:15.

PROMOTION: Monday's game will feature a magnet schedule giveaway, as well as a season-long Q106.5 Dollar Mondays promotion that offers fans hot dogs, soda, and popcorn for only $1 each. Magnet schedules will also be given away before Tuesday's game, and Wednesday's contest will include a farewell to Wednesday Night Beverage Nights, sponsored by 97 Rock and Pluckers, with half-price drink specials starting when the gates open and lasting until 8:00 p.m. For the rest of the season, drink specials will be available on 97 Rock/Pluckers Thirsty Thursdays. Tickets are available to all 2006 home games, as well as the Midwest League All-Star Game, by calling the Swing ticket office at (563) 328-2000.

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Midwest League Stories from April 9, 2006


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