Sports stats



MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing work late, lose again

July 22, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The Swing and Wizards have already combined to play 23 innings through the first two games of the series, as Quad Cities fell again at John O'Donnell Stadium, 2-1, after 12 innings of play. The home team left a season-high 18 men on base, and twice had the potential game-winning run cut down at the plate.

The loss drops Quad Cities (17-11, 53-44) into a tie for first place, as Burlington was a winner at home against Kane County. The win for Fort Wayne (12-16, 50-48) was the seventh in their last eight games, and although the Wizards also stranded a season-high 14 baserunners, they evened up their all-time series with Quad Cities at 51-51.

For the second consecutive night, the Swing would drop a 2-1, extra-inning decision. The Wizards are 3-3 on the year in extra-inning affairs, with all three of their victories coming at the expense of Quad Cities.

With the score tied at one run apiece heading into the 12th, Jason Cairns walked Josh Alley to lead things off. With a runner at second Cairns registered a big strikeout against Brett Dowdy, but one out away from escaping the jam he yielded the game-winning single to left-center off the bat of Mike Baxter to run the score to 2-1.

Although Wes Swackhamer led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk, he would reach no farther then second base as Matt Lemanczyk's lineout to shortstop ended the game.

The Swing leadoff man had reached in every frame from the eighth inning on, but each time the rally was quelled.

With the game tied, 1-1, Quad Cities threatened in the bottom half of the ninth inning. Juan Lucena led off the frame with an infield single and, after a sacrifice bunt, Matt Shepherd was intentionally walked. With two outs, Nick Stavinoha bounced an infield single to the left side of second base. Although Stavinoha beat the play at third, the first baseman Baxter alertly threw out Lucena trying to score to end the inning.

In the eleventh Lemanczyk opened the frame with a single, and moved to second on Shepherd's sacrifice bunt. When Stavinoha lined a one-out single into center it looked like the Swing speedster would score to win the game, but Wizards' centerfielder Yordany Ramirez fired a strike to the plate to cut down the potential game-winner.

The Swing initially jumped out to the early lead, tallying the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning. Spencer Wyman drew a leadoff four-pitch walk, and then Calvin Hayes squirted a single into right. Lemanczyk squared to bunt, but pulled back and popped a single into right to load the bases. Quad Cities scored when Shepherd bounced to first.

But the Wizards tied it up in the top half of the fourth frame, as Matt Thayer dropped a single into shallow center, stole second, and scored on Mike Baxter's base hit into right. The score remained at 1-1 for the next seven innings.

Swing starter Matt Scherer allowed one run in seven innings for Quad Cities, surrendering just six base hits. The righthander, who had won each of his previous five starts, has recorded a team-leading 11 quality starts on the season. He was matched by the Wizards' Joel Santo, who also allowed one run in seven frames, striking out six and walking two.

Cairns (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing a run on two hits in two innings. For Fort Wayne it was Geivy Garcia (2-2) picking up the win, and Matt Varner recording his league-leading 29th save of the campaign.

UP NEXT: The Swing and Wizards will continue the series on Saturday night, as the Swing send Tyler Adamczyk (2-3, 9.47) to the mound against lefty Chris Steinborn (1-1, 3.41). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pre-game coverage on WKBF AM-1270 will begin at 6:45.

PROMOTION: The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a bobblehead featuring 2004 American League Cy Young Award winner and former Quad City River Bandit Johan Santana, courtesy of Mountain Dew, KLJB Fox 18, Mediacom, the Dispatch, WOC and WFXN. Gates open at 6:00, and tickets are available for all Swing games by calling (563) 328-2000.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 22, 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.

Other Recent Quad Cities River Bandits Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central