MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Timber Rattlers Ruin River Bandits' Gem

Published on July 4, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa - Quad Cities River Bandits right-handers Adrian Houser and Tyler Brunnemann combined for eight shutout innings Friday night, but right-handers Frederick Tiburcio and Andrew Walter combined to squander a 2-0 lead and allow five ninth-inning runs to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, who took a 5-3 victory in front of 6,371 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Although pitching dominated most of the game, Houser ran into trouble in the first inning. He walked center fielder Johnny Davis to open the game and allowed a single by second baseman Chris McFarland. Right fielder Michael Ratterree grounded into a fielder's choice, before designated hitter Clint Coulter blooped a single to right field that loaded the bases with one out. But Houser struck out Timber Rattlers first baseman Taylor Brennan and got catcher Rafael Neda to ground into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

Timber Rattlers right-hander Preston Gainey also escaped a first-inning jam, as he allowed a walk to center fielder James Ramsay and a one-out single by right fielder Brett Phillips to put runners at first and third bases. After Phillips stole second base, Gainey struck out designated hitter Chase McDonald and got left fielder Ronnie Mitchell to fly out to left field, stranding two runners in scoring position.

Houser set down 10 straight batters before hitting Neda with a two-out pitch in the fourth inning. That was the only baserunner for Wisconsin (9-6 second half, 45-39 overall) in a span of 24 batters through the eighth inning. Houser matched his season high with six shutout innings and tied a career high with eight strikeouts, setting down 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.

Quad Cities (8-7, 43-41) broke the 0-0 tie in the fourth inning. Phillips reached when shortstop Angel Ortega threw high to first base. With two outs, second baseman Jose Fernandez swatted his second home run in three games to left-center field that gave his team a 2-0 lead. Gainey did not allow a hit in the rest of his seven innings, as he allowed two unearned runs on four walks with a career-high 10 strikeouts.

Brunnemann retired all six batters he faced to keep the 2-0 lead going to the ninth inning. Tiburcio (1-2) began by allowing a single to McFarland and walking Ratterree and Coulter to load the bases with no outs. Brennan then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, and all three runners advanced. After Tiburcio walked Neda to re-load the bases, Walter entered with a 2-1 lead and one out. Left fielder Omar Garcia lined a ball toward Fernandez, who kept it from the outfield and recorded a fielder's choice for the second out, which tied the game, 2-2. Garcia then stole second base to put runners at second and third bases, and third baseman Steven Halcomb lined a 1-2 pitch from Walter down the left-field line for a two-out, two-run double to make it 4-2. Ortega added an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.

Timber Rattlers right-hander Tyler Spurlin (3-0) worked around a hit in the eighth inning but gave up a leadoff double to Mitchell and one-out RBI single by catcher Brian Holberton to bring the tying run to the plate. But he got first baseman Jon Kemmer to fly out to left field and pinch hitter Brett Booth to strike out, completing a 5-3 Timber Rattlers win.

Quad Cities continues its series with Wisconsin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (3-5) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers left-hander Anthony Banda (4-5).

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