MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

TinCaps' Shutout Is Bandits' 6th Loss in a Row

July 18, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa - Fort Wayne TinCaps right-handers Cody Hebner, Justin Livengood and Erik Cabrera combined to hold Quad Cities to three hits without a runner reaching scorin g position in the River Bandits' season-high sixth straight loss, a 7-0 final in front of a season-high 7,279 at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

Fort Wayne (10-17 second half, 40-56 overall) swept a series in Davenport for the first time in at least 13 seasons, and became the first team to sweep the River Bandits this season since South Bend won three straight April 17-19 at Modern Woodmen Park. The TinCaps swept a series against Quad Cities for the first time since winning three straight in Fort Wayne July 18-20, 2009. The River Bandits (12-15, 47-49) have lost six straight games for the first time since May 17-23, 2013, and have fallen behind by at least five runs in each game.

Right-hander Jandel Gustave (5-5) became the first River Bandits starter in a week to pitch more than four innings, as he went five innings and struck out nine batters to set a new career high and Quad Cities season high. He struck out the side in the first inning and kept the game scoreless for the first two innings. In the third inning, however, TinCaps second baseman Josh VanMeter hit a leadoff double to left-center field, and shortstop Trea Turner hit an RBI double down the right-field line for a 1-0 lead. Gustave worked around two hits in the fourth inning, but he began the fifth by walking Turner, who advanced to second base on a fielding error by first baseman Chase McDonald. A wild pitch moved Turner to third base, and he scored on a single by right fielder Franmil Reyes. Gustave induced an inning-ending double play and left with a 2-0 deficit - the smallest by a Quad Cities starter in a week.

Meanwhile, TinCaps right-hander Cody Hebner - who had allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings of a no-decision at Modern Woodmen Park on July 23, 2012 - faced one batter over the minimum in his season-high five-inning start. He walked center fielder James Ramsay to open the game, but Ramsay was caught trying to steal during the next at-bat. Second baseman Jose Fernandez singled in the third inning but was put out on a fielder's choice at second base, as Hebner (1-1) retired the last nine he faced, yielding a hit and a walk with four strikeouts.

Fort Wayne added to its lead in the sixth inning against left-hander Chris Cotton. Center fielder Ronnie Richardson reached on an error by Fernandez, and left fielder Henry Charles walked. VanMeter singled to load the bases, before Turner hit an RBI single to left field, third baseman Dustin Peterson hit a two-run single to center field, and first baseman Jake Bauers hit an RBI single to right field, making it 6-0. Cotton allowed four runs - three earned - on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Andrew Walter worked around a walk and single in the eighth inning, but he allowed catcher Adolfo Reina's third home run in two games to left field leading off the ninth inning. It marked the season-high fifth straight game Quad Cities has allowed a home run and gave Fort Wayne a 7-0 lead.

After Hebner, the TinCaps used right-hander Justin Livengood for three innings, in which he allowed a walk and two singles - right fielder Brett Phillips and left fielder Ronnie Mitchell extending seven- and nine-game hitting streaks, respectively - but induced two double plays. Right-hander Erik Cabrera hit the first batter of the ninth inning but got the TinCaps third double play and ninth of the series, helping his pitching staff face two batters over the minimum for the game. Quad Cities was shut out for the fifth time this season and did not put a runner in scoring position for the first time since a 6-0, one-hit, seven-inning loss at South Bend July 29, 2009.

Quad Cities hosts Lake County, Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, for the first time since 2012 at 6 p.m. Saturday. River Bandits right-hander Michael Feliz (5-2) is scheduled to face Captains right-hander Mitch Brown (2-7) in the three-games series opener.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 18, 2014


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