MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Watson Pitches River Bandits to 2-1 Win in Beloit

Published on September 2, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


BELOIT, Wis. (SEPT. 2, 2012) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-handed starter Brad Watson pitched six innings of two-hit, one-run ball, and left-hander Josh Renfro and right-hander Heath Wyatt combined to finish off the three-hitter and a 2-1 victory over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field Sunday afternoon.

After giving up eight runs in his last start in Clinton, Watson (4-4) retired the first seven batters and allowed two walks and a hit through the first four innings. With a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning, he allowed a double to Snappers catcher Jairo Rodriguez and threw a wild pitch to move him to third base. Snappers right fielder Wang-Wei Lin flied out to right field to bring in Rodriguez for Beloit's only run. Watson finished six innings with three walks and no strikeouts.

The River Bandits (33-36 second half, 68-70 overall) scored both of their runs in the fourth inning against left-hander Matt Tomshaw (4-6). Center fielder Nick Martini and second baseman Colin Walsh each hit singles, and designated hitter Anthony Melchionda doubled over the head of Lin in right field to bring in Martini. Walsh then scored on catcher Juan Castillo's sacrifice fly to center field that made it 2-0. Outside of the fourth inning, Tomshaw allowed three hits and had four separate 1-2-3 innings. He finished seven innings, allowed six hits and struck out six batters without walking any.

Quad Cities also put runners at second and third base in the seventh and eighth innings but left all four of them on base. The River Bandits had back-to-back singles to start the ninth inning, but a pickoff at second base and an inning-ending double play smothered the rally against left-hander Steven Gruver.

Renfro started the seventh inning and retired all seven batters he faced. With one out and the bases empty in the ninth inning, Wyatt came in to strike out Snappers third baseman Miguel Sano. Wyatt allowed a two-out single by first baseman Kennys Vargas, but designated hitter Drew Leachman grounded to shortstop Matt Williams for a game-ending fielder's choice and Wyatt's 20th save.

The two-hour, four-minute game was the fastest nine-inning game for Quad Cities since July 29, when it lost in two hours and one minute at Kane County.

The River Bandits won just their fifth game against playoff-bound Beloit (37-32, 76-63) this season and will try to win their first series this season against the Snappers in the regular season finale at 2 p.m. Monday. River Bandits left-hander Dail Villanueva (10-6) is scheduled to face Snappers left-hander David Hurlbut (5-6).

UP NEXT: Now is the time to lock in your season ticket plan for the 2013 season! Make a $25 deposit per seat by Sept. 30, and you are automatically entered for a chance to win a suite for a River Bandits home game in April 2013! Call 563-322-6348 (563-3-BANDIT) for more information or visit www.riverbandits.com to download the season ticket order form. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

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Midwest League Stories from September 2, 2012


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