DAVENPORT, Iowa – The River Bandits blasted six home runs to knock off the Lugnuts 20-3 on Wednesday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Ronnie Dawson and Josh Rojas collected multi-homer games. Carson LaRue extended his team-lead with his 10th win.
The Bandits (18-8, 55-39) rolled to an 18-0 lead by the time the fifth inning concluded. Troy Sieber’s three-run homer capped a four-run first inning. Dawson’s two homers punctuated a nine-run second inning. Dawson finished the night 3-for4 with two homers, five RBI and three runs scored in just five innings of action. Daz Cameron joined the home run barrage with a two-run shot in the second. Cameron came up a double shy of the cycle, ending the game 3-for-5 with three RBI and two stolen bases. Rojas added to the parade with two two-run homers in the third and the fifth. Rojas completed his night at the plate 4-for-5 with two homers, a single, a double and six RBIs. Lansing (46-46, 9-17) scored a solo run in the sixth on Edward Olivares’ sacrifice fly. Nash Knight’s home run and Rodrigo Orozco’s RBI single plated two runs in the ninth.
LaRue (10-3) tossed five shut out innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. Ronel Blanco followed in tandem relief, hurling 3.2 innings and allowing three runs, falling one out short of the save. Dustin Hunt recorded the final out. Mike Ellenbest took the loss for the Lugnuts. Ellenbest (3-6) lasted 1+ innings and was tagged for nine runs and nine hits, including two homers. Geno Encina, Denis Diaz and Connor Eller combined to yield 11 runs in relief for Lansing.
Game two of the series is Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park at 6:35 p.m. As part of Thirsty Thursday, fans can enjoy $2 beer specials. The pitching matchup features Bandits RHP Abdiel Saldana (5-1, 2.85) against Lugnuts RHP Yennsy Diaz (1-2, 4.75). Jake Levy and Connor Onion have pregame coverage beginning at 6:20 p.m. on riverbandits.com and 1170 AM KBOB.
