Quad Cities pitchers overcome seven walks by holding Clinton to four hits in third straight home victory

DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 14, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Derek Fisher homered for a second straight game, and right-hander Kevin Comer pitched five innings for his second win in as many appearances, while left-hander Albert Minnis struck out five batters in two innings for his first career save to finish the home team's sweep of the Clinton LumberKings with a 5-3 win in front of 997 at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night.

Quad Cities (5-1) completed its first series sweep since last July 26-28 in Bowling Green, and its first home series sweep since last July 19-21 against Lake County. Quad Cities last swept a series from Clinton (2-4) in five games at Modern Woodmen Park June 29-July 3, 2013.

Following four hitless relief innings in the season opener in Peoria Thursday, Comer (2-0) retired the first eight LumberKings he faced Tuesday night. He worked around a two-out walk in the third inning and back-to-back two-out fielding errors by shortstop Kristian Trompiz in the fourth inning to keep Clinton hitless through the first four innings.

Clinton right-hander Jeffeson Medina (0-1) until River Bandits first baseman Jamie Ritchie drew a third-inning, two-out walk in front of Fisher, who hammered a 3-1 offering from Medina over the Built Ford Tough Deck in right field for his second Midwest League home run, matching his total from his first professional season in 2014. In the fourth inning, River Bandits second baseman Mott Hyde hit a leadoff double to right-center field, advanced on a groundout by left fielder Sean McMullen and scored on Trompiz's two-out single into center field for a 3-0 lead. Medina was charged with three runs - all earned - on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Comer started the fifth inning with a 3-0 lead, but after eight hitless innings to start the season, he yielded a leadoff single up the middle by LumberKings first baseman Kristian Brito. After a fielder's choice allowing third baseman Martin Peguero to reach first base, center fielder Arby Fields drew a walk, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Designated hitter Chantz Mack walked to load the bases before Comer struck out shortstop Nelson Ward. With two outs and the bases loaded, left fielder Alex Jackson singled to right field to drive in two runs and put the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position on the throw to the outfield. Comer escaped the inning by getting right fielder Estarlyn Morales to ground out to shortstop and preserve the 3-2 lead. In a five-inning start, Comer allowed two earned runs on two hits and three walks and four strikeouts. He also beat Clinton at Modern Woodmen Park in his final start of 2014.

Following Comer, right-hander Jose Montero began the sixth inning by walking catcher Wayne Taylor before striking out second baseman Gianfranco Wawoe and Brito. Taylor attempted a two-out steal but was thrown out by River Bandits catcher Jacob Nottingham.

Quad Cities added insurance runs in the seventh inning, when Ritchie and Fisher hit consecutive singles against left-hander Jarrett Brown. Fisher's hit sent Ritchie to third base, where a wild throw from left field by Jackson allowed Ritchie to score and Fisher to reach third. A wild pitch by right-hander Kody Kerski scored Fisher for a 5-2 lead.

In the eighth inning, Montero allowed a leadoff walk to Jackson and single by Morales to bring the tying run to bat. Minnis entered to strike out Taylor before Wawoe's single loaded the bases. Minnis struck out Brito, walked Peguero to force in a run, and struck out Fields - who had walked in each of his first three plate appearances - to end the inning with a 5-3 lead. Two more strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning finished the 5-3 win. All three River Bandits saves this season have been the first in the careers of Montero (Friday's win), right-hander Joshua James (Monday) and Minnis (Tuesday).

The River Bandits seek their best seven-game start since 2010 when they visit Beloit for the first of three games at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (0-0) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Brett Graves (0-0).

UP NEXT: Registration is open for the Sunday, April 19, Frozen Princess Day private meet-and-greet with the Ice Queen and Snow Princess at Modern Woodmen Park. The special package includes Frozen-themed food, drinks, desserts, goodie bags and games in the Budweiser Champions Club, and a reserved box seat for the 1:15 p.m. game. Call 563-324-3000 for details. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 12, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits designated hitter Jacob Nottingham came within a triple of the cycle, and right-hander Austin Chrismon tossed the team's best start of the season with six innings of one-run, two-hit ball in a 7-2 home-opening victory over the Clinton LumberKings in front of 4,139 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday afternoon.

In front of the team's largest home-opening crowd since 2012, Quad Cities (3-1) won its home opener for the first time in four years. The last home-opening win for the River Bandits came in a 7-4 victory against Beloit on April 8, 2011.

In his Midwest League debut, Chrismon (1-0) allowed a leadoff single to LumberKings left fielder Chantz Mack, followed by a bunt single by second baseman Nelson Ward. On the bunt, third baseman Kristian Trompiz made an errant throw to first base, allowing Mack to reach third base with no outs. Right fielder Alex Jackson then hit a sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 Clinton lead. That began a string of 16 consecutive batters retired by Chrismon before a two-out walk to Ward in the sixth inning. Chrismon struck out three batters and was charged with one unearned run in the longest start for a Quad Cities pitcher this season.

Left-hander Patrick Peterson (0-1) held the 1-0 lead for Clinton (2-2) through the first four innings, working around two singles and a walk to strand three baserunners. In the fifth, however, Nottingham led off by swatting his first Midwest League home run out to right field to tie the game, 1-1. Two batters later, shortstop Thomas Lindauer's ground ball eluded third baseman Joe DeCarlo down the third-base line, allowing Lindauer to reach second base. A wild pitch moved Lindauer to third base, and he scored the go-ahead run on center fielder Bobby Boyd's RBI single to left field. Boyd then stole second base, and with two outs, left fielder Derek Fisher singled up the middle to score Boyd and reached second base on the throw home. First baseman Nick Tanielu followed with a single to left field and got all the way to third base on a throwing error by left fielder Chantz Mack. DeCarlo's second fielding error of the inning allowed right fielder Ryan Bottger to reach first base and Tanielu to score the fifth run of the inning.

Patrick Peterson was charged with all five runs - one earned - on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. He made his Midwest League debut in the same game his twin brother, River Bandits right-hander Eric Peterson, also made his Midwest League debut. Eric Peterson followed Chrismon to start the seventh inning with a 6-1 lead, after Nottingham hit a sixth-inning double off right-hander Ramire Cleto and scored on Boyd's sacrifice fly. Eric Peterson allowed a leadoff double by DeCarlo, who scored after a single by catcher Adam Martin and sacrifice fly by first baseman Kristian Brito, cutting the Quad Cities lead to 6-2. Eric Peterson finished two innings, allowing two hits and one earned run with one strikeout.

The River Bandits added their final run in the eighth inning, when catcher Alfredo Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third base on Nottingham's single to center field and scored on a balk by Cleto. The 7-2 lead was upheld by River Bandits right-hander Ryan Thompson in the ninth inning, as he struck out two batters around one hit for his second straight scoreless one-inning finish to a Quad Cities win in the first four games of the season.

The River Bandits continue their series with Clinton at 7 p.m. Moday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Lukas Schiraldi.

UP NEXT: The first Military Monday presented by Performance Food Group, 97X, and ESPN 93.5 means all active and retired military personnel may purchase $1 tickets for themselves and up to three guests with a military ID at the box office. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., when the first 1,000 fans receive a Mediacom River Bandits magnet schedule. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

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PEORIA, Ill. (April 9, 2015) - Designated hitter Sean McMullen homered and drove in three runs, first baseman Jamie Ritchie had a team-high two hits and an RBI on his 22^nd birthday, and right-hander Kevin Comer pitched four hitless relief innings to help the Quad Cities River Bandits win a 7-3 season opener over the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park Thursday night.

After trailing 3-1 through the first three innings, Quad Cities scored once in the fourth and two unearned runs in the fifth to take the lead for good. All nine spots in the team's batting order had at least a run or a hit, with seven players having hits, and seven scoring a run. Center fielder Derek Fisher drew three of the team's seven walks against five Peoria pitchers.

Each team missed an early scoring opportunity. River Bandits left fielder Bobby Boyd led off the season by hustling out a double to left-center field against Chiefs right-hander Jack Flaherty. Second baseman Mott Hyde had a foul-bunt strikeout, and Fisher walked. Boyd was thrown out trying to steal third base by catcher Steve Bean. Third baseman Nick Tanielu reached when shortstop Oscar Mercado dropped a popup, putting Fisher at third base and Tanielu at first. But Bean threw out Tanielu trying to steal to end the inning with no runs.

In Peoria's half of the second inning against left-hander Chris Lee, designated hitter Nick Thompson drew a leadoff walk and Hyde mishandled a grounder by right fielder Collin Radack. Bean bunted into a fielder's choice that put runners at first and third, but Lee got first baseman Alex DeLeon to ground out to Hyde, who started an inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.

The River Bandits took the game's first lead in the third inning. Third baseman Kristian Trompiz led off with a sinking blooper that evaded Chiefs left fielder Blake Drake. After left fielder Bobby Boyd's sacrifice moved Trompiz to third base, right-hander Jack Flaherty struck out shortstop Mott Hyde but then threw a pitch in the dirt to Fisher, allowing Trompiz to score the season's first run.

In the bottom of the third, Drake led off by striking out but reahing first base on a wild pitch. Second baseman Darren Seferina lined a single to right field, and center fielder Magneuris Sierra hit a game-tying single to left field. Seferina scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by third baseman Danny Diekroeger, and Sierra scored on Thompson's single to right-center field for a 3-1 Peoria lead.

Flaherty allowed one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts but came out after warm-up pitches in the fourth inning and was replaced by right-hander Will Anderson. Ritchie then grounded a leadoff double down the first-base line, went to third base on right fielder Ryan Bottger's single and scored on McMullen's sacrifice fly to center field. In the bottom of the inning, Lee escaped a bases-loaded jam when Sierra popped out to catcher Jacob Nottingham. Lee allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks in a four-inning start.

In the pivotal top of the fifth inning, Chiefs right-hander Fernando Baez walked Boyd, Mercado made an errant throw to second base on a fielder's choice, and Fisher walked to load the bases. Hernandez hit a game-tying sacrifice fly before Ritchie walked to load the bases. Bottger struck out before Nottingham was hit in the back by a 2-2 curve ball to force in a run and give Quad Cities a 4-3 lead.

Comer began the fifth inning and retired the first 11 batters he faced, only allowing one baserunner when he hit Thompson with a pitch in the eighth. The lead grew with McMullen hitting a two-run home run to right field off right-hander Zach Loraine in the eighth inning and Fisher, Hernandez and Ritchie hitting three consecutive singles in the ninth inning. River Bandits right-hander Ryan Thompson allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to finish the victory.

The River Bandits continue their opening series in Peoria at 7 p.m. Thursday. Left-hander Bryan Radziewski faces Chiefs left-hander Austin Gomber. Pregame is at 6:45 p.m. on Real Country AM 1170 KBOB, 1170kbob.com and www.riverbandits.com.

UP NEXT: The third annual Bandits Race to Home 5K presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics is at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. Registration remains open at riverbandits.com/5k through Friday. The post-race party will have live music, free bounce houses, games and food in the Party Plaza. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. Opening Day is Sunday, April 12, at Modern Woodmen Park! Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

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