Game tied 4-4 through six innings to be resumed in Burlington at a later date

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 21, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits overcome a 4-0, third-inning deficit to tie the Burlington Bees, 4-4, in the bottom of the sixth inning before a local power outage suspended play at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.

Wednesday's game was suspended and will be resumed at a later date in Burlington, where the teams are scheduled for series next Sunday through Tuesday and June 4-6. Wednesday's game was the first suspended for Quad Cities and second for Burlington this season.

The Bees (20-23) took the lead within the game's first two batters against right-hander Kevin Comer. Second baseman Kody Eaves tripled to right-center field, and right fielder Exicardo Cayones hit an RBI double to left-center field. Two batters later, first baseman Eric Aguilera brought in Cayones with a one-out single to left field that gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Burlington's lead grew in the third inning. Cayones hit a one-out single to right field, designated hitter Mike Fish doubled just beyond the dive of River Bandits center fielder James Ramsay, and Aguilera lifted a two-run triple to left-center field. With the infield up in a 4-0 game, Bees left fielder Brandon Bayardi grounded over the pitcher's mound to second baseman Chan-Jong Moon who threw home to get Aguilera. Comer then worked around a hit batter and two singles over his final 2 1/3 innings to complete five innings in his first Midwest League start. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Left-hander Albert Minnis relieved him with a perfect sixth inning.

Quad Cities (21-23) began its comeback in the bottom of the third inning, when left fielder Ronnie Mitchell led off against right-hander Ryan Etsell with his second home run of the season. In the fourth, catcher Brian Holberton doubled off the center-field wall and scored on left fielder Brett Phillips' triple to left-center field.

Etsell held the 4-2 lead until the sixth, when first baseman Conrad Gregor walked, Holberton hit a one-out single, and Phillips hit a sacrifice fly to chase Etsell. Right-hander Trevor Foss took over with a 4-3 lead and walked Mitchell before allowing a two-out, game-tying single by shortstop Thomas Lindauer. Mitchell was caught in a rundown on the play to end the inning with a 4-4 tie.

Before the River Bandits could take the field for the seventh inning, the ballpark went dark.

Quad Cities begins a three-game home series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 7 p.m. Thursday, when River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (1-2) is scheduled to face Kernels right-hander Aaron Slegers (4-1).

UP NEXT: A limited number of tickets are still available for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation May 24. Only the first 300 will be sold for the noon to 3 p.m. event at Modern Woodmen Park. Call 563-421-6865 or visit Modern Woodmen park to order tickets. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

In its longest game since 2012, Quad Cities loses 5-4 homestand opener to Burlington

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 20, 2014) - Burlington first baseman Eric Aguilera caught an eighth-inning line drive to begin the first triple play of the season by a Quad Cities opponent and hit a go-ahead RBI single to break a 3-3, 12th-inning tie in the Bees' 5-4 win over the River Bandits in front of 2,691 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday night.

The Bees' second triple play in 10 days - and the first against the River Bandits since Peoria turned one May 11, 2013 - thwarted the home team's scoring chance in a 3-3, eighth-inning tie. After center fielder James Ramsay drew a leadoff walk against left-hander Cole Swanson, right-hander Alan Busenitz entered to face shortstop Jack Mayfield, who bounced a single to left field. Ramsay and Mayfield ran on Busenitz's 2-2 pitch to designated hitter Conrad Gregor, who hit a line drive that Aguilera leaped to grab. Aguilera then touched first base before throwing to shortstop Erick Salcedo at second base to complete the triple play.

Burlington (20-22) opened the scoring in the second inning against right-hander Edison Frias. After a one-out walk and error by third baseman Tyler White, a groundout moved runners to second and third base. Salcedo put an RBI bunt single to the third-base side of the mound, and Frias's wild throw to first base allowed a second run to score. Trailing 2-0, Quad Cities (20-23) answered in the next half-inning against right-hander Elliot Morris. First baseman Jon Kemmer hit a two-out double to left-center field, right fielder Brett Phillips hit an RBI single to right field, and Ramsay hit a game-tying double to right.

The Bees broke the 2-2 tie in the third, however, as center fielder Chad Hinshaw hit a leadoff triple to right-center field and scored on Aguilera's single to right field. In the bottom of the third, Gregor doubled and eventually scored the tying run on a passed ball by catcher Stephen McGee. It was the last of three runs - two earned - against Morris, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Frias lasted a season-long five innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

River Bandits left-hander Evan Grills began the sixth inning and scattered two hits and a walk, not allowing a runner past second base in four relief innings. Opposite him, Swanson (1 2/3 innings), Busenitz (two innings), and right-hander Ben Carlson (one inning) carried the Bees' scoreless relief effort. Busenitz and Carlson stranded the winning run at third base in the ninth and 10^th innings respectively.

After Grills, left-hander Chris Cotton (1-3) pitched a perfect 10^th inning and stranded two runners in scoring position in the 11^th. In the 12^th, he allowed a one-out bunt single by second baseman Kody Eaves and double by right fielder Exicardo Cayones. With runners at second and third bases, right-hander Andrew Walter came in to get a fielder's choice groundout before Aguilera's go-ahead hit to left field. Left fielder Brandon Bayardi added an RBI single to make it 5-3. Against right-hander Grant Gordon (1-1), Quad Cities left fielder Ronnie Mitchell led off the 12^th by reaching on an error by Aguilera, and pinch hitter Brett Booth hit a double to left field. But Gordon finished a two-inning outing by retiring the next three batters, allowing one run to score, and stranding Booth as the tying run at second base.

After their series opener lasted three hours, 54 minutes - the longest game time for Quad Cities since a four-hour, 15-minute, 6-5, 13-inning loss at Clinton Aug. 28, 2012 - Quad Cities and Burlington play at 11 a.m. Tuesday, when River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser (2-1) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Harrison Cooney (2-2).

UP NEXT: A limited number of tickets are still available for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation May 24. Only the first 300 will be sold for the noon to 3 p.m. event at Modern Woodmen Park. Call 563-421-6865 or visit Modern Woodmen park to order tickets. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

COUGARS' SKULINA, DORRIS NO-HIT BANDITS, 3-0

Quad Cities held hitless for seventh time in 55-year franchise history, first since May 7, 1998

GENEVA, Ill. (May 17, 2014) - Kane County right-hander Tyler Skulina pitched 7 1/3 hitless innings, and left-hander Nathan Dorris got the final five outs of the seventh all-time no-hitter against the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise, coming in the Cougars' 3-0 victory Saturday over the River Bandits at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Kane County (28-14) pitched the eighth no-hitter of its 24-season franchise history. Saturday's feat was the first no-hitter in the Midwest League this season and came one day short of exactly three years after the Cougars' last no-hitter May 18, 2011, when Sugar Ray Marimon went 7 2/3 innings, and Chas Byrne pitched 1 1/3 innings for a 2-0 no-hitter at Cedar Rapids. Quad Cities (19-22) was no-hit Saturday for the first time since May 7, 1998, when Burlington's Lance Davis and Dan Timm combined for a no-hitter.

Skulina (2-1) pitched a perfect first inning, and the Cougars got on the scoreboard within their first two batters against River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (2-3). Right fielder Jake Hannemann drew a leadoff walk, went to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on shortstop Carlos Penalver's single to left-center field. But Thurman got a strikeout, groundout and strikeout to keep the deficit at 1-0.

Skulina started the second inning by hitting first baseman Conrad Gregor with a pitch. A passed ball moved Gregor to second base, but Skulina got a popup by third baseman Jack Mayfield and groundouts by left fielder Ronnie Mitchell and right fielder James Ramsay to end the inning, stranding Gregor at third base - the first of two baserunners left by Quad Cities Saturday.

In the fourth inning, Quad Cities second baseman Chan-Jong Moon drew a leadoff walk, and Gregor drew a one-out walk to put runners at first and second bases. But on the first pitch to Mayfield, catcher Will Remillard threw to first baseman Jacob Rogers to pick off Gregor for the second out. Mayfield struck out to end the inning, beginning a string of the final 16 River Bandits being retired in order.

The Cougars added two runs against Thurman in the fifth inning. Center fielder Trey Martin hit a leadoff double down the left-field line and scored when Thurman made an errant throw to third base on a comeback ground ball by left fielder Shawon Dunston Jr., who reached second base. A wild pitch put Dunston at third, and he scored on Hannemann's sacrifice fly. Thurman was removed after 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Right-hander Patrick Christensen relieved for 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and right-hander Frederick Tiburcio followed with two perfect innings and four strikeouts in his Midwest League debut.

After Skulina retired his 11th straight hitter on Mitchell's groundout to open the eighth, he was removed from his longest career start to a standing ovation. Dorris escaped the eighth with groundouts by Ramsay and catcher Jake Rodriguez, who caught a no-hitter Tuesday with advanced Class-A Lancaster, but was 0-for-3 on the opposite end Saturday. In the ninth, Dorris struck out shortstop Thomas Lindauer, got center fielder Brett Phillips to fly out to center field, and retired Moon on a groundout to second base to put the date in the record books.

Quad Cities' league-leading team batting average dropped from .279 to .273, but it will seek a four-game series split against Kane County in Sunday's 1 p.m. finale. River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave (2-2) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Daury Torrez (4-1).

HOLBERTON HITS FOR CYCLE IN BANDITS ROUT

Designated hitter goes 5-for-5 with five RBIs, achieves first cycle by Quad Cities player in nine years

GENEVA, Ill. (May 18, 2014) - Designated hitter Brian Holberton became the first Quad Cities player to hit for the cycle in nine years with his first career triple in the seventh inning Sunday afternoon, and his 5-for-5, five-RBI day carried the River Bandits to a 10-3 win and four-game series split with the first-place Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Holberton's cycle was the first for the Quad Cities franchise since April 19, 2005, when Brandon Yarbrough doubled, homered, tripled and singled in five at-bats in a 14-10, 11-inning win - also at Kane County. Holberton's cycle is the first in the Midwest League this season.

One day after being no-hit for the eighth time in franchise history, Quad Cities (20-22) got 17 hits against Kane County (28-15). Eight different River Bandits had a hit, and the visitors had at least one hit in eight different innings. Holberton had the only three extra-base hits.

A hitless streak of 11 2/3 innings ended when River Bandits center fielder Brett Phillips led off the game with a single to right field. A wild pickoff throw from right-hander Daury Torrez (4-2) sent Phillips all the way to third base, and shortstop Jack Mayfield brought in Phillips with a groundout. Kane County tied the game, 1-1, on right fielder Yasiel Balaguert's RBI double off right-hander Jandel Gustave (3-2).

Holberton's first at-bat came in the second inning, when he hit a one-out popup behind shortstop that Cougars shortstop Carlos Penalver lost in the sun, allowing Holberton to race to second base for a double. But Torrez and Penalver picked off Holberton to end the inning.

The 1-1 tie remained until the fourth, when Mayfield and first baseman Conrad Gregor hit consecutive singles. Catcher Brett Booth put down a bunt single to the third-base side, and Cougars second baseman Daniel Lockhart committed two errors - a missed a catch at first base and a wild throw to third base - to allow two runs to score and Booth to reach third. Holberton then hit his third home run of the season to right field, making it 5-1. In the fifth inning, Mayfield hit a two-out single and stole second base before scoring on Gregor's RBI single that chased Torrez, who lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs - six earned - on nine hits. Right-hander Michael Wagner allowed a single by Booth, followed by Holberton's RBI single to right field, but Balaguert threw out Booth to end the inning with a 7-1 score.

Gustave retired the final 11 batters of his season-high five-inning start, allowing one earned run on three hits. Right-hander Michael Feliz followed with 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on four hits - including first baseman Jacob Rogers' seventh-inning solo home run - with two strikeouts. Left-hander Albert Minnis got the final two outs on the mound.

After Mayfield and Gregor hit consecutive singles for the third time in the seventh, Holberton came up with one out. He lined a hit off Wagner into the left-center field gap and raced to third base with a head-first slide as the relay throw got away. Holberton scored his team's 10^th and final run on third baseman Tyler White's sacrifice fly, and he added a ninth-inning single to left-center off right-hander Jose Arias.

Quad Cities opens a six-game homestand at 7 p.m. Monday when it faces Burlington (19-22) for the first time this season. River Bandits right-hander Edison Frias (1-2) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Elliot Morris (2-1) in the series opener at Modern Woodmen Park.

UP NEXT: The official lighting of the Ferris Wheel will be a part of Markdown Monday when the River Bandits open their next homestand May 19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and bleacher tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer are just $2 each for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available online at www.riverbandits.com. Don't miss the great light show that comes with the new Ferris Wheel! To order any of the ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

 

Wisconsin scores five unanswered runs and shuts out Quad Cities for eight innings in series rubber match

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (May 14, 2014) - Third baseman Taylor Brennan broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run double to start a four-run Wisconsin fourth inning Wednesday night, and Timber Rattlers pitchers shut out the Quad Cities River Bandits for the final eight innings of a 5-1 win in the finale of a three-game series at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Quad Cities (18-20) scored its only run in the first inning against right-hander Barrett Astin (4-2). Center fielder Brett Phillips led off the game with a double to left-center field, went to second base on a sacrifice by second baseman Chan-Jong Moon and scored on shortstop Jack Mayfield's groundout. It was the only run against Astin, who yielded just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings. He did not allow a runner past second base after the first inning.

In the bottom of the first, Timber Rattlers second baseman Chris McFarland reached on an errant throw by Moon and went to second base when the ball went into the first-base dugout. Designated hitter Clint Coulter lined a game-tying single to left-center field, but left-hander Evan Grills (1-1) escaped the inning by inducing a ground-ball double play.

Grills worked around leadoff singles in the second and third innings to keep the score 1-1. In the fourth, Coulter hit a leadoff single, followed by consecutive walks of left fielder Jose Pena and right fielder Michael Ratterree. With the bases loaded, Brennan shot a line drive just inside the third-base line that scored Coulter, Pena and Ratterree for a 4-1 lead. After a flyout and groundout, shortstop Angel Ortega grounded a double past River Bandits third baseman Tyler White to score Brennan for a 5-1 Wisconsin lead.

After Ortega's hit, Grills retired nine of the next 11 batters he faced. With one out in the sixth, he walked Brennan, who was thrown out as the second runner caught stealing by catcher Brett Booth. After becoming the first River Bandit this season to pitch six innings May 2, Grills became the first River Bandit to complete seven innings Wednesday. He allowed five runs - four earned - on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts against Wisconsin (18-20).

Quad Cities' best chance to come back was in the eighth inning against right-hander Rodolfo Fernandez. Beginning his second inning out of the bullpen following Astin, Fernandez allowed a leadoff single by right fielder Ronnie Mitchell, and one-out singles by Phillips and Moon to load the bases. But Mayfield struck out looking, and first baseman Conrad Gregor grounded to second base to end the inning.

After River Bandits left-hander Chris Cotton pitched a perfect eighth inning, Fernandez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to complete three scoreless relief innings, allowing four hits while striking out four batters for his first save of the season.

Quad Cities opens a four-game series against first-place Kane County (26-13) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Geneva, Ill. River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser (1-1) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Duane Underwood (0-0).

UP NEXT: The official lighting of the Ferris Wheel will be a part of Markdown Monday when the River Bandits open their next homestand May 19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and bleacher tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer are just $2 each for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available online at www.riverbandits.com. Don't miss the great light show that comes with the new Ferris Wheel! To order any of the ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.