CLINTON, Iowa (April 22, 2014) - Shortstop Thomas Lindauer blasted two-run home runs in each of his first two at-bats as part of a 3-for-4, five-RBI game to lead the Quad Cities River Bandits to snap a four-game losing streak with an 11-2 win over the Clinton LumberKings at Ashford University Field Tuesday afternoon.
Playing his second consecutive game as the first-ever Quad Cities native position player to appear for the Midwest League franchise, Lindauer began the River Bandits' scoring by following catcher Jobduan Morales' leadoff walk with a drive to the lawn beyond the left-field fence off left-hander Eddie Campbell (1-1). Left fielder Tanner Mathis followed with a single to center field, and first baseman Chase McDonald drove in Mathis with a two-out double to right-center field for a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Quad Cities (8-10) added to its advantage by batting around. Right fielder Brett Phillips tripled to center field, and third baseman Alex Gonzalez, making his Midwest League debut, doubled to right field for an RBI. Morales hit a chopper to first baseman Justin Seager, whose misplay allowed Gonzalez to score for a 5-0 score. Lindauer stepped in again and lifted a 3-1 Campbell offering over the left-center field fence underneath the scoreboard to make it 7-0. It marked the first multi-homer game by a River Bandit this season.
Right-hander Adrian Houser held the LumberKings (9-8) scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when he allowed the first three batters to reach base. Left fielder Tyler O'Neill and designated hitter Austin Wilson each singled, and Houser walked third baseman Joe DeCarlo. With the bases loaded, Houser got first baseman Justin Seager to ground to Lindauer, who stepped on second base and threw to first base for a double play that brought in Clinton's first run. Catcher Christian Carmichael singled in another run to close it to 7-2. Houser was finished after four innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
After Campbell allowed seven runs - six earned - in 3 1/3 innings, right-hander Tommy Burns walked the first batter he faced before retiring 11 in a row to complete 3 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Quad Cities brought in right-hander Patrick Christensen (1-1) for a scoreless fifth inning, and right-hander Gonzalo Sanudo, entering in the sixth inning, retired the first seven batters he faced. Sanudo allowed a pair of singles in the eighth inning but struck out DeCarlo to complete three innings and stretch his season-opening scoreless streak to 13 innings.
In the Quad Cities eighth inning, LumberKings right-hander Ramire Cleto allowed a two-out double by Morales and Lindauer's RBI single to center field for an 8-2 River Bandits lead. Cleto also gave up two walks, two hits and three more runs in the ninth inning, as McDonald smacked his second RBI double, and Gonzalez drove a two-run double to cap a 2-for-5, three-RBI debut and extend the lead to 11-2.
Right-hander Andrew Walter worked around a one-out walk for a scoreless ninth inning. It was just the fifth game in the River Bandits' first 18 this season that has been decided by more than two runs.
The four-games series in Clinton continues at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (0-0) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Carlos Misell (3-0).
UP NEXT: Markdown Monday opens the next River Bandits homestand on April 28. Bleacher and berm tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos are $2 each. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game against the Clinton LumberKings. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. 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.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, is opening in May, along with a carousel, a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.
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