CLINTON, Iowa (MAY 25, 2013) - After being shut out for the first 11 innings of a doubleheader against Clinton Saturday night, the Quad Cities River Bandits scored twice in the fifth inning and four times in the sixth inning of Game 2 for a 6-5, seven-inning victory and doubleheader split with the LumberKings, who had taken a 1-0 win in Game 1 at Ashford University Field.
Quad Cities (25-23) drew 11 walks and capitalized on three LumberKings errors to complete its largest comeback victory of the season despite being out-hit, 10-3, in Game 2. The split left Quad Cities and Clinton (25-23) tied for third place in the Western Division, three games behind second-place Beloit, which lost twice at Kane County Saturday.
Trailing 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning in Game 2, Quad Cities drew three straight walks against left-hander Tyler Pike. A bases-loaded wild pitch brought in left fielder Jordan Scott for the first run, and first baseman Miles Hamblin drove home center fielder Teoscar Hernandez with a sacrifice fly to right field that made it 5-2. Right-hander Oliver Garcia (3-2) came on to finish the inning with a 5-2 lead, but the River Bandits rallied against Garcia in the sixth inning.
With a 5-2 lead, Garcia walked catcher Roberto Pena and later Scott to put runners at first and second with one out. Hernandez then hit a check-swing grounder to second baseman Tim Lopes, who had the ball go over his shoulder toward shallow right field, and when Lopes tried to throw out Pena at the plate, the ball bounced in front of catcher Tyler Marlette and went behind him, allowing Scott to score the second run and Hernandez to reach second base on the two-error play by Lopes. With a 5-4 advantage, Garcia walked shortstop Carlos Correa to put runners at first and second, prompting a pitching change to right-hander Grady Wood.
After Correa stole second base, Hamblin hit a line-drive single - the only River Bandits hit in their run-scoring innings - that brought in Hernandez and Correa for a 6-5 lead. It capped the scoring that was aided by seven walks, two wild pitches and two errors in the fifth and sixth innings combined. The comeback made a winner of right-hander Mike Hauschild (3-0), who allowed all five LumberKings runs in a six-hit bottom of the third inning that included both River Bandits errors of the doubleheader. Right-hander Cameron Lamb worked two scoreless innings for his second save, getting help from a pick-off throw from Pena to Correa and a game-ending double play after three LumberKings singles started the inning.
The victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Sunday, May 26. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Sunday, May 26.
Clinton took Game 1, 1-0 in seven innings, thanks to a fifth-inning, two-out RBI double by center fielder Jabari Henry against left-hander Colton Cain (1-5) to back six shutout innings by right-hander Victor Sanchez (1-1). Each team had four hits and no errors in the opener. After a split of Saturday's doubleheader, the teams will play at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ashford University Field.
UP NEXT: All tickets are buy-one-get-one free on Tuesday, which is Outdoors Night for the River Bandits' 7 p.m. game against the Kane County Cougars. Kids Eat Free, and fans can redeem an empty can or bottle of Mountain Dew for a free 16-ounce soda voucher on a Dew for Twosday presented by Pepsi, WOC and Q106.5. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. 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.
