MIDLAND, Mich. (April 11, 2014) - Shortstop Jack Mayfield came within a triple of the cycle as one of six Quad Cities River Bandits with multi-hit games, and every other player in the lineup had at least one of the team's season-high 16 hits in a 6-4 road victory over the Great Lakes Loons at Dow Diamond Friday night.
For the third time in the first four games of their road trip, the River Bandits (4-4) scored in the first inning. Mayfield hit a two-out double over left fielder Jacob Scavuzzo, and first baseman Conrad Gregor lined an RBI single to left field off right-hander James Campbell (0-1).
River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser kept the Loons (4-4) to two walks the first time through the batting order, but center fielder Malcolm Holland hit a third-inning, one-out triple to right-center field and scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Houser allowed a walk to Scavuzzo and single by catcher Kyle Farmer before setting down the next five batters to close his four-inning start. Houser allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
Quad Cities broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning against Campbell. Designated hitter Chase McDonald doubled down the left-field line and went to third on a groundout by left fielder Tanner Mathis. Third baseman Austin "Catfish" Elkins then lined a go-ahead double along the left-field line to score McDonald. Catcher Jobduan Morales then lined a single to score Elkins for a 3-1 lead.
Mayfield led off the fifth against Campbell with the first home run of the season for Quad Cities, which was the only Midwest League team without one entering Friday. Campbell completed five innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Loons right-hander James Baune began the sixth inning and allowed consecutive one-out triples by River Bandits second baseman Chan-Jong Moon and center fielder James Ramsay. Right fielder Brett Phillips hit an RBI single to center field for a 6-1 lead. Baune received help from Phillips being caught stealing but allowed eight hits and two earned runs in three innings of work.
After Houser, Quad Cities right-hander Gonzalo Sanudo (2-0) began the fifth inning as part of the starting tandem. Sanudo retired six of the first seven batters he faced, including three on strikeouts. In the seventh inning, however, Sanudo walked designated hitter Alex Santana, allowed a one-out double to shortstop Dillon Moyer, and issued a two-out walk to Scavuzzo. With the bases loaded, he got Farmer to hit into a fielder's choice. Sanudo finished three shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three.
Trailing 6-1, the Loons started the bottom of the ninth inning with five straight hits off left-hander Chris Cotton, who had pitched a perfect eighth inning. With a 6-4 lead, no outs and runners at first and second bases, right-hander Andrew Walter entered. Farmer flied out to left field, and third baseman Paul Hoenecke walked to load the bases. But Walter earned his second save by getting right fielder Joey Curletta to ground into a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play.
Quad Cities will continue the series against Great Lakes at 5:05 p.m. Central Saturday. River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (0-1) is scheduled to face Loons right-hander Luis Chirinos (1-0).
UP NEXT: The second annual River Bandits Race to Home 5K and Kids Fun Run presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics is Saturday at 8 a.m. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. To order any of the 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000 or download the order form at www.riverbandits.com. 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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