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 Quad Cities River Bandits

Playoff Hopes Dwindle as Swing Lose

June 12, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


John O'Donnell Stadium was bursting with energy on Tuesday night as a season-high 5,722 fans passed through the gates on Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Night, but the Swing of the Quad Cities fell further out of the playoff picture with a 4-2 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Quad Cities (36-28) dropped four games behind Clinton with just five games remaining in the race for the final Western Division playoff spot that will be handed out at the All-Star break. Wisconsin (18-45) snapped a nine-game losing streak with the win, a skid that included five losses at the hands of the Swing.

The Timber Rattlers opened the scoring in the top of the second. Taiwanese outfielder Kuo Hui Lo was hit by the first pitch of the inning and moved up a base when the second pitch of the frame was wild. Italian third baseman Alex Liddi followed by slapping an RBI-double to right for a 1-0 lead.

Wisconsin's run in the second inning snapped a 19-inning scoreless streak by the Quad Cities pitching staff. The streak, which included shutouts on Sunday and Monday and a scoreless first inning on Tuesday, saw Swing pitchers rack up 20 strikeouts while issuing just four walks and allowing 10 hits.

The Timber Rattlers added to the advantage in the third. After the leadoff hitter was retired, Reed Eastley walked and Carlos Peguero singled with one away. Lo then plated both baserunners with a two-run triple to deep center field that one-hopped the wall, and came home moments later on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 4-0.

That score remained into the seventh inning before Quad Cities scratched their way back into the ballgame. Consecutive doubles by Luke Gorsett and Wilmer Alvarado in the bottom of the seventh led to the first Swing run of the game, and after Brandon Buckman tripled and scored in the eighth the deficit was cut to 4-2.

But in the bottom of the ninth, Wisconsin closer Andrew Barb shut the door for his eighth save of the year. A two-out single by Donovan Solano brought the tying run to the plate, but Barb promptly induced a bouncer to the first baseman that ended the game.

Blake King (2-2) took the loss for Quad Cities, lasting 2.1 innings while allowing four runs on four hits. The hard-throwing righty from Tulsa, Oklahoma, issued three walks and uncorked four wild pitches while fanning two.

Tandem starter Brandon Dickson allowed just one hit over four strong innings out of the bullpen, holding Wisconsin scoreless to keep the Swing in the ballgame. Dickson recorded eight of his 12 outs in the ground, including two groundball double plays.

TICKETS: Tickets for all events at John O'Donnell Stadium can be purchased by calling the Swing of the Quad Cities ticket office at (563) 328-2000, coming to the box office located at the stadium along South Gaines Street, or by logging on to www.swingbaseball.com.

UP NEXT: The Swing continue their nine-game homestand that will stretch to the All-Star break, welcoming the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Mon-Thu) and Beloit Snappers (Fri-Sun) into town. All Swing games feature a radio broadcast that can be heard on The Truth AM-1270 or online at www.swingbaseball.com, with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Fans at Wednesday's game can enjoy an afternoon matinee and take advantage of the Business Person Special, while another Bent River Brewing Company Thirsty Thursday also looms on the horizon. The first half then winds down with a crucial three-game series against first-place Beloit. Fans arriving early to Friday night's game will get a Swiss Valley Farms Team Poster, while Saturday's Deere Employee Night "flying discs" giveaway, sponsored by Quad City International Airport, precedes a spectacular fireworks display! Sunday will mark the final game of the first half, as the Swing head to the All-Star break with a US Bank Family Fun Day!


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