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Quad Cities River Bandits

Two-Out Runs Sink Swing

June 24, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Five two-out runs and four unearned runs were too much for the Swing of the Quad Cities to overcome on Sunday afternoon in a 6-5 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field.

Quad Cities (2-2, 40-33) was unable to climb out of an early hole after two errors led to four unearned runs in the second and third innings. Wisconsin (2-2, 24-48) salvaged a series split with the win, scoring a crucial insurance run in the bottom of the eighth that prevented a late collapse.

The Timber Rattlers' run in the eighth inning gave them a 6-3 lead that turned out to be just enough. In the top of the ninth Jared Schweitzer singled and moved to third when Luke Gorsett's double brought the potential game-tying run to the plate. A wild pitch scored one run and a groundout pulled the Swing to within one, but Wilmer Alvarado struck out swinging for the final out of a 6-5 loss.

Joe Kantakevich (2) earned the save despite allowing two runs. The win went to Ricky Orta (2-1), who faced the minimum through four innings of work before eventually allowing three runs - two earned - over six strong frames.

Wisconsin got on the board first Sunday afternoon, taking advantage of a two-out fielding error by Schweitzer in the bottom of the second that allowed the inning to continue while loading the bases. Calvin Beamon then drew a walk to force in a run, and Juan Diaz followed with a two-run single to take a 3-0 lead.

One inning later it was more of the same. With two outs and the bases empty, Elvis Hernandez' throwing error allowed Alex Liddi to reach base and advance to second. Jamie McOwen promptly delivered his first Midwest League hit, a run-scoring single that pushed the advantage to 4-0.

Meanwhile, Orta was sailing along until the top of the fifth. He had retired 10 batters in a row before Schweitzer led off the frame with a mammoth home run to left-center that banged high off the scoreboard. Later in the inning Donovan Solano stroked a two-out single to left that plated Gorsett as the Swing cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Timber Rattlers answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame, but the Swing went back to work in the top of the sixth. Daryl Jones led off by lining a ball to right-center and legging it out for a triple. He trotted home on Christ Grossman's RBI-groundout to make it a 5-3 ballgame.

But in the bottom of the eighth, Wisconsin added what turned out to be the game-winning run. After a one-out single by Beamon, Diaz slugged a double to deep left-center that drove in the runner for a 6-3 advantage.

Hernandez (4-5) suffered the loss, allowing four unearned runs over 3.2 innings of work. Kyle Mura retired seven of the first eight batters he faced out of the bullpen in his tandem starting debut, but the one run he allowed over three innings turned out to decide the ballgame.

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: Quad Cities' seven-game road trip continues with a three-game set in Clinton beginning Tuesday. The Swing return to Davenport on Friday night to kickoff a six-game homestand. All Swing games feature a radio broadcast that can be heard on WKBF AM-1270 or online at www.swingbaseball.com, with the pre-game show starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch.

NEXT HOMESTAND: The Swing will be back at John O'Donnell Stadium for a six-game homestand beginning on Friday, June 29, as the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest comes to town at 4:00 p.m. and concludes with post-game fireworks!!!

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