Bandits erase 7-run deficit, drop 10-error game
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - The Quad Cities River Bandits came back from an 8-1 deficit to tie Saturday night's game, 8-8, in the top of the eighth inning, but Wisconsin second baseman Chris McFarland reached base in the bottom of the inning on the game's 10th error and scored the go-ahead run in a 9-8 Timber Rattlers win at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
The River Bandits (12-10 second half, 47-44 overall) erased a seven-run deficit for the first time since coming back from a 9-2 hole in Clinton to win, 12-10, on Aug. 17, 2011. Quad Cities outhit Wisconsin, 9-6, while each team committed five errors.
The Timber Rattlers (11-11, 47-44) began to build their lead in the first inning, when River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave walked three of the first four batters and three a one-out wild pitch to score the first run. Wisconsin first baseman Taylor Brennan then dropped a two-run single into right-center field for a 3-0 lead. In the third inning, Gustave walked designated hitter Michael Ratterree, and catcher Clint Coulter singled, before Brennan added a two-run double down the left-field line. Brennan was the only Timber Rattler with two hits, and he led all players with four RBIs. He stole third base and scored on catcher Brian Holberton's wild throw, putting Wisconsin up 6-0.
Wisconsin left-hander Anthony Banda shut out Quad Cities for the first three innings. In the fourth, River Bandits third baseman Tyler White singled to center field, went to second base on Holberton's walk and scored on first baseman Chase McDonald's RBI single. Wisconsin answered in the bottom of the inning, as Gustave made a one-out throwing error and allowed his season-high fifth walk before consecutive RBI singles by McFarland and Ratterree ended Gustave's outing. He left after 3 1/3 innings, matching a career high by allowing eight runs - six earned - on five hits with five strikeouts. Left-hander Albert Minnis inherited the 8-1 deficit and struck out two hitters to end the inning. Minnis completed 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit, walking three and striking out two.
With an 8-1 lead, Banda began the fifth inning by walking designated hitter Jake Rodriguez. After a passed ball - the first of three by Coulter - Banda's wild pickoff toward second base, and consecutive RBI doubles by right fielder Brett Phillips and shortstop Thomas Lindauer, the lead was 8-3. Banda left after 4 1/3 innings, yielding five hits and three earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts. Timber Rattlers right-hander Chris Razo escaped the inning without another run scoring, but in the sixth inning, McDonald hit a leadoff double and scored after two more passed balls by Coulter, whose third of the night allowed center fielder James Ramsay to reach first with two outs. Phillips doubled to put runners at second and third, and both scored, unearned, when Lindauer's ground ball got through McFarland for an error. Razo recorded his fourth strikeout of the inning to retire White after allowing three unearned runs to close it to 8-6.
Right-hander Victor Diaz (3-3) pitched a scoreless seventh for Wisconsin. In the eighth, he walked Phillips with one out, and Lindauer reached on a ground ball that third baseman Dustin DeMuth misplayed and then threw past first base for a two-error play to put Phillips at third base. White then lined a two-out, 3-2 pitch from Diaz to right-center field to score both runners for an 8-8 tie. But Diaz struck out left fielder Ronnie Mitchell to end the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, McFarland reached on a ball that got through Lindauer and stole second. Left-hander Blaine Sims (1-1) intentionally walked Ratterree and got a groundout before a two-out wild pitch - the third by Quad Cities - scored McFarland. Diaz's perfect ninth inning helped his team win a game that also saw four passed balls and five wild pitches.
Quad Cities continues its series in Wisconsin at 1:05 p.m. Sunday. River Bandits right-hander Edison Frias (5-4) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers right-hander Zach Quintana (2-4).
UP NEXT: The River Bandits open a six-game homestand with Eastern Division opponents at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association and Epic Stone Night and a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank, CBS WHBF and Mix 96. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 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 recently made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, and Space Camp opened June 20. Soon to come is another new ride, this one called a "Drop and Twist." In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, 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.