Clinton falls as the Bandits win the West
Clinton, IA - After two straight extra innings games at Ashford University Field, the Clinton LumberKings (24-42) and Quad Cities River Bandits (43-22) played a lengthy nine-inning game, as the Bandits capped off a Western Division title with a 5-4 win.
The River Bandits jumped out to an early lead vs. Clinton starter Lukas Schiraldi (ND). Schiraldi allowed three hits, walked one, and hit a batter in a two-run first inning, but settled down after that. The righty allowed four more hits and no runs over the next four innings, and left with Clinton ahead 4-2.
Clinton responded with a three-run third inning. After a leadoff single by Taylor Zeutenhorst, Martin Peguero picked up the first of two RBIs on the night with a double. Gianfranco Wawoe then reached on an infield single, which moved Peguero to third base. An errant pickoff attempt by Quad Cities starter Brock Dykxhoorn (ND) allowed Peguero to score and moved Wawoe to third base, while an RBI single by Wayne Taylor put Clinton ahead. Clinton threatened for more in the inning, but Chantz Mack hit into an inning-ending double play.
Dykxhoorn allowed another run in the fourth inning. Estarlyn Morales began the frame with a double, and after the Bandits' starter retired Joe DeCarlo and Zeutenhorst, Peguero came through with an RBI single. The Dominican infielder entered the game with just four RBIs in 20 games with Clinton, but tallied two Thursday night.
Rohn Pierce (BS, L, 2-4) relieved Schiraldi to begin the sixth inning, and although the outing was not as poor as his previous appearance in Fort Wayne, he gave up multiple earned runs for the second straight time. Quad Cities cut the deficit to one on an RBI single by Jamie Ritchie with two outs in the sixth inning, and then mounted a two-out rally in the seventh. After two quick outs, Pierce walked both Sean McMullen and Kristian Trompiz, and then hit Ramon Laureano with a pitch. With the bases loaded and two outs, Bobby Boyd singled home two runs and put Quad Cities ahead 5-4. Osmer Morales limited any further damage, but the LumberKings could not crack the bullpen due of Jordan Mills and Joshua James (W, 2-1).
James, who has started eight games for the River Bandits, came out of the pen for just the fourth time this season. The righty allowed just three hits and four base runners over four shutout innings in route to the win.
With runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth inning, Martin Peguero appeared to tie the game up with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated DeCarlo. But James appealed to third base, and home plate umpire Aaron Higgins ruled that DeCarlo left third base early, and was therefore out, and the run did not count. This proved to be the difference in the game, as Clinton then came up scoreless in the ninth.
Seven Clinton starters had at least one hit, while five had a pair of hits. The two-RBI night for Peguero was his first of the season. Clinton pitching walked only three River Bandits on the night, but the final two came across to score in the seventh to tie and take the lead.
Off of a sixth straight series loss, Clinton aims to end the first half on a high note vs. the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The wild card winners in the Western Division in the first half come to Ashford University Field and will begin a three game series with the LumberKings Friday night. Zack Littell (1-1, 3.38) will get the start for Clinton, while Zach Tillery (4-1, 2.13) will make his sixth start, and 15th appearance, for the Kernels. First pitch is set for 6:30 CT. The LumberKings broadcast can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.