Bandits toss 1-0 shutout, then manage 1 hit in loss
Quad Cities River Bandits right-handers David Paulino and Ryan Thompson combined for a 1-0, seven-inning shutout in Game 1 of a doubleheader Tuesday, but Clinton LumberKings left-hander Jarrett Brown and right-hander Kody Kerski combined to limit the home team to one hit in a 6-1, seven-inning Game 2 win in front of 3,789 at Modern Woodmen Park.
In his second Midwest League start, Paulino (1-1) matched a career high with six innings while scattering five hits with no walks and a season-high eight strikeouts. Thompson pitched a perfect seventh inning for his third save for Quad Cities (8-5 second half, 53-28 overall).
The LumberKings (4-9, 30-52) only put two runners in scoring position in Game 1. Both came in the first two innings, and no baserunner reached third base. Shortstop Chris Mariscal hit a single to center field with one out in the first inning, and designated hitter Pat Leyland hit a two-out infield single behind second base. With runners at first and second bases, right fielder Taylor Zeutenhorst hit the 11th pitch of his at-bat for an inning-ending flyout to center field. In the second inning, catcher Wayne Taylor singled with one out and went to second on a groundout, but Paulino got second baseman Gianfranco Wawoe to ground out to end the inning.
Clinton right-hander Tyler Herb (4-5) retired the first six River Bandits he faced before allowing a third-inning leadoff walk to designated hitter Sean McMullen. First baseman Trent Woodward grounded into a fielder's choice, went to second base on a wild pitch and scored on center fielder Bobby Boyd's single into center field for a 1-0 Quad Cities lead. All-Star catcher Jamie Ritchie then walked, ending Herb's outing after 2 2/3 innings, in which he allowed one earned run on one hit and two walks with one strikeout. Right-hander Osmer Morales allowed two hits in 3 1/3 scoreless innings, but Quad Cities won its second 1-0 game this season and first since May 30 in Burlington.
In Game 2, the LumberKings found the scoreboard in the first inning against right-hander Justin Ferrell (1-2). Designated hitter Austin Cousino led off with a single to center field, before center fielder Arby Fields bunted into a fielder's choice. Mariscal singled to center field, and left fielder Chantz Mack grounded into a fielder's choice that left runners at first and third bases with two outs. Ferrell's wild pitch put Mack at second base, and All-Star right fielder Estarlyn Morales grounded a single into center field, scoring Fields and Mack for a 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, LumberKings first baseman Kristian Brito drew a leadoff walk, catcher James Alfonso singled to left field, and second baseman Martin Peguero bunted into a fielder's choice at third base. Cousino then hit an RBI double to right field, and Fields added an RBI groundout. In the top of the third inning, Mack drew a leadoff walk, went to second base on Morales' single and reached third base on Woodward's passed ball. Third baseman Joe DeCarlo hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mack. Ferrell was charged with five runs - four earned - on six hits and three walks without a strikeout in three innings. Left-hander Michael Freeman went a career-high three innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk with one strikeout, and right-hander Riley Ferrell pitched one scoreless frame.
Brown allowed a first-inning leadoff single to right field by River Bandits All-Star and designated hitter Nick Tanielu, who batted in the leadoff spot for the first time in his professional career. Brown then picked off Tanielu, and the tying run never came to bat the rest of the way, as Brown worked around a walk and two errors for the rest of his four shutout innings. Kerski (2-2) worked the last three innings, allowing the only Quad Cities run after walking Woodward in the fifth inning, with an error and groundout scoring the run to make it 6-1.
After snapping its seven-game losing streak Tuesday, Clinton will host the River Bandits for the final two games of their split-city, four-game series at Ashord University Field Wednesday and Thursday. River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (2-1) is scheduled to face LumberKings left-hander Pat Peterson (4-4) in Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. game.
UP NEXT: The second annual River Bandits golf outing, sponsored by Performance Food Group, will be Monday, July 27, at Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Ill. Registration includes lunch, four drink tickets and entry into the raffle drawings. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program which annually awards two Bandit Scholarships to cover the entire first year of college tuition for Quad Cities-area students. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open in July. Finally, the club is expanding the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line. New rides will be announced upon completion of these new areas.