Errors bite Bandits as Clinton walks off

CLINTON, Iowa - Two throwing errors in the ninth inning by the Quad Cities River Bandits helped the Clinton LumberKings tie the contest and set up a walk-off single for Dalton Kelly as Clinton took a 4-3 victory at Ashford University Field. Spencer Johnson had two hits and Bobby Wernes reached base all four times with two singles and two walks for Quad Cities in the losing effort.

 

Conner Hale led off the bottom of the ninth with a soft single and Arturo Nieto dropped a bunt to follow. Dexture McCall went to second with the throw but tossed high for the inning's first error. Rafael Fernandez dropped a sacrifice bunt that Chris Murphy tossed away from McCall at first, scoring Hale to tie the game. Ricky Eusebio was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Chris Mariscal knocked a fielder's choice as the Bandits got the lead runner at home. Jake Rogers threw high to second, but Stephen Wrenn fired a strike home as Fernandez tried to advance and was caught at the plate. With Eusebio at second, Kelly singled to left-center, scoring the walk-off run in the 4-3 victory for Clinton (37-15, 76-46).

 

The Bandits (26-26, 57-64) found the scoreboard early with a three-run second. Wrenn knocked a one-out double and Johnson followed with a single. Nick Wells tried to pick off Johnson at first and Wrenn stole home in the process to give Quad Cities the early advantage. Back-to-back singles from Rogers and Wernes loaded the bases with two outs. Kristian Trompiz drew a four-pitch walk and Arturo Michelena worked a free pass to plate two more runs and the Bandits led 3-0 over the LumberKings.

 

Clinton cut the lead to one run in the sixth. Kelly led off the bottom of the frame with a walk and later in the inning Alex Jackson connected for his tenth home run of the season. The two-run long ball to left-center made it a 3-2 lead for Quad Cities.

 

Matt Bower went 5.2 innings for Quad Cities in his start. The lefty struck out nine batters while giving up two runs on five hits. Murphy (5-7) took the loss for the Bandits. The righty allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and walk while striking out one over three innings.

 

Clinton starter Wells took no decision, lasting just 2.2 innings in his start. The left-hander allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four. Lukas Schiraldi, Kyle Wilcox, and Jake Brentz (2-0) combined to quiet the Bandits' bats the rest of the game. The trio combined to not allow a run on four hits over 6.1 innings of relief while striking out nine. Brentz earned the victory for the LumberKings.

 

LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.57) gets the nod in the series finale as Quad Cities tries to avoid the series sweep. Clinton counters with RHP Ronald Dominguez (2-4, 2.79) in the 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch. You can catch the radio broadcast with Jake Levy, starting with the River bandits On-Deck Show at 6:15 p.m. on 1170 AM K-BOB, riverbandits.com and the TuneIn app.