BANDITS CHAMPS AFTER SWEEPING PLAYOFFS

The Quad Cities River Bandits swept the Midwest League Championship Series and the 2011 playoffs when they won 6-3 against the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 2,425 fans at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa on Saturday, September 17.

Quad Cities entered the bottom of the first inning with a one-run deficit and started its scoring right away when Jonathan Rodrguez (1-for-3) grounded out to score Kolten Wong (2-for-3) and tie the game at one. Then, in the next at-bat, Cody Stanley (1-for-4) singled and drove in Oscar Taveras (2-for-3) to give the Bandits the early lead.

In the second inning, the Bandits scored when Kolten Wong hit an RBI-single to score Colin Walsh (1-for-4). Geoff Klein (2-for-4) homered to right field with two outs in the sixth to give the Bandits a 4-1 lead.

Then in the seventh inning, Lansing added two runs when Matt Nuzzo (1-for-4) hit an RBI double to score Carlos Perez (2-for-4) shortly followed by Jonathan Joseph's RBI grounded out that allowed Nuzzo to score and cut the lead to 4-3.

With two on and one out in the seventh inning, Rodriguez doubled and drove in two runs to give the Bandits a 6-3 lead. As they had done in the first two games of the series, the Lugnuts again brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but Bandit closer Dean Keikhefer (S, 4) held off the Lansing threat. The lefty coaxed a fly ball to left fielder Colin Walsh off the bat of Marcus Knecht for the final out. The Bandits held on to win their first Midwest League Championship since 1990. The Championship is the Bandits fifth Midwest League title, which is tied for second most all-time (West Michigan).

Bandit starter Trevor Rosenthal (W, 2-0) pitched six solid innings and allowed three runs on five hits. The righty struck out seven and walked two in the win.

Lugnuts starter Marcus Walden (L, 1-1) went four innings and allowed four runs on nine hits. Walden struck out five and walked one in the loss.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits are back in the playoffs for the second straight year. Ticket prices for postseason games remain the same as regular season tickets. Playoff tickets can be purchased online, in person or by phone at (563) 3-BANDIT. Regular season group rates still apply for postseason games. Call a River Bandits group representative to lock-in your group night with playoff flavor.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: After three years of ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport are unveiling some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20' x 35' video board went live on June 7 and work continues on a new enclosure for the Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball.