Houser dominates; Bandits down Snappers
Right-hander Adrian Houser earned his first Midwest League victory as the first Quad Cities River Bandit to pitch six shutout innings this season, and his team won its season-high fourth straight game by a 5-1 final over the Beloit Snappers in front of a season-high 7,111 at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.
Houser (1-1) retired the first eight batters of the game and had a 2-0 lead before the Snappers (13-21) had a baserunner. After pitching no more than four innings in any outing this season, Houser earned his first win since Aug. 18, 2012, and worked six innings for the first time since July 11, 2012. He scattered four hits and walked only two batters while striking out a season-high seven.
Houser stuck out at least one batter in every inning but the fifth, when Beloit managed its only two-baserunner inning against him. With two outs and runners at second and third bases, River Bandits center fielder James Ramsay chased down a deep fly ball by Snappers center fielder B.J. Boyd, ending Beloit's only chance with the tying run in scoring position over the final eight innings.
Quad Cities (16-18) took the lead in the first inning against left-hander Chris Lamb (0-1). Ramsay drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, and scored on first baseman Chase McDonald's RBI double to left-center field. Catcher Brian Holberton then singled to center field, bringing in McDonald and extending Holberton's team-season-high on-base streak to 16 games.
After Holberton's hit, Lamb retired 10 of the next 11 batters. He struck out eight batters and kept the 2-0 score until the fifth inning, when shortstop Thomas Lindauer hit a leadoff single to left field. Lindauer stole second base and after Ramsay drew a one-out walk, second baseman Chan-Jong Moon grounded into a fielder's choice while beating the relay throw to first base. But Lindauer kept running and scored from second base ahead of the throw to make it 3-0. Lamb allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks in five innings.
Quad Cities' left-hander Albert Minnis started the seventh inning with a 3-0 lead. He struck out two batters but walked two and allowed a single to load the bases. Right-hander Tyler Brunnemann came in to strike out right fielder Tyler Marincov to escape the jam.
In a 3-0 game, Snappers right-hander Sam Bragg walked Ramsay to begin the bottom of the seventh inning. Moon drove an RBI triple - his third of the homestand - to center field and scored on third baseman Tyler White's sacrifice fly for a 5-0 lead.
The shutout was intact until Beloit second baseman led off the ninth inning with a home run off Brunnemann, whose scoreless streak ended at 17 1/3 innings dating back to April 3. Brunnemann allowed a double and two walks to load the bases with two outs before being removed after two innings of work. With the tying run at the plate, left-hander Chris Cotton entered to strike out left fielder Jaycob Brugman to earn his first save in 16 career appearances.
Friday's crowd was the seventh-largest at Modern Woodmen Park since the start of the 2002 season and the largest for any April or May game in that time. Quad Cities will conclude the homestand at 6 p.m. Saturday. River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (2-2) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Dylan Covey (2-2), as the home team seek its first sweep of an opponent this season.
UP NEXT: The first 1,000 fans to Saturday's 6 p.m. game receive a fleece winter blanket presented by the Clarion Hotel. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. on a Fan Appreciation Saturday with $2 drink specials presented by 101.3 KISS-FM. Mother's Day prize packages will be raffled at the game on Mother's Day Eve. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the 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 is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, is opening in May, along with a carousel, a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just 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.