Fish spoils another close game for Bandits
BURLINGTON, Iowa - Mike Fish smacked two home runs, including Monday's two-run walk-off winner, as the Burlington Bees erased a five-run deficit to come back and beat the Quad Cities River Bandits 7-5 in 10 innings at Community Field.
Fish came to the plate in the 10th against Quad Cities reliever Tyler Brunnemann with one out and a runner on first. The Delmar, N.Y. native fouled off four 2-2 pitches before sending a Brunnemann (0-1) curveball over the wall in leftfield for the walk-off victory.
The River Bandits had a chance to win with a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth and closer Andrew Walter on the mound. However, Walter plunked the leadoff man Brandon Bayardi, who advanced to third when the next batter Ranyelmy Mendoza singled. With nobody out, Stephen McGee lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Bayardi and tie the game at five. It was Walter's third blown save of the season.
Fish got the scoring started for Burlington with a solo home run to lead off the fourth, helping to jumpstart a Bees offense that trailed 5-0. He would finish 3-for-5 on the day.
Quad Cities stormed out to a strong first against Burlington starter Ryan Etsell. James Ramsay was able to reach on an error by first baseman Eric Aguilera to lead off the game and advanced to second on Chan-Jong Moon's sacrifice bunt. Brett Phillips, who went 2-for-5, then laced a double down the rightfield line to score Ramsay and give the Bandits an early lead. A Conrad Gregor single scored Phillips to make things 2-0. Etsell then got Jack Mayfield to popout for the second out before yielding a single to Brian Holberton and walking Tyler White to load up the bases. Ronnie Mitchell then slammed a two-run single to right to give Quad Cities the 4-0 first inning lead.
Etsell would allow five runs, two earned, on six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out four to earn a no-decision.
Burlington really began chipping away in the fifth when Quad Cities starter Adrian Houser hit McGee with a pitch, walked Erick Salcedo and then threw a wild pitch to advance the runners to second and third. A Kody Eaves groundout scored McGee and then another wild pitch plated Salcedo as the Bees cut the lead in half to 5-3.
Houser gave up three runs on four hits with a walk and four punchouts in five frames. He was slapped with a no-decision, as the Bandits' bullpen and offense disintegrated. Burlington relievers Brian Loconsole and Grant Gordon combined with Etsell at one point to retire 16 of 17 Quad Cities hitters. Alan Busenitz (1-0) earned the win in relief with a perfect 10th.
The victory pushed Burlington above .500 at 25-24 for the first time since May 8, when they were 16-15. Quad Cities fell to 24-26 and will look to salvage the three-game series when they send Andrew Thurman (2-3, 4.71 ERA) to the mound against Clint Sharp (1-3, 3.92). First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. from Burlington's Community Field.
UP NEXT: The next chance to have your bill paid up to $100 by the River Bandits will be on Wednesday, May 28th when Quad Cities hosts the Beloit Snappers. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. battle on Game Show Night at Modern Woodmen Park. 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.