Bandits shut down by Wisconsin pitching

Wisconsin starter Victor Diaz retired the first 16 River Bandits to come to the plate and combined with Anthony Banda to limit Quad Cities to only three hits in a 7-0 Timber Rattlers victory Friday at Modern Woodmen Park.

With a perfect game still intact with one out in the sixth, Diaz plunked River Bandits catcher Jake Rodriguez with a fastball to give Quad Cities their first baserunner of the game. The right-hander got Thomas Lindauer to foul out before yielding a line drive single to right field off the bat of James Ramsay to spoil the no-hit bid. Diaz (2-2) surrendered that lone hit in six innings with six strikeouts to earn the victory.

Wisconsin was able to get on the board in the second inning. Quad Cities starter Andrew Thurman hit Clint Coulter with a pitch and then gave up a single to Taylor Brennan. Jose Pena then ripped a double down the left field line to score both runners and give the Timber Rattlers a 2-0 lead. Pena moved up to third on a wild pitch and later scored on an RBI single by Francisco Castillo. Another base hit by Rafael Neda moved Castillo to third and then Angel Ortega lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Castillo and make the score 4-0.

The four runs Thurman (3-4) allowed in the second was the only damage he would surrender all game. The right-hander faced the minimum in four of his other five frames, ultimately fanning five with no walks and seven hits allowed in six innings.

The Timber Rattlers were able to put the game out of reach in the eighth inning. Quad Cities reliever Albert Minnis yielded a single to Ortega, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. An infield single by Johnny Davis, who went 3-for-5, coupled with a throwing error by Bandits third baseman Tyler White, scored Ortega to make it 5-0. Omar Garcia followed with a double to put runners on second and third and then Michael Ratterree, who had two hits, knocked a base hit to right to bring home Davis to give Wisconsin a 6-0 advantage.

Quad Cities catcher Jake Rodriguez caught three would-be basestealers in the game, becoming the first River Bandits catcher to do so since Roberto Pena on July 2, 2012.

The River Bandits will face Wisconsin's Tyler Alexander (4-3, 3.74 ERA) tomorrow at 6 p.m. from Modern Woodmen Park.

UP NEXT: Gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday for the Vintage Baseball Game at Modern Woodmen Park. The Russian Bar Trio will also perform during the 6 p.m. River Bandits-Timber Rattlers game on a Fan Appreciation Saturday. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 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 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, to be followed by 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. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, 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.