Bandits strike back in Sims' shutout start

Quad Cities left-hander Blaine Sims pitched six shutout innings for the first time in three years, left fielder Chase McDonald hit his team-high 14th home run, and center fielder James Ramsay hit a grand slam for his first home run in nearly a year, helping the River Bandits to a 6-1 win over the Beloit Snappers in front of 6,971 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

After losing the first two games of a four-game home series, Quad Cities (24-24 second half, 59-58 overall) defeated Beloit (17-30, 47-70) for the 11th time in 15 meetings this season. The River Bandits had averaged three runs per game while starting August 2-6, but they posted their highest single-game run total of the month by the end of the second inning Saturday.

After Sims (3-4) worked around a pair of one-out singles in the first inning, Ramsay hit a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning off Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (2-7). McDonald then smacked a two-run home run to the Modern Woodmen Berm down the left-field line for a 2-0 lead - the River Bandits' first of the series. McDonald drove in his team's first five runs in the series against Beloit, and with a team-best 11 home runs in the second half, he is the first River Bandit with 14 home runs since 2012.

In the bottom of the second inning, second baseman Jose Fernandez drew a one-out walk, Mendez hit catcher Brett Booth with a pitch, and shortstop Thomas Lindauer lined a single to left field to load the bases. With two outs, Ramsay hit an 0-1 Mendez offering that cleared the ribbon board in right field for Ramsay's first career grand slam and first home run since he homered for short-season Class-A Tri-City Aug. 25, 2013. It was the River Bandits' fifth grand slam of the season - each by a different player - and gave Ramsay a career-high four RBIs.

With a 6-0 lead, Sims limited the Snappers to lone singles in the third and fourth innings, and lone two-out doubles in the fifth and sixth innings. He did not allow a baserunner to reach third base and pitched six shutout innings for the first time since June 13, 2011, when he did so for Atlanta Braves Class-A Advanced affiliate Lynchburg in the Carolina League. As the River Bandits' seventh straight starter to pitch at least five innings, Sims scattered six hits and struck out a season-high six batters without a walk for the first time this season.

Mendez allowed only two hits after the second inning but left after 4 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits, one walk and three hit batters with three strikeouts. After Mendez, the Snappers bullpen pitched scoreless baseball for the third straight game. Right-hander Trevor Bayless struck out two batters while allowing one hit in 2 1/3 shutout innings, and right-hander Joel Seddon struck out all three batters in a perfect eighth inning. Beloit relievers have allowed three hits and no runs in 8 1/3 innings the last three games.

Ramsay singled in the fourth inning for his first three-hit game since the All-Star Break, and McDonald added a single in the seventh inning for his second hit. Third baseman J.D. Davis in the third inning to extend a three-game hitting streak.

After Sims, right-hander Andrew Walter struck out all three batters in a perfect seventh inning. Right-hander Keegan Yuhl walked two batters and allowed a hit for Beloit's only run in the eighth inning. Right-hander Frederick Tiburcio pitched a perfect ninth inning.

Quad Cities seeks a split of the four-game series with Beloit at 5 p.m. Sunday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Michael Feliz (7-4) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Joey Wagman (1-0) in the seven-game homestand finale.

UP NEXT: For Sunday's 5 p.m. game, the gates open at 3:30 p.m., and the first 1,000 fans will receive a Hy-Vee tote bag, and one lucky fan will win a Flat Screen TV! On a Family Sunday, the River Bandits will sign autographs on the field 4:15-4:30 p.m., fans can bring dogs to Bark in the Park, and Kids Run the Bases after the game. The next homestand kicks of Friday, Aug. 15, with a 7 p.m. game on a Fireworks Friday presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently made 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, and Space Camp opened June 20; the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line has also reopened. 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.