22 Sep 2014

BRETT PHILLIPS NAMED ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

By Scott Kornberg
Former River Bandit Josh Hader wins organizational Pitcher of the Year
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 17, 2014) - Brett Phillips, who played 103 games as an outfielder this season for the Quad Cities River Bandits, has been named the Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year, the major league club announced on Wednesday.
Former River Bandits left-handed pitcher Josh Hader, who pitched for Quad Cities in 2013 and won the Midwest League title-clinching game a year ago, was named Houston's Minor League Pitcher of the Year this season. Both Phillips and Hader will be honored during the pregame ceremonies on Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
In 130 games between Quad Cities and Class-A Advanced Lancaster, Phillips hit .310 with 29 doubles, 14 triples, 17 home runs, 69 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He posted a .375 on-base percentage, .529 slugging percentage and .905 OPS. In the California League playoffs, Phillips led the JetHawks with 11 hits while playing all eight games in the team's run to the California League Championship.
Already named a Midwest League postseason All-Star and the Class-A Player of the Year by Baseball America, Phillips is the first River Bandit to win an annual organizational award since Shelby Miller was the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2010.
Over 103 games this season with the River Bandits, Phillips led the team in hits (116), triples and slugging while ranking second in doubles (21), home RBIs (58) and OPS, tied for second in home runs (the first 13 of his career) and third in walks (36) and stolen bases (18). Phillips became the first Quad Cities player since at least 1998 to homer in five straight games when he did so July 26-30.
Houston's sixth-round pick in 2012 out of Seminole (Fla.) High School, Phillips was promoted to Class-A Advanced Lancaster on August 4, but he finished the season first in the Midwest League in slugging percentage (.521), second in OPS (.883) and third in both batting average (.302) and triples (12). Among all-time Quad Cities single-season marks, his 12 triples place him in a tie for second while his .521 slugging percentage is ninth. Phillips' 14 outfield assists this season are also the most in the Midwest League.
The 20-year-old Seminole, Fla., native was a starting outfielder for the 2014 Midwest League All-Star Game June 17 in West Michigan and was the youngest position player selected for the Western Division roster. Ranked as the Houston Astros' No. 30 prospect before the season by Baseball America, Phillips also won Quad Cities Player of the Month in April, when he posted a .301 batting average with three triples, two home runs and a team-high 13 RBIs. Phillips had a .394 on-base percentage, .446 slugging percentage, and .840 OPS in 23 games.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 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, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop-N-Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
09 Sep 2014

LEE, RAMSAY WIN ASTROS' AUGUST HONORS

By Scott Kornberg
Former Bandits Sclafani, Jankowski, Holmes, Kemmer, Joyce and Melendez take home honors across various levels in Astros system

DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 4, 2014) - Outfielder James Ramsay is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for August, and left-handed pitcher Chris Lee is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Thursday.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their four full-season affiliates, three short-season affiliates and two Dominican Summer League affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

Ramsay, Houston's seventh-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, batted .322 with three doubles, one triple, three homers, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, a .368 on-base percentage, .483 slugging percentage and .851 OPS in 23 August games, earning a promotion to Lancaster on August 26. The Brandon, Fla. native finished the season leading the River Bandits in runs (70), doubles (26), stolen bases (33) and walks (59). He batted .247 with a .339 OBP, .373 SLG, .713 OPS, 10 triples, three homers and 35 RBIs.

Lee, Houston's fourth-round pick in 2011, went 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in six August outings covering 23.2 innings. The Tampa, Fl. native fanned 18 while walking nine and giving up 24 hits. Over the second half of the season, Lee was 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 55.2 innings. From June 14 through July 6, Lee did not walk a batter for 14.2 straight innings, the longest for any Quad Cities pitcher this year. He finished the campaign tied for the team lead with eight wins. He lost six games and posted a 3.66 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 51 walks in 113.0 innings. The southpaw's 1.98 groundout-to-airout ratio was the best of any River Bandits starting pitcher.

Below is a list of the Players and Pitchers of the Month this season for Quad Cities:

 

April

Brett Phillips

Gonzalo Sanudo

 

May

Brian Holberton

Jandel Gustave

 

June

Tyler White

Evan Grills

 

July

Chase McDonald

Albert Minnis

 

August

James Ramsay

Chris Lee

 

Former River Bandits infielder Joe Sclafani was selected as Triple-A Oklahoma City's Player of the Month and ex-Quad Cities right-handed pitcher Jordan Jankowski grabbed Double-A Corpus Christi's Pitcher of the Month honors. Two more former Bandits, outfielder Jon Kemmer and left-handed pitcher Brian Holmes, took home the honors at Class A Advanced Lancaster. 2013 River Bandits outfielder Terrell Joyce won Short Season Class A Tri-City's Player of the Month and outfielder Alexander Melendez, who played in six August games with Quad Cities, earned his second consecutive GCL Player of the Month award.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 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, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop-N-Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

02 Sep 2014

Bandits finish up 2014 season with winning record

By Scott Kornberg
BANDITS CLOSE SEASON WITH 8-5 LOSS TO BEES
Davis homers again as Quad Cities completes second consecutive winning season

BURLINGTON, Iowa (September 1, 2014) - J.D. Davis and Dayne Parker each homered, but the Quad Cities River Bandits ended their season with an 8-5 loss Monday to the Burlington Bees at Community Field.

The River Bandits (35-35 second half, 70-69 overall) got off to a good start when Bobby Boyd and Ryan Bottger, who had three hits for the second time in three contests, opened the game with singles against Burlington (30-40, 68-71) starter Alex Blackford. Marc Wik then laced a double down the right field line to bring both in and quickly give Quad Cities a 2-0 lead.

The Bees struck back right away though against Quad Cities starter Michael Feliz. Bo Way, who had three hits and reached base for the 27th time in his last 28 games, led off the bottom of the first with a base hit and then Kody Eaves hit his tenth homer of the year to tie the game at two. Feliz got Brandon Bayardi on strikes and then Eric Aguilera grounded out to second for the first two outs of the frame. Zach Houchins then lined a base hit to left that got by Quad Cities left fielder Brauly Mejia for a single and an error, the first of two on the day for Mejia. Houchins then came around to score on Trevor Gretzky's RBI double to put Burlington ahead 3-2.

With Burlington holding onto a 4-3 lead in the fifth, Gretzky, who had three hits, singled with two outs, stole second and then came into score on Stephen McGee's RBI double. Ismael Dionicio then singled to left, but Mejia threw out McGee at the plate to end the inning and the day for Feliz (8-6). The right-hander allowed a career-high 12 hits and gave up five runs, four earned, with no walks and six strikeouts in his five frames to suffer the loss.

Quad Cities used a home run from Dayne Parker, his second of the season, in the seventh to cut the lead back to one, but a McGee sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the frame made it 6-4 Bees.

In the top of the eighth, Davis launched his eighth dinger of the year and fifth in the last eight games to pull the Bandits back to within just one. But again, in the bottom of the inning, the Bees had an answer, using a Bayardi two-run shot to put the score at 8-5.

Alex Blackford (2-4) earned the win for the Bees, surrendering three runs on six hits in five innings. He walked one and fanned six while Ben Carlson worked a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

The River Bandits closed the 2014 season with a 70-69 record, their second consecutive winning campaign.

DAVIS POUNDS TWO HOMERS, BANDITS WIN BUT ARE ELIMINATED
Wisconsin victory ends Quad Cities postseason hopes
BURLINGTON, Iowa (August 31, 2014) - J.D. Davis had his first professional multi-homer game to lead the Quad Cities River Bandits to a 9-4 win over the Burlington Bees Sunday at Community Field. Despite the victory, the River Bandits were eliminated from the playoff picture by Wisconsin's win at Beloit.

Davis got the scoring started by launching a 2-2 pitch from Burlington (29-31 second half, 67-71 overall) starter Daniel Hurtado over the right-field wall for his sixth home run of the season to put Quad Cities (35-34, 70-68) up 1-0.

Chase McDonald followed Davis' act with a solo home run, his team-best 16th of the year, to lead off the top of the fourth, making it 2-0.

Ranyelmy Mendoza's solo shot in the bottom of the fifth cut the Bandits' lead to 2-1, but Hurtado (2-4), who gave up five runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in six innings to take the loss, got himself into more trouble with the longball in the sixth. He walked McDonald with two outs and nobody on before yielding a single to A.J. Reed. Davis then clubbed his second dinger of the game to give Quad Cities the 5-1 advantage. Davis finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while also walking and swiping his fourth base of the season.

Burlington was able to get back in the game in the bottom of the seventh when Trevor Gretzky hit his third homer of the season, a three-run shot to draw the Bees to within 5-4. But the Bandits were able to answer immediately, with back-to-back doubles by Marc Wik and Ryan Bottger in the top of the eighth scoring a run, and Bottger coming home on a McDonald sacrifice fly to the wall in left-center, giving Quad Cities a 7-4 cushion.

In the top of the ninth, Bobby Boyd hit his first career triple to drive in Lindauer. He then came into score on Dayne Parker's sacrifice fly to left to put Quad Cities ahead 9-4.

Troy Scribner (1-2) earned the victory, going three innings in relief of Chris Lee, who tossed four scoreless frames. Scribner gave up four runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The River Bandits and Bees combined to hit five home runs in the game, the most between Quad Cities and an opponent this season.

Quad Cities will wrap up the regular season tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Burlington. Michael Feliz (8-5, 3.87 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for the River Bandits against Burlington's Alex Blackford (1-4, 2.63).

UP NEXT: The final River Bandits games will be live online at riverbandits.com and TuneIn Radio. On Labor Day, the ballpark will open with free admission at 4 p.m. for the Red, White and Boom Fireworks show scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

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, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop-N-Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line 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.

22 Aug 2014

RAMSAY, SCRIBNER HELP BANDITS POP KERNELS 5-2

By Scott Kornberg

Quad Cities wins on road against Western Division opponent for first time since July 11

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 20, 2014) - James Ramsay had two hits and two runs scored while Troy Scribner tossed four scoreless innings to close things out after a three-run sixth inning vaulted the Quad Cities River Bandits by the Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-2 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

After Cedar Rapids (67-61, 35-22) tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth, Quad Cities (62-65, 27-31) responded immediately off of Kernels reliever Hudson Boyd (4-3). The right-hander issued a leadoff walk to Ryan Bottger, who advanced to second on a 3U fielder's choice off the bat of Brian Holberton. Dayne Parker followed with a double down the left field line to bring in Bottger and put Quad Cities up 3-2. James Ramsay then blooped a ball into the outfield that Kernels left fielder J.D. Williams overran for an error, putting runners on second and third. Boyd walked Bobby Boyd before serving up a two-run single to Jose Fernandez, who was 2-for-5, to give the River Bandits a 5-2 advantage.

Scribner came into the game in the bottom of the sixth for Quad Cities starter Chris Lee (7-6), who earned the win by allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits in five innings. He walked two and fanned one. Scribner struck out at least one batter in every inning, including three in the seventh, and retired the last eight Kernels to come to the plate to earn his first career save. In total, the right-hander punched out eight against two walks with a hit in four innings.

Quad Cities got on the board first for the second straight night when Bottger, who was 2-for-4 with a walk, led off the second with a single to center. He moved to second base on an errant pickoff throw by Cedar Rapids starter Stephen Gonsalves, who gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits with seven punchouts and two walks in five innings for a no-decision. Gonsalves got Holberton to pop out to short and Parker to strike out, but then Ramsay singled home Bottger to make it 1-0. The Bandits right fielder then stole second and scored when Bobby Boyd looped a single to center to make things 2-0.

Ramsay finished 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. He also registered two outfield assists, becoming the first River Bandit to accomplish the feat since Brett Phillips did so against Burlington on May 21st in a 12-4 loss that was actually completed on May 25 due to a suspended game.

The River Bandits beat a Western Division opponent on the road for the first time since a 10-5 victory July 11th at Wisconsin, snapping Cedar Rapids' season-best eight-game winning streak.

Quad Cities begins a three-game set a Beloit tomorrow at 7 p.m. with Michael Feliz (8-4, 3.80 ERA) set to start against the Snappers' Hunter Adkins (1-4, 4.32).

20 Aug 2014

QUAD CITIES COLLAPSES, LOSES 5-3

By Scott Kornberg

Critical error in three-run Kernels eighth drops Bandits for 15th time in 20 games

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 19, 2014) - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored three runs in the eighth inning, helped by a critical error, to come back and win their season-best eighth in a row 5-3 over the Quad Cities River Bandits, who have now lost seven of eight and 15 of 20.

With Quad Cities ahead 3-2, River Bandits reliever Albert Minnis walked J.D. Williams to start the bottom of the eighth before fanning Zack Larson. An Engelb Vielma single put runners on first and second and then Tanner Vavra doubled down the right field line to bring in Williams and tie the game at three. With just one out and runners on second and third, Quad Cities brought the infield in. Minnis got a groundball off the bat of Jonatan Hinojosa right at Bandits second baseman Jose Fernandez, who threw low to the plate, with the ball getting by Quad Cities catcher Brett Booth and roll all the way to the backstop to score Vielma. Booth went to retrieve the ball as Vavra raced home, but Minnis was unable to handle his throw back to the plate as Cedar Rapids grabbed the 5-3 advantage. Fernandez was charged with an error as Minnis (2-2) gave up three runs, just one earned, in two innings to ultimately suffer the loss.

The River Bandits grabbed an early lead when Marc Wik drilled a solo home run, his fourth of the year, to straightaway center against Cedar Rapids starter Kohl Stewart in the first.

Quad Cities was able to add to their lead in the second. Booth doubled with one out and James Ramsay walked before Stewart left the game with an apparent injury. Kernels reliever Jared Wilson issued a wild pitch to advance the runners up to second and third, respectively, before striking out Dayne Parker. Another wild pitch then brought in Booth to make it 2-0 River Bandits.

Cedar Rapids answered with a Vielma RBI single in the bottom of the second.

After Fernandez doubled to lead off the third, Wik immediately singled him home to make it 3-1 Quad Cities. However, the River Bandits would not get another runner in scoring position.

The Kernels began chipping away when Vielma launched his first home run of the year, a solo shot, to left off of Quad Cities starter Blaine Sims to pull Cedar Rapids to within 3-2. Vielma went 4-for-4 with two RBIs while scoring the game's deciding run in the eighth. Sims earned a no-decision, scattering 11 hits over six innings while allowed two runs with a walk and five strikeouts. He stranded at least one Kernel in every single inning.

The winning pitcher was Mat Batts (2-0), who fired five scoreless innings of relief, giving up just two hits while fanning six. He retired the last 13 River Bandits to come to the plate.

Jake Reed worked a perfect ninth for his second save of the season. The Kernels right-hander has now worked 17.2 straight scoreless innings, the longest streak of any Cedar Rapids pitcher this year.

The win pushed the Kernels to a season-best seven games over .500 at 67-60, 35-21 in the second half while Quad Cities dropped to 61-65, 26-31. The River Bandits will try to salvage the three-game set by sending Chris Lee (6-6, 4.04 ERA) to the mound tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. against Cedar Rapids' Stephen Gonsalves (2-2, 1.57).

UP NEXT: The season's final homestand opens with MidAmerican Energy Day and Family Sunday presented by KWQC and B100 at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 24. Pregame autographs are at 12:30 p.m., Bark in the Park means dogs are welcome to the Modern Woodmen Berm, and Kids Run the Bases after the game. The River Bandits are then home through Aug. 29. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

20 Aug 2014

HU PITCHES KERNELS BY BANDITS

By Scott Kornberg

Quad Cities strikes out 14 times in 4-2 loss

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 18, 2014) - Andrew Thurman tossed six strong innings but the Quad Cities River Bandits offense struck out 14 times in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, who won their season-high seventh game of the season Monday at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Cedar Rapids starter Chih-Wei Hu (6-1) gave up a lone unearned run on three hits over six innings to earn the win. The Taiwanese right-hander struck out eight without walking a batter, and only allowed Quad Cities to put runners in scoring position in one inning. The River Bandits have now fanned 45 times over the last four games, in which they've gone 1-3, losing all three contests by two runs or less.

Shoddy defense helped the Kernels get the scoring started in the second. Thurman got the first two outs of the inning on a strikeout and dribbler back to the mound before a throwing error on Quad Cities shortstop Thomas Lindauer allowed Cedar Rapids center fielder Zack Larson to reach first. A double off the bat of Logan Wade brought Larson all the way around to score the first run of the game. Wade came home when the next batter, J.D. Williams, tripled to right-center to make it 2-0. Both runs were unearned off Thurman (5-9), who took the loss despite fanning seven against zero walks with three runs, one earned, on six hits in six innings.

Quad Cities was able to get on the board in the fifth for the only time against Hu. An error on Cedar Rapids third baseman Jonatan Hinojosa placed J.D. Davis on first. Marc Wik then tried to bunt him over, but popped the ball up in the air. That forced Davis to hold at first, and when the ball dropped to the turf, Hu threw him out at second on a 1-6 fielder's choice. Brett Booth singled to put runners on first and second with one out, and then James Ramsay lifted a double to center to score Wik and cut the Kernels' lead to 2-1. Ramsay finished 2-for-4 with both of Quad Cities' runs batted in.

With Hu out of the game and the score 3-1 Cedar Rapids in the seventh, Quad Cities was helped when Davis reached first on an error, this one by Cedar Rapids second baseman Ryan Walker. Wik struck out, but Davis stole second during Booth's at-bat, which ultimately ended in another strikeouts. Ramsay then singled up the middle to bring home Davis and trim the Cedar Rapids lead to one. However, Cedar Rapids reliever Brandon Bixler got Thoams Lindauer to pop out to second on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat.

Kernels reliever Dallas Gallant gave up a double to Chase McDonald in the eighth, with a wild pitch advancing the River Bandits' designated hitter to third, but struck out A.J. Reed to end the River Bandits' chances in that frame. Gallant fanned both Ryan Bottger, who had entered the game for Davis in the bottom of the seventh and Wik, before yielding a single to Booth with two outs in the ninth. Gallant picked up his fifth save by getting Ramsay on strikes to end the game.

The Kernels improved to a season-best six games over .500 at 66-60, 34-21 in the second half while Quad Cities dropped to 61-64, 26-30. The River Bandits are scheduled to send Blaine Sims (3-4, 4.30 ERA) to the mound tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. against Cedar Rapids' Kohl Stewart (3-5, 2.42).

UP NEXT: The season's final homestand opens with MidAmerican Energy Day and Family Sunday presented by KWQC and B100 at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 24. Pregame autographs are at 12:30 p.m., Bark in the Park means dogs are welcome to the Modern Woodmen Berm, and Kids Run the Bases after the game. The River Bandits are then home through Aug. 29. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

15 Aug 2014

RIVER BANDITS HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS AUG. 15-17

By Scott Kornberg

Two Bobblehead Giveaways, Friday Fireworks Show, Senator Harkin Celebration & Appreciation

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (August 14, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits, Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, battle the Burlington Bees, Class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, in a three-game series from Friday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 17.Tickets are still available at riverbandits.com or by calling the box office at (563) 324-3000. Below are the highlights of promotions and events for the homestand.

 

Rascal's Deal of the Day

The merchandise special for the homestand is a Back to School Sale - All youth apparel, hats and lanyards are 10% off.

 

Friday, August 15, 7:00 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.) Sponsors: Tyson Fresh Meats, Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WQAD, & WLLR

- Global Cultural Night presented by Tyson Fresh Meats- A different culture will be highlighted each inning with beer tasting on the concourse.

- City of Davenport Night - The City of Davenport will hold a Kids Ceremony on the field from 6 p.m.-6:20 p.m.

- Organization of the Night: Davenport East Softball Little League - Proceeds from the postgame Zeglin's Charity Ball Toss will benefit Davenport East Softball Little League (http://www.davenporteastsoftball.com).

- Friday Fireworks Show presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WQAD & WLLR - All fans will be treated to a free postgame fireworks show.

 

Saturday, August 16, 6:00 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.) Sponsors: John Deere, DHCU, FOX18 & 101.3 KISS-FM

- Modern Woodmen Park Amusements Open -  The Ferris Wheel and other ballpark amusements will be open during the farmer's market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

- Trevor Rosenthal Bobblehead Giveaway presented by DHCU & FOX18 - The first 1,500 fans will receive a bobblehead of former River Bandit Trevor Rosenthal, who has registered a 2.82 ERA and 38 saves in a three-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals.

- John Deere Night -  John Deere Employees will receive 10% off River Bandits merchandise with a valid John Deere ID/Business Card.

- Weenie Whistles Giveaway - The Kraft Food Wienermobile will giveaway weenie whistles outside of Modern Woodmen Park before the game.

- Organization of the Night: Bandits Scholars - Proceeds from the postgame Zeglin's Charity Ball Toss will benefit the Bandits Scholars Program (http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t565&ymd=20090622&content_id=5466198&vkey=team3).

- Fan Appreciation Saturday presented by 103.1 KISS-FM - There will be tables for a balloon artist and face painter on the concourse.

- MC22 Telecast - Mediacom Connections (MC22) will record a television game broadcast to be re-aired on MC22.

 

Sunday, August 17, 1:15 p.m. (Gates open at noon) Sponsors: AFSCME, Olympic Steel, KWQC & B100

- Senator Tom Harkin Bobblehead Giveaway presented by AFSCME - The first 1,000 fans will receive a bobblehead of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, who has announced he will retire following his fifth term as Senator from Iowa and 40th year serving in Congress for Iowa. Senator Harkin and Mayor Gluba will each throw out a first pitch.

- Pirates & Princesses Day - All fans who dress as a pirate or princess will receive $2 off the regular ticket price. Dogs dressed in costume will receive a free berm ticket.

- Kids Club Event - Following the game, River Bandits Kids Club members can have a catch in the outfield!

- Make-A-Wish Day presented by Olympic Steel - There will be a charity beer & wine tasting in the suite level. Sign-up will be available inside the ballpark, with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish.

- Organization of the Night: Make-A-Wish - Proceeds from the postgame Zeglin's Charity Ball Toss will benefit the Make-A-Wish (http://wish.org).

- Family Sunday presented by KWQC & B100 - The River Bandits will be on the field 12:30-12:45 p.m. for autographs. Fans can also bring their dogs for Bark in the Park. Following the game, Kids Run the Bases.

 

UP NEXT: A Fireworks Friday kicks off the next homestand, with a 7 p.m. game on City of Davenport Night and Global Cultural Night presented by Tyson Fresh Meats. When gates open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the first 1,500 fans receive a Trevor Rosenthal Bobblehead courtesy of DHCU and FOX18. Sunday's 1:15 p.m. game is a Celebration and Appreciation of Senator Tom Harkin for 40 years of service with a bobblehead giveaway for the first 1,000 fans when gates open at noon. 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.

30 Jul 2014

BANDITS BOP LUMBERKINGS 7-5 FOR FOURTH IN A ROW

By Scott Kornberg

Phillips and McDonald each homer again while Thurman matches career-high with seven innings

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (July 29, 2014) - Brett Phillips and Chase McDonald each homered while Andrew Thurman overcame a rough first inning to match a career-high with seven frames as the Quad Cities River Bandits won their fourth in a row and ninth of 10 by bopping the Clinton LumberKings 7-5 in front of 3,270 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Each of the first four LumberKings (13-24 second half, 43-62 overall) to come to the plate in the first all singled off Thurman (5-6), with Justin Seager's base hit bringing in two runs to give Clinton an early 2-0 advantage. After Thurman induced a 4-6-3 double play, Christian Carmichael doubled in Chantz Mack to make it 3-0. Thurman would give up four runs on seven hits in his seven frames, walking two and striking out seven.

The Bandits (21-16, 56-50), though, responded immediately when Phillips rocketed the second pitch from Clinton starter Edwin Diaz (3-7) way over the right-center field wall for his 11th home run of the season and seventh during the month of July. It marked the fourth straight game with a roundtripper for the right fielder, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Quad Cities would take the 4-3 lead in the bottom of the second when Chase McDonald, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, laced a two-run single off Diaz to bring home Brett Booth and Thomas Lindauer. After Diaz got A.J. Reed to foul out to the catcher Carmichael, Clinton went to the bullpen to bring in Aaron Brooks. Diaz lasted a season-low 1.2 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on three hits with two walks and a strikeout to take the loss, Clinton's sixth in a row.

McDonald was not be finished. With one out and the score 6-3 River Bandits in the fourth, he crushed a fastball from Brooks over the center field wall for his 11th homer of the year and sixth of July, giving the River Bandits two players with at least six home runs in a month since Rainel Rosario and Matt Adams completed the feat in August of 2010. Quad Cities has bopped 27 home runs in the month of July; the team's most since hitting 30 in May of 2012.

Frederick Tiburcio pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season. The victory gave manager Omar Lopez his 137th victory with the Quad Cities, the 10th-most in team history, and pushed the Bandits six games above .500 for the first time this season.

Quad Cities is scheduled to send Chris Lee (6-5, 3.74 ERA) to the mound tomorrow night against Clinton's Seon-Gi Kim (0-2, 2.16).

UP NEXT: Gates open for Wednesday's 7 p.m. game at 5:30 p.m. for the annual Used Car Giveaway presented by Reynolds Ford! The first 1,000 fans will also receive a Team Photo Giveaway on Star Wars Night. It's also a Pay Your Bill Wednesday, which means fans can enter their unpaid bills in a drawing for the chance to have them paid up to $100 by the River Bandits!.Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. 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.

08 Jul 2014

THREE QUAD CITIES ALUMNI NAMED 2014 MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STARS

By Scott Kornberg

Former Bandit Justin Morneau in NL Final Vote; a QC alum selected to All-Star Game for 17th straight year

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (July 8, 2014) - Three Quad Cities alumni were among the selections for the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. St. Louis' Matt Carpenter and Pat Neshek were named to the National League squad while Minnesota's Glen Perkins will represent the American League at Target Field in Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Colorado's Justin Morneau is on the Final Vote for the National League roster. At least one former Quad Cities player has been selected to every All-Star game since 1998.

Carpenter, who was a National League All-Star last season, leads the Cardinals with a .378 on-base percentage. The 28-year old second baseman also ranks second among NL leadoff hitters with 32 RBIs while also ranking in the top 10 in the league in runs (55) and walks (28). On the season, Carpenter is batting .282 with 22 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 32 RBIs. The Galveston, Texas, native played in 29 games for Quad Cities in 2009, batting .295/.405/.390 with six doubles, two triples and 10 RBIs.

Neshek leads all NL relievers with at least 30 innings pitched in ERA (0.77) and WHIP (0.57). The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native has allowed only one run in 35 appearances since April 9 and will be returning to his home state for his first All-Star Game selection. Neshek, 33, is 2-0 and has given up only 16 hits in 35 innings. The right-hander has fanned 35 against only four walks for an 8.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Neshek pitched in 28 games for the Twins-affiliated River Bandits in 2003, going 3-2 with 14 saves and a 0.52 ERA. He struck out 53 against 11 walks and 20 hits allowed in 34 1/3 innings.

Perkins is one of two representatives for the hometown Twins at this year's All-Star Game. The Stillwater, Minn., native was a member of last year's American League squad and is fourth in the Junior Circuit with 20 saves this season. Overall, the 31-year old southpaw is 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA in 36 games covering 36 1/3 innings. Perkins has punched out 48 against only seven walks and 33 hits allowed for a 1.10 WHIP and 6.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He made nine starts for Quad Cities in 2004, going 2-1 with a 1.30 ERA in 48 1/3 frames, surrendering only 33 hits and 12 walks against 49 strikeouts.

Morneau is one of five players in the NL Final Vote at MLB.com. The 2006 AL MVP and four-time All-Star is batting .316/.348/.518 with 20 doubles, 13 home runs and 59 RBIs in 84 games for the Rockies. The 33-year old first baseman spent 64 games with the River Bandits in 2001, batting .356/.420/.597 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 53 RBIs.

UP NEXT: Kids Eat Free and all individual bleacher tickets are buy-one-get-one free when the River Bandits celebrate Disco Night with '70s prices on food and beer at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Dew for Twosday presented by Pepsi, WOC and Q106.5. Game tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. 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 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. Soon to come is another new ride, this one called a "Drop and Twist." 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.

07 Jul 2014

PHILLIPS WALK-OFF SLAM CAPS DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP FOR BANDITS

By Scott Kornberg

Lee fires six shutout innings in game one as Quad Cities takes series from Wisconsin

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (July 6, 2014) - Brett Phillips launched a walk-off grand slam to cap a doubleheader sweep of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, as the Quad Cities River Bandits won 5-0 and then 6-4 to take two out of three in the series.

Wisconsin led 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh of game two with their starter Victor Diaz on the mound. Diaz yielded a leadoff single to Dayne Parker, got Thomas Lindauer to fly to center but then gave up a hit to James Ramsay, who finished 2-for-4, before being pulled for reliever Tyler Spurlin. Marc Wik singled to left to load the bases for Phillips, who smashed the first pitch he saw from Spurlin (3-1) over the right-center field wall to give the River Bandits (10-7 second half, 45-41 overall) the walk-off 6-4 victory.

Michael Feliz (5-2) earned the victory in relief of Quad Cities starter Jandel Gustave, who lasted only 3.1 frames. Gustave left with the bases loaded in a 3-1 game in the fourth, with two Timber Rattlers (9-8, 45-41) having already crossed the plate in the inning. But Feliz fanned Johnny Davis and got Omar Garcia to groundout to end the threat. The right-hander also struck out the side in the top of the seventh, setting up the scene for Phillips' walk-off dinger. Feliz allowed a run on two hits with a walk and six punchouts in 3.2 frames.

Chris Lee (4-5) rolled through the Wisconsin order in game one, scattering five hits with a walk and strikeout in his six frames for the win. Lee's walk of Jose Pena was his first in 14 2/3 innings, the best of any River Bandits pitcher this season. The Timber Rattlers had one runner reach third base all game against Lee.

Chase McDonald led off the second inning of a scoreless game one by reaching on an error by Timber Rattlers shortstop Steven Halcomb. Wisconsin starter Anthony Banda got Ronnie Mitchell to fly to center field but then Brett Booth singled to put runners on first and second with one out. After Brian Holberton struck out, Thomas Lindauer cracked a three-run home run onto the berm in left field to put the burst open a scoreless contest.

More shoddy defense helped Quad Cities add to their lead in the fourth. Banda, who fanned a season-high 10, struck out both Jose Fernandez and Phillips to start the frame before McDonald singled to left. With two outs, Mitchell lined a ball to shallow center. Wisconsin center fielder Johnny Davis tried to make a diving catch, but had the ball scoot by him and roll all the way to the wall, allowing McDonald to score from first and Mitchell to end up at third with his first triple of the season.

Banda (4-6) surrendered five runs, just two earned, on six hits with two walks in his five innings to take the loss.

Quad Cities will start a three-game series Tuesday with Edison Frias (5-3, 5.36 ERA) on the mound against the Kane County Cougars from Modern Woodmen Park.

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