Quad Cities drops 1.5 games behind second-place Beloit but remains just three back of first-place Cedar Rapids

PEORIA, Ill. (JUNE 8, 2013) - The first pitch of an intended ninth-inning intentional walk by Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Gera Sanchez got past catcher Roberto Pena and allowed Peoria Chiefs second baseman Jacob Wilson to score the only run of a 1-0 victory by the home team at Dozer Park Saturday night.

After Quad Cities (34-26) left the bases loaded in both the eighth and ninth innings against right-hander Joe Donofrio, Sanchez started the ninth inning in a scoreless tie by walking Wilson. Left fielder Jordan Walton then pushed a bunt to the third-base side of the pitcher's mound, and third baseman Rio Ruiz overran the ball, allowing Wilson to reach second and Walton to reach first with the Chiefs' sixth hit of the game. Third baseman Patrick Wisdom put down a successful sacrifice to move both runners. After a visit to the mound by manager Omar Lopez, Sanchez and Pena prepared to walk first baseman Jeremy Schaffer and load the bases. But Sanchez's first throw came closer to the plate than Pena expected, brushing the catcher's glove on the way to the backstop. Wilson raced home for the game's only run and first in 17 innings against Quad Cities pitchers.

River Bandits right-hander Mike Hauschild and Chiefs right-hander Joe Cuda matched scoreless frames for the first five innings, with Hauschild extending his personal scoreless streak to a team season-high 16 shutout innings. Cuda struck out eight batters, allowed just two hits and a hit batter, and prevented any runners from reaching second base through the first seven innings.

The eighth inning opened the bullpen for the Chiefs, as right-hander Sam Tuivailala allowed a one-out single by right fielder Ariel Ovando, who extended his season-high hitting streak to six games. Jordan Scott later drew a two-out walk, and second baseman Austin Elkins loaded the bases with an infield single. Right-hander Joe Donofrio (3-0) came in to face shortstop Carlos Correa and struck him out swinging to escape the jam. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Quad Cities left-hander Colton Cain faced a jam when catcher Gerwuins Velazco walked and Elkins threw high to first base on a grounder by right fielder Breyvic Valera. But Cain got center fielder Nick Martini to pop up a bunt before an inning-ending double play.

Quad Cities knocked on the door against Donofrio in the ninth inning, as first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki singled, and third baseman Rio Ruiz reached on an error by shortstop Ildemaro Vargas. A two-out walk by left fielder Ruben Sosa loaded the bases before Donofrio's inning-ending strikeout of center fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Quad Cities had six of its eight runners left on come in the final two innings.

With a win by the Beloit Snappers at Burlington Saturday night, the River Bandits dropped 1 ½ games behind second place in the Midwest League Western Division with nine games remaining in the first half. First-place Cedar Rapids lost to Kane County, keeping Quad Cities three games behind the division leaders. The River Bandits continue the series in Peoria at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Dozer Park. Quad Cities is scheduled to see its first opposing major league rehab pitcher, with St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jake Westbrook taking the mound for Peoria.

UP NEXT: Reservations can be made from now until June 10 for the River Bandits Father's Day Cookout and pre-game catch scheduled for Sunday, June 16. Check out www.riverbandits.com for details or call 563-324-3000. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

MILWAUKEE, WI (06/07/2013)(readMedia)-- Hannah Stellick, of Wilton, IA, a senior, has been named to Wisconsin Lutheran College's Dean's List for the spring semester.

To be eligible for Dean's List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.6 or higher.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is an independent Christian college in Milwaukee that is recognized for its academic excellence and Christian leadership tenets. To learn more, please visit wlc.edu.

Quad Cities closes within three games of first-place Cedar Rapids by taking rubber match on the road

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (JUNE 7, 2013) - Left-hander Mitchell Lambson and right-handers Lance McCullers and John Neely combined to pitch six no-hit innings following right-handed starter Daniel Minor, and the Quad Cities River Bandits went on to a 6-1 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the deciding match of a three-game series at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday night.

After Quad Cities (34-25) and Cedar Rapids (37-22) scored a combined 33 runs in the first two games of their series, the River Bandits took a 6-1 lead over the Kernels through 4 ½ innings Friday. But neither team had a hit (although the teams combined for six walks and a hit batter) over the final 4 ½ innings of the finale. The River Bandits moved within three games of first-place Cedar Rapids with 10 and nine games respectively remaining for the two clubs.

Cedar Rapids opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Minor issued a one-out walk to left fielder J.D. Williams. Shortstop Jorge Polanco singled, and first baseman Dalton Hicks drove an RBI double to right-center field for a 1-0 lead. Hicks has nine hits - including five doubles and three home runs - and 10 RBIs in six games against Quad Cities this season. It was the only run against Minor, who went three innings and allowed four hits before Lambson started the fourth inning and struck out all three batters he faced.

The River Bandits took the lead in the third inning against right-handed starter Christian Powell (0-1), who had retired the first six batters in his Midwest League debut. Designated hitter Ariel Ovando extended a five-game hitting streak with a leadoff single, and center fielder Teoscar Hernandez lined a double down the left-field line. With runners at second and third bases, right fielder Jordan Scott drilled a two-run triple to the right-center field gap. He later scored on a double by shortstop Carlos Correa down the third-base line, and Correa came home on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.

In the fifth inning, Correa beat out an infielder chopper with one out, and first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki smacked an RBI double into the right-center field gap. Two batters later, catcher Roberto Pena made it 6-1 with a single to left field that was the final hit for either side.

McCullers (3-4) started the fifth inning and allowed two walks while striking out five batters in four shutout innings to earn his third win in as many outings. Neely had a strikeout, hit batter and game-ending double play in a scoreless ninth inning.

The victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Saturday, June 8. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Saturday, June 8. The River Bandits begin a three-game series in Peoria at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Dozer Park. Quad Cities right-hander Mike Hauschild (4-0) will start the opener against right-hander Joe Cuda (3-3).

UP NEXT: Reservations can be made from now until June 10 for the River Bandits Father's Day Cookout and pre-game catch scheduled for Sunday, June 16. Check out www.riverbandits.com for details or call 563-324-3000. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.