Quad Cities pitchers overcome seven walks by holding Clinton to four hits in third straight home victory
DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 14, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Derek Fisher homered for a second straight game, and right-hander Kevin Comer pitched five innings for his second win in as many appearances, while left-hander Albert Minnis struck out five batters in two innings for his first career save to finish the home team's sweep of the Clinton LumberKings with a 5-3 win in front of 997 at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night.
Quad Cities (5-1) completed its first series sweep since last July 26-28 in Bowling Green, and its first home series sweep since last July 19-21 against Lake County. Quad Cities last swept a series from Clinton (2-4) in five games at Modern Woodmen Park June 29-July 3, 2013.
Following four hitless relief innings in the season opener in Peoria Thursday, Comer (2-0) retired the first eight LumberKings he faced Tuesday night. He worked around a two-out walk in the third inning and back-to-back two-out fielding errors by shortstop Kristian Trompiz in the fourth inning to keep Clinton hitless through the first four innings.
Clinton right-hander Jeffeson Medina (0-1) until River Bandits first baseman Jamie Ritchie drew a third-inning, two-out walk in front of Fisher, who hammered a 3-1 offering from Medina over the Built Ford Tough Deck in right field for his second Midwest League home run, matching his total from his first professional season in 2014. In the fourth inning, River Bandits second baseman Mott Hyde hit a leadoff double to right-center field, advanced on a groundout by left fielder Sean McMullen and scored on Trompiz's two-out single into center field for a 3-0 lead. Medina was charged with three runs - all earned - on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Comer started the fifth inning with a 3-0 lead, but after eight hitless innings to start the season, he yielded a leadoff single up the middle by LumberKings first baseman Kristian Brito. After a fielder's choice allowing third baseman Martin Peguero to reach first base, center fielder Arby Fields drew a walk, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Designated hitter Chantz Mack walked to load the bases before Comer struck out shortstop Nelson Ward. With two outs and the bases loaded, left fielder Alex Jackson singled to right field to drive in two runs and put the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position on the throw to the outfield. Comer escaped the inning by getting right fielder Estarlyn Morales to ground out to shortstop and preserve the 3-2 lead. In a five-inning start, Comer allowed two earned runs on two hits and three walks and four strikeouts. He also beat Clinton at Modern Woodmen Park in his final start of 2014.
Following Comer, right-hander Jose Montero began the sixth inning by walking catcher Wayne Taylor before striking out second baseman Gianfranco Wawoe and Brito. Taylor attempted a two-out steal but was thrown out by River Bandits catcher Jacob Nottingham.
Quad Cities added insurance runs in the seventh inning, when Ritchie and Fisher hit consecutive singles against left-hander Jarrett Brown. Fisher's hit sent Ritchie to third base, where a wild throw from left field by Jackson allowed Ritchie to score and Fisher to reach third. A wild pitch by right-hander Kody Kerski scored Fisher for a 5-2 lead.
In the eighth inning, Montero allowed a leadoff walk to Jackson and single by Morales to bring the tying run to bat. Minnis entered to strike out Taylor before Wawoe's single loaded the bases. Minnis struck out Brito, walked Peguero to force in a run, and struck out Fields - who had walked in each of his first three plate appearances - to end the inning with a 5-3 lead. Two more strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning finished the 5-3 win. All three River Bandits saves this season have been the first in the careers of Montero (Friday's win), right-hander Joshua James (Monday) and Minnis (Tuesday).
The River Bandits seek their best seven-game start since 2010 when they visit Beloit for the first of three games at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (0-0) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Brett Graves (0-0).
UP NEXT: Registration is open for the Sunday, April 19, Frozen Princess Day private meet-and-greet with the Ice Queen and Snow Princess at Modern Woodmen Park. The special package includes Frozen-themed food, drinks, desserts, goodie bags and games in the Budweiser Champions Club, and a reserved box seat for the 1:15 p.m. game. Call 563-324-3000 for details. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: 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.
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