BANDITS HOST THE LOONS FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO SEASONS: In their second series against an Eastern Division opponent, the River Bandits host the Great Lakes Loons at Modern Woodmen Park for the first time since 2011, when Quad Cities, as the Class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals took two of three games June 10-12 against the Los Angeles Dodgers Calass-A affiliate. Great Lakes won two of three games as hosts of Quad Cities last season.
BANDITS TAKE TIGHT SERIES OVER LUGNUTS: The River Bandits won their first series against an Eastern Division team this season by winning the final two games against the Lansing Lugnuts.
In Thursday`s opener, left-hander Brian Holmes allowed a go-ahead home run to Chris Hawkins to break a 1-1, seventh-inning tie, and he and right-hander Michael Dimock allowed four runs in the eighth inning of a 6-2 loss.
On Friday, River Bandits right-hander Vincent Velasquez matched a career high with eight strikeouts in five shutout frames to extend his scoreless streak to 14 innings and win his third straight start in a 4-0 home victory over Lansing. Left-hander Joe Bircher followed Velasquez with four scoreless innings to complete the first Quad Cities shutout since a 2-0 win Aug. 23 against Kane County.
On Saturday, right-hander Lance McCullers allowed a single unearned run in five innings, right-hander Daniel Minor pitched three shutout innings with six strikeouts, as Quad Cities took a 3-2 finale. The River Bandits pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts to set a season high. Right-hander John Neely allowed a run with a 3-1 lead and loaded the bases before getting the final out of a 3-2 victory and earning his third save.
