Houston sends minor leaguers Mengden and Nottingham to Oakland

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros have acquired left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for two minor leaguers, right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow.

Kazmir, 31, who will join the club in Kansas City tomorrow, has gone 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA (29ER/109.2IP) in 18 starts for the A's this season. Among American League pitchers, Kazmir ranks fourth in opponent batting average (.213) and fifth in ERA. He has made one start since the All-Star Break, tossing 8.1 innings, and allowing just one run on five hits on Saturday vs. Minnesota. On the season, Kazmir has allowed just three earned runs or fewer in 17 of his 18 starts.

"Scott Kazmir is one of the best pitchers in the American League and strengthens our rotation," said Luhnow. "His addition gives the Astros a better chance of reaching and succeeding in the postseason. It has been a while since the Astros have been relevant late in the summer and winning now is a priority."

A native of Houston and a resident of nearby Cypress, Kazmir attended Cy Falls High School before being drafted by the Mets in the first round (15th overall pick) of the 2002 draft. He is an 11-year Major League veteran and a three-time All-Star (2006, 2008, 2014). Kazmir owns a career 96-84 record with a 3.95 ERA (649ER/1480IP) while pitching for Tampa Bay (2004-09), Los Angeles-AL (2009-11), Cleveland (2013) and Oakland (2014-15).

Most recently, Mengden and Nottingham had been playing for Class A Advanced Lancaster after each began the 2015 season at Class A Quad Cities. Mengden was originally a fourth-round selection in the 2014 draft, while Nottingham was originally taken in the sixth round of the 2013 draft.

DES MOINES, IA (07/22/2015)(readMedia)-- The 2015 Iowa State Fair Parade will be Wednesday, August 12 at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines. Over 120 different floats, animals, vehicles, and performing units are set to kick-off this year's "Fair Tour", August 13-23.

The Iowa State Fair Parade is the state's largest parade and sets the stage for one of Iowa's premier events, the Iowa State Fair. Staging will take place at the State Capitol complex and parade entrants will then travel west on Grand Avenue to 13th Street. Dispersion will take place between 13th and 18th Streets.

Arlette Hollister will lead the parade this year serving as the Parade Marshal. Arlette has been a mainstay in the Foods Department at the Iowa State Fair for nearly 30 years and is excited to lead the kickoff to another great Fair. Arlette and her family have been attending the Iowa State Fair for over 50 years, and she has spent every Fair since the summer of 1986 as the Foods Department Superintendent. Through Arlette's efforts, the Food Department has grown from 27 divisions to 228 divisions and entries have increased from 4,053 to 10,597. To honor Arlette's years of service and dedication to the Fair, she will kick off this year's "Fair Tour" and lead the parade.

Highlights of the event will be re-broadcast on parade night throughout central Iowa on KDSM Fox 17 beginning at 10 p.m. "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair, August 13-23.

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to the 2015 Iowa State Fair, August 13-23, 2015. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.

Quad Cities ends regular season series with playoff opponent by scoring its most runs in two months

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 20, 2015) - Every player in the starting lineup contributed to the Quad Cities River Bandits' 17 hits, led by three each from shortstop Alex Bregman and first baseman Ryan Bottger, while designated hitter Drew Ferguson posted a career-high four RBIs in a 14-5 rout of the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 2,456 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday afternoon.

The River Bandits (15-10 second half, 60-33 overall) posted the highest single-game run total by any opponent of Cedar Rapids this season and scored 14 runs for the first time since a 14-10 win at Clinton May 18. Quad Cities also scored double-digit runs for the first time in 47 games since May 27, when the club won, 13-4, at home over Kane County. Monday's win also kept Quad Cities perfect in three series rubber matches with Cedar Rapids (13-12, 54-41). The River Bandits won all four series with the Kernels and finished 9-4 in their regular season meetings. The two teams will play each other next in the best-of-three first round of the Midwest League playoffs beginning Sept. 9.

River Bandits right-hander Elieser Hernandez made his first Midwest League start Monday and retired the first eight batters. He allowed two hits and one walk with six strikeouts in the first four innings. Right-hander Eric Peterson (5-4) began the fifth inning with an 11-0 lead and allowed four runs - two earned - on four hits and one walk with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. Right-hander Jorge Perez pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out four batters, walking one and allowing a ninth-inning home run by Kernels center fielder Tanner English.

After the game was scoreless into the bottom of the third inning, Quad Cities reached the scoreboard in four straight innings from the third to the sixth innings. River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd began the five-run, 11-batter third inning with a leadoff single against Kernels right-hander Keaton Steele (2-3). Left fielder Jason Martin and Bregman drew consecutive walks, before All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu grounded a two-run single down the first-base line. With runners at first and third bases, right fielder Ramon Laureano grounded into a fielder's choice, but second baseman Rafael Valera overthrew first base, so Bregman scored and Laureano went to second base. A passed ball moved Laureano to third base before Ferguson walked, ending Steele's outing. Against All-Star right-hander Jared Wilson, Ferguson stole second base, and catcher Garrett Stubbs brought in Laureano with a sacrifice fly to center field. Bottger hit a two-out RBI single over shortstop Sean Miller to make it 5-0. In the game's longest inning, the River Bandits had three hits and five of their six total walks. All five runs were earned against Steele, who allowed five hits and three walks with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

In the fourth inning against Wilson, Bregman led off with an infield single to the shortstop hole and reached third base on Laureano's one-out single to left field. Laureano stole second base, giving Ferguson the opportunity to drive in his first two runs with a single into center field for a 7-0 lead. Wilson was charged with two earned runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

In the fifth inning, Kernels left-hander Michael Theofanopoulous allowed Boyd's one-out single to left field, followed by Martin's double to left-center field and Bregman's RBI infield single off third baseman Pat Kelly for an 8-0 score. With two outs, Laureano placed an RBI single to left-center field, and Ferguson hit a two-run double down the left-field line to extend the lead to 11-0.

After the Kernels' first run came in the sixth inning, Bottger led off the bottom of the inning with the first home run of the season allowed by Kernels All-Star left-hander Cam Booser. A three-run Kernels seventh inning made it 12-4, but Kernels All-Star right-hander Randy LeBlanc walked Stubbs to begin the eighth inning that included two Kernels errors leading to Quad Cities' final two runs.

The River Bandits play their next nine games in 10 days on the road - the longest remaining road stretch for the club this season. Quad Cities begins a three-game series in Kane County at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (2-1) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Chris Oliver (2-0) in the first second-half meeting between the teams with the league's two best overall records.

PAULINO GOES 7 SHUTOUT INNINGS IN BANDITS' WIN

Quad Cities sets up third rubber match in four series with first-round playoff opponent Cedar Rapids

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 19, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander David Paulino pitched a career-high seven shutout innings, and first baseman Nick Tanielu's two-out, three-run double in the eighth inning provided the insurance for a 5-1 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 6,130 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.

Paulino (2-2) struck out seven batters and scattered four hits, working around a pair of first-inning singles before retiring 14 consecutive batters in one stretch. For the second time in three starts, he won by pitching at least six shutout innings without walking a batter.

The Kernels (13-11 second half, 54-40 overall) nearly had a first-inning scoring threat, as center fielder Tanner English led off with a single down the third-base line and tried stretching it to a double, but left fielder Ramon Laureano threw from the left-field line to second baseman Alex Hernandez on the fly to retire English sliding into second base for the game's first out. Right fielder Edgar Corcino hit a two-out infield single and went to second base on a balk, before left fielder Zack Larson grounded out to end the inning.

Laureano also ignited the offensive effort for the River Bandits (14-10, 59-33) in the second inning against Kernels left-hander Luke Westphal (1-2). After drawing an eight-pitch leadoff walk, Laureano stole second base and dashed to third base when catcher Alex Real's throw went into center field. Designated hitter Ryan Bottger lined out to second base, before center fielder Jason Martin's groundout over the first-base side of the pitcher's mound scored Laureano to make it 1-0. Westphal dueled Paulino by allowing one hit - a third-inning single by catcher Garrett Stubbs for his first Midwest League hit - through the first five innings.

Quad Cities kept the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, when third baseman Kristian Trompiz drove a one-out triple to the warning track in right-center field and scored when shortstop Alex Bregman lifted a two-out RBI double to the right-field corner. Westphal matched a career high by going six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

After allowing only two baserunners to reach second base and none to reach third, Paulino turned over a 2-0 lead to right-hander Riley Ferrell to begin the eighth inning. With one out, first baseman Tyler Kuresa hit an infield single to Tanielu, followed by consecutive walks to designated hitter Austin Diemer and third baseman Pat Kelly to load the bases. A wild pitch with English batting scored a run and put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. English then popped out to Tanielu, before a pitch to shortstop Nick Gordon got away from Stubbs to foul territory on the first-base side, but the River Bandits catcher recovered in time to throw to Ferrell at home plate, where he tagged out Diemer to end the inning and preserve the 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kernels right-hander Chris Mazza began his second inning of relief by retiring the first two batters. Then Trompiz and right fielder Drew Ferguson hit consecutive two-out singles to center field, before Bregman walked to load the bases. Tanielu then drilled a 2-1 offering down the left-field line to plate three runs and give his team its first five-run output in seven games.

Ferrell got the first out of the ninth inning before allowing consecutive one-out walks, prompting a change to right-hander Ryan Thompson, who got consecutive flyouts to earn his fourth save and end his team's first game decided by more than two runs since July 11, as well as just the fourth game decided by more than two runs in the first 12 games of the season series with Cedar Rapids.

Monday's 1 p.m. rubber match will be the third in as many three-game series between the River Bandits and Kernels, who will not meet again until the first round of the playoffs. Quad Cities right-hander Elieser Hernandez (0-0) will make his first Midwest League start.

UP NEXT: Gates open at noon for the final regular season game between the River Bandits and their first-round playoff opponents, the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Veterans and active military can show a military ID at the box office to purchase $1 bleacher tickets for themselves and up to three guests on Military Monday presented by Performance Food Group, 97X and ESPN 93.5. 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.

BANDITS REACH BEST MARK, THEN LOSE 1ST TO WISCONSIN

Quad Cities briefly goes 27 games above .500 for first time since the end of the 2010 season

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (July 17, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits left fielder Jason Martin homered to open the scoring in a 4-2, Game 1 win Friday, but Wisconsin right-hander David Burkhalter went six shutout innings in a 3-2, Game 2 win for the Timber Rattlers' first victory in nine games with Quad Cities and a doubleheader split of seven-inning games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

With a Game 1 win in their first road doubleheader since June 29, 2014, the River Bandits (13-9 second half, 58-32 overall) briefly achieved an overall record 27 games above .500 (58-31) for the first time since finishing the 2010 season 28 games above .500. Despite remaining undefeated in road series this season, Quad Cities missed an opportunity for its first sweep victory in its last 18 series - since sweeping Wisconsin at home May 7-9 - and its first doubleheader sweep since July 6, 2014, when it swept Wisconsin at home.

In the top of the second inning in Game 1, Martin broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run to the right-field boardwalk off Timber Rattlers right-hander Cody Ponce (0-1). Martin's seven home runs are the most of any active River Bandit. Quad Cities added to the lead with two-out rally in the third inning. Shortstop Alex Bregman singled to center field, followed by consecutive RBI doubles to left field by All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu and right fielder Ramon Laureano, giving Quad Cities a 3-0 lead. The team added its final run of the game in the fourth inning, as first baseman Ryan Bottger split the left-center field gap for a triple and scored on the same play, as the relay throw by shortstop Blake Allemand went past third base, extending the River Bandits' lead to 4-0. Ponce was charged with four runs - three earned - on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts in a career-high five innings.

River Bandits right-hander Francis Martes scattered two singles and a walk through the first four innings, but Wisconsin (7-14, 30-61) tallied two unearned runs in the fifth inning. Martes began by walking catcher Greg McCall, who advanced to third base after two groundouts. Center fielder Brandon Diaz then tapped a ground ball in front of home plate, where Martes failed to field it cleanly, allowing McCall to score and Diaz to reach first base. Allemand then singled to center field, and third baseman Dustin DeMuth hit an RBI single to left field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Martes was removed after allowing two unearned runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, so left-hander Michael Freeman (1-1) entered to strike out designated hitter Carlos Leal and end the inning. Freeman worked around a sixth-inning walk and seventh-inning double to earn his first professional win, posting a career-high four strikeouts.

In Game 2, the Timber Rattlers took the lead with a pair of first-inning runs off River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (2-1). Allemand, who went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader, singled to left field and went to second base when left fielder Drew Ferguson bobbled the ball. DeMuth then drove a ground-rule double that bounced off the warning track in right-center field and over the fence to score Allemand. Leal followed with a single to left field, scoring DeMuth for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. After allowing three straight hits, Powell allowed only two hits and a hit batter for the rest of his five innings, posting a career-high seven strikeouts while allowing five hits and no walks.

For Wisconsin, Burkhalter (3-5) scattered four hits and one walk with one strikeout in a season-high six innings. Right-hander Luke Curtis began the seventh inning with a 3-0 lead, but Martin led off with a triple to right-center field and Ferguson walked. With one out, second baseman Alex Hernandez walked to load the bases, and catcher Garrett Stubbs hit a sacrifice fly to right field for his first Midwest League RBI. Third baseman Luis Reynoso lined a two-out, two-strike RBI single to right field to make it 3-2, but with the tying run at second base, first baseman Alan Sharkey made a diving catch on a line drive by designated hitter Bobby Boyd for the final out.