BANDITS QUIET SNAPPERS AGAIN TO EARN SPLIT

Bobby Boyd has two hits in Quad Cities debut, while A.J. Reed hits first career triple among two hits

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (August 10, 2014) - Quad Cities right-hander Michael Feliz limited the Beloit Snappers to a run on three hits in the first five innings, and left-hander Chris Lee and Chris Cotton combined for four scoreless relief innings to conclude a second straight 6-1 River Bandits win in front of 3,996 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.

Feliz (8-4) was perfect with four strikeouts through the first three innings, while his teammates built an early 6-0 lead for the second straight game off Snappers right-hander Joey Wagman (1-1). In the first inning, River Bandits center fielder James Ramsay hit a one-out single, and scored when designated hitter Chase McDonald's single went past left fielder Snappers left fielder Justin Higley. First baseman A.J. Reed singled to put runners at first and third bases with one out, but Wagman retired the next two batters.

In the second inning, Wagman walked second baseman Jose Fernandez. A groundout by shortstop Thomas Lindauer moved Fernandez to second base, and left fielder Bobby Boyd singled to left field in his first Midwest League at-bat to move Fernandez to third base. Right fielder Ryan Bottger's sacrifice fly to center field scored Fernandez to give Quad Cities (25-24 second half, 60-58 overall) a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Wagman allowed a one-out walk to McDonald, and Reed laced a ground ball down the first-base line that scored McDonald and put Reed at third base for his first career triple. Third baseman J.D. Davis doubled to left field to scored Reed, and with two outs, Fernandez singled Davis home to end Wagman's outing after 2 2/3 innings. Lindauer walked against right-hander Hunter Adkins, and Boyd singled to right field to score pinch runner Dayne Parker for a 6-0 lead. Boyd finished 2-for-3 in his River Bandits debut.

Quad Cities managed two hits and a walk from the fourth through eighth innings. Adkins scattered three hits and a walk with one strikeout in 4 1/3 innings, before right-hander Tyler Vail walked a batter in a scoreless eighth inning. In the four-game series that the teams split, Beloit starters allowed all 15 River Bandits runs in 20 1/3 innings for a 6.64 ERA, while Beloit's bullpen worked 13 2/3 scoreless innings.

Trailing 6-0, Beloit (17-31, 47-71) got its first baserunner when shortstop Melvin Mercedes led off the fourth inning with a home run to right field against Feliz, who yielded his first home run since June 5 and first earned run in 17 innings against Beloit. All five Midwest League home runs against Feliz have been hit by left-handed batters leading off an inning. Feliz allowed two more hits but no more runs, as he became the season-high eighth straight River Bandits starter to pitch at least five innings. He allowed three hits without a walk and struck out five batters. In 19 innings over four starts against Beloit, Feliz is 2-0 and has allowed two runs - one earned - for a 0.47 ERA. The Snappers have eight hits, two three walks and 22 strikeouts while hitting for a .125 average against Feliz this season.

After Feliz, left-hander Chris Lee struck out four batters in three perfect innings in his first relief outing since July 17. Left-hander Chris Cotton pitched the ninth inning, allowing a one-out single by center fielder B.J. Boyd but also striking out two batters to finish a 6-1 win and a split of the four-game series with Beloit. With a 6-1 win Saturday, the River Banidts have won back-to-back games by the same score on two occasions in the last 16 days. They also won consecutive 9-2 finals July 26-27 at Bowling Green.

After its final scheduled off day of the regular season Monday, Quad Cities opens a three-game series at Kane County at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Geneva, Ill. River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (1-3) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng (6-1).

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.

BANDITS STRIKE BACK IN SIMS' SHUTOUT START

James Ramsay swats grand slam for first home run of the season, Chase McDonald hits 14^th in 6-1 win

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (August 9, 2014) - Quad Cities left-hander Blaine Sims pitched six shutout innings for the first time in three years, left fielder Chase McDonald hit his team-high 14^th home run, and center fielder James Ramsay hit a grand slam for his first home run in nearly a year, helping the River Bandits to a 6-1 win over the Beloit Snappers in front of 6,971 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

After losing the first two games of a four-game home series, Quad Cities (24-24 second half, 59-58 overall) defeated Beloit (17-30, 47-70) for the 11^th time in 15 meetings this season. The River Bandits had averaged three runs per game while starting August 2-6, but they posted their highest single-game run total of the month by the end of the second inning Saturday.

After Sims (3-4) worked around a pair of one-out singles in the first inning, Ramsay hit a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning off Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (2-7). McDonald then smacked a two-run home run to the Modern Woodmen Berm down the left-field line for a 2-0 lead - the River Bandits' first of the series. McDonald drove in his team's first five runs in the series against Beloit, and with a team-best 11 home runs in the second half, he is the first River Bandit with 14 home runs since 2012.

In the bottom of the second inning, second baseman Jose Fernandez drew a one-out walk, Mendez hit catcher Brett Booth with a pitch, and shortstop Thomas Lindauer lined a single to left field to load the bases. With two outs, Ramsay hit an 0-1 Mendez offering that cleared the ribbon board in right field for Ramsay's first career grand slam and first home run since he homered for short-season Class-A Tri-City Aug. 25, 2013. It was the River Bandits' fifth grand slam of the season - each by a different player - and gave Ramsay a career-high four RBIs.

With a 6-0 lead, Sims limited the Snappers to lone singles in the third and fourth innings, and lone two-out doubles in the fifth and sixth innings. He did not allow a baserunner to reach third base and pitched six shutout innings for the first time since June 13, 2011, when he did so for Atlanta Braves Class-A Advanced affiliate Lynchburg in the Carolina League. As the River Bandits' seventh straight starter to pitch at least five innings, Sims scattered six hits and struck out a season-high six batters without a walk for the first time this season.

Mendez allowed only two hits after the second inning but left after 4 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits, one walk and three hit batters with three strikeouts. After Mendez, the Snappers bullpen pitched scoreless baseball for the third straight game. Right-hander Trevor Bayless struck out two batters while allowing one hit in 2 1/3 shutout innings, and right-hander Joel Seddon struck out all three batters in a perfect eighth inning. Beloit relievers have allowed three hits and no runs in 8 1/3 innings the last three games.

Ramsay singled in the fourth inning for his first three-hit game since the All-Star Break, and McDonald added a single in the seventh inning for his second hit. Third baseman J.D. Davis in the third inning to extend a three-game hitting streak.

After Sims, right-hander Andrew Walter struck out all three batters in a perfect seventh inning. Right-hander Keegan Yuhl walked two batters and allowed a hit for Beloit's only run in the eighth inning. Right-hander Frederick Tiburcio pitched a perfect ninth inning.

Quad Cities seeks a split of the four-game series with Beloit at 5 p.m. Sunday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Michael Feliz (7-4) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Joey Wagman (1-0) in the seven-game homestand finale.

Annual Family-Friendly Agricultural Showcase Features Entertainment and Activities for Everyone

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by families and officials from across the state to kick-off the 2014 Illinois State Fair. The annual 10-day agricultural celebration features a wide variety of family-friendly activities including food, racing, music and carnival rides. This year's fair theme is "Making Memories."

"The Illinois State Fair is a great place to make memories and have some good old-fashioned family fun," Governor Quinn said.  "Last year nearly one million people from around the world visited the fair to celebrate what Illinois' capital city has to offer, and I hope we can top that mark this year."

New features at this year's fair include American Idol tryouts on August 8 and 9, a Civil War encampment and demonstrations and "Looking for Lincoln" activities on the fairgrounds. Returning favorites include harness and auto racing, Conservation World, carnival rides, hundreds of food selections and the world-famous Butter Cow.

This year's Grandstand concert lineup includes Pitbull on August 9; Florida Georgia Line, August 10; Million Dollar Quartet, August 11; Boston, Sweet and April Wine on August 12; Hunter Hayes, August 13; Emblem 3, MKTO and Midnight Red on August 14; Steely Dan, August 15; Jake Owen, August 16; and Robin Thicke on August 17. The fair also offers a wide variety of free entertainment - from magic shows to musical acts - on 14 stages throughout the fairgrounds.

The state of Illinois has prepared the fairgrounds with more than $15 million in capital improvements over the last several years, including an extensive upgrade of the aging electrical distribution systems providing power to the various buildings and vendors at the fairgrounds. The most recent $4.1 million electrical upgrade project began in March and was completed late last month.

The Governor's Tent theme this year is "A Portrait of Illinois," featuring numerous ways the people of Illinois and the attractions we offer are depicted and remembered. Abraham Lincoln will be in the Governor's Tent from 11 a.m. to noon each day for photographs with visitors. Two computers will be logged in to a family history research website so fairgoers can trace their family genealogy. Backdrops will allow children and families to "Picture Yourself in the Past," and an assortment of related interactive games and puzzles will be offered. A different Illinois-filmed movie will play in the tent throughout each day of the fair. Illinois Main Street will be back, and they have invited local Illinois bands to play music outside the tent each day.

Last year the Illinois State Fair was attended by a total of 961,142 people, the fair's highest attendance since 2002, when an estimated 1.2 million people visited the fair.  Last year's State Fair saw an increase of 5 percent - or 42,707 visitors - from 2012. Fairgoers provide a significant boost to the local economy each year.

For a complete listing of daily activities at the 2014 Illinois State Fair, visit StateFair.Illinois.gov or call (217) 782-6661. The state fair runs from Aug. 7-17, 2014

###

DES MOINES, IA (08/06/2014)(readMedia)-- Every year Fairgoers from all around the world come to the Iowa State Fair to see the exhilarating art of chainsaw carving. For the 11 days of the Fair, sculptors, and registered chainsaw carvers, A.J. Lutter and Gary Keenan will amaze spectators with their work as they transform simple logs into pieces of art in less than one hour. The pair is nationally known, traveling to city, county and state Fairs, and can sculpt anything from people to animals.

Add a piece of Iowa State Fair art to your home by attending the 2014 Woodcarver's Auction! The auction will feature the sculptures that Lutter and Keenan create each day at the Iowa State Fair. In addition to the woodcarvings, champion meats will be up for bid during the sale, including ham, bacon and dried beef.

The 2014 Woodcarver's Auction will be held on Sunday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. in the air-conditioned comfort of the Cattle Barn's Penningroth Media Center. All funds generated from the auction will be used by the Blue Ribbon Foundation to preserve and renovate the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Since its inception in 1993, the Blue Ribbon Foundation has been raising funds to renovate and restore the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Funds have been generated to support 40 projects throughout the Fairgrounds. Improvements have been made to the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building, the Grandstand, the Campgrounds and Ye Old Mill. In addition, funds support the building of new facilities such as the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center, Elwell Family Food Center and the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $100 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

###