Feliz struggles as Quad Cities can't complete sweep

CLINTON, Iowa (June 26, 2014) - Clinton starter Lars Huijer limited the River Bandits to two hits in six shutout innings and the LumberKings pounded out 14 hits Thursday in a 12-3 thrashing of Quad Cities at Ashford University Field.

The LumberKings led 3-0 in the fourth with one out when Michael Feliz walked Lonnie Kauppila. Zach Shank then beat out a bunt single down the third base line, and another infield hit, this one to first courtesty of Aaron Barbosa, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs in the game and 9-for-13 in the series, loaded the bases. Feliz proceeded to walk Jack Reinheimer to bring in the fourth Clinton run of the game. The River Bandits then turned to Chris Cotton, whose first pitch to Chantz Mack was laced off the right field wall to score two more runs, both charged to Feliz (3-2). The right-hander surrendered a career-high six runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Clinton really broke the game open in the seventh inning of an 8-0 contest against Quad Cities reliever Andrew Walter. Isaiah Yates, who scored three runs in his Midwest League debut, walked and then moved to second on a wild pitch. On Martin Peguero's single to center, Yates scored to give Clinton a 9-0 advantage. Peguero wound up 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Walter plunked Kauppila with a pitch and then served up a three-run home run to Shank, who drove in four in a 3-for-4 day, to put the LumberKings up a dozen.

Huijer (4-5) recorded just one strikeout, but got Quad Cities to hit into 14 groundouts to earn the win. He walked five.

Anthony Bass worked a perfect sixth inning with two strikeouts in his second rehab outing with Quad Cities.

Quad Cities broke up the shutout when James Ramsay scored on Clinton reliever Dylan De Meyer's wild pitch in the eighth. Tyler White, who was 2-for-3, had an RBI single in the inning and Ronnie Mitchell lifted a sacrifice fly to put three Bandits runs across in the frame.

The LumberKings extended their 1-0 first inning lead in their very next at-bat. After a one-out Yates double, Peguero struck out but then Kauppila singled home Yates. Shank's single moved Kauppila to second before Barbosa's base hit scored the Clinton second baseman to make it 3-0.

The River Bandits will begin a five-game, four-day series at Peoria tomorrow with Edison Frias (4-3, 6.09 ERA) on the mound against the Chiefs' Chase Brookshire (2-3, 5.06).

UP NEXT: Back-to-back fireworks nights kick of the Fourth of July weekend at Modern Woodmen Park. The ballpark will open Thursday, July 3, for the annual Red, White and Boom Fireworks, and the River Bandits will have Fourth of July Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD following the 7 p.m. game on Friday, July 4. Game tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

DES MOINES, IA (06/26/2014)(readMedia)-- On Opening Day of the Iowa State Fair, August 7, Fairgoers can enjoy an early-bird special offer and have the chance to win cash prizes and concert packages, all before Noon. "Nothing Compares" to this year's Fair, set for August 7-17.

Fairgoers can enjoy $5 off adult and $2 off child admission on August 7 from 5 a.m. to Noon with a coupon from the August 3 Des Moines Sunday Register. One coupon per person is required at the gate.

Visitors (ages 21 and older) can collect a coupon while supplies last good for one free play in the All or Nothing™ lotto game courtesy of the Iowa Lottery, the Fair's Opening Day sponsor. Coupons will be available at gates 4, 8, 11 and 15. The Iowa Lottery is also offering Fairgoers the chance to win one of 10 cash prizes and two prize packages to see Grammy Award-winning country trio Lady Antebellum in the Grandstand on August 16. The contests will be open from 5 to 9 a.m. on Expo Hill. Van and Bonnie from WHO NewsRadio 1040 will also be broadcasting live from Expo Hill and will help the lottery announce the winners.

Opening Ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. on Expo Hill to kick off the 11 days of the Fair. The Red Trouser Show will begin at Noon on Expo Hill and will entertain Fairgoers of all ages with feats of strength and acrobatics. Other Opening Day activities include free performances by The Willis Clan, Winger, Vocal Trash, Los Lonely Boys and Kristian Bush, plus The Newsboys with special guest Matthew West on the Grandstand. Fairgoers can also enjoy the Twins, Triplets and More Contest, the Big Ram, Big Boar and Super Bull contests, plus all the delectable foods and the non-stop fun that await first day attendees.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. Discounted gate admission tickets are on sale now through our convenient print-at-home ticket option at iowastatefair.org. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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Bass throws perfect inning in rehab, Thurman goes four shutout in relief in 5-2 win

CLINTON, Iowa (June 24, 2014) - Anthony Bass threw a perfect inning in his first rehab outing, Andrew Thurman tossed four shutout frames out of the bullpen and Quad Cities pitchers combined to fan nine Clinton LumberKings with no walks in the River Bandits' 5-2 victory Tuesday at Ashford University Field.

Bass struck out Clinton's Zach Shank before getting Marcus Littlewood to fly out to center field and Jack Reinheimer to line to third in his inning of work. The Houston Astros right-hander threw 13 pitches, eight for strikes.

Thurman (4-4) took over in the next inning and dominated the Clinton hitters, ultimately allowing only two hits with three strikeouts.

While the Bandits pitching overpowered the Clinton order, the Quad Cities offense was able to get its pitchers some breathing room. Jose Fernandez, who went 2-for-3, singled with two outs in a scoreless game in the second and then stole second base. A few pitches later, Brett Booth crushed his second home run of the season to give Quad Cities a 2-0 lead.

Thomas Lindauer walked to leadoff the third before James Ramsay fouled out to the catcher Littlewood on a bunt attempt. Austin Elkins then ripped a double to left to put runners on second and third. Brett Phillips, who finished 2-for-4, launched a sacrifice fly to the left-center field wall to score Lindauer from third and make it 3-0. The next batter, Chase McDonald, who was 2-for-5, drilled a double off the center field wall to score Elkins, giving Quad Cities a 4-0 advantage.

After a two-run Littlewood home run in the eighth cut the Quad Cities lead in half, the River Bandits added an insurance run on a Phillips RBI triple in the ninth to make the score 5-2.

Andrew Walter struck out three in the ninth while yielding a double to pick up his sixth save of the season and first since June 1 as the River Bandits improved to 2-2 in the second half and 37-36 overall.

Clinton starter Edwin Diaz (2-4) surrendered four runs on five hits in five innings with two walks and six strikeouts to suffer the loss as Clinton fell to 2-3 and 32-41.

Quad Cities will start Jandel Gustave (5-3, 3.81 ERA) tomorrow night as the River Bandits look to win the series in their first road set of the second half.

UP NEXT: Back-to-back fireworks nights kick of the Fourth of July weekend at Modern Woodmen Park. The ballpark will open Thursday, July 3, for the annual Red, White and Boom Fireworks, and the River Bandits will have Fourth of July Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD following the 7 p.m. game on Friday, July 4. Game tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Editor's Note: Sunday's game was rained out. No word yet from the River Bandits as to when, or if, Anthony Bass will make his rehab start with the team.

Right-handed reliever will be second major leaguer in as many seasons to pitch rehab with River Bandits

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (June 21, 2014) - For a second consecutive season, the Houston Astros are sending a major league pitcher for a rehab assignment in the Quad Cities. Right-hander Anthony Bass is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with the River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday.

Bass's rehab appearance is the first by a major leaguer for the River Bandits since Astros right-hander Josh Fields pitched a pair of two-inning scoreless outings May 10 and May 13 at Modern Woodmen Park during the 2013 season.

"Bringing major league rehabs to the Quad Cities has been a long time goal of the Bandits, and we are delighted to be getting our second MLB rehab in the past 14 months," said team owner Dave Heller. "Quad Cities fans deserve to be seeing major league talent in our beautiful ballpark, and we will continue to work to bring more major league players to this great community."

Bass, 26, is 1-0 with two saves and a 4.50 ERA in 15 appearances, totaling 18 innings, for Houston this season. When he was placed on the disabled list May 14 (backdated to May 11) with a right intercostal strain, Bass led the Astros with four holds, and he had allowed just a .239 opponent's batting average. Bass has made 90 career Major League appearances with San Diego (2011-13) and Houston (2014). He was acquired by the Astros from the Padres along with cash considerations for a player to be named later (left-hander Patrick Schuster) on Dec. 11, 2013.