Wisconsin scores five unanswered runs and shuts out Quad Cities for eight innings in series rubber match
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (May 14, 2014) - Third baseman Taylor Brennan broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run double to start a four-run Wisconsin fourth inning Wednesday night, and Timber Rattlers pitchers shut out the Quad Cities River Bandits for the final eight innings of a 5-1 win in the finale of a three-game series at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
Quad Cities (18-20) scored its only run in the first inning against right-hander Barrett Astin (4-2). Center fielder Brett Phillips led off the game with a double to left-center field, went to second base on a sacrifice by second baseman Chan-Jong Moon and scored on shortstop Jack Mayfield's groundout. It was the only run against Astin, who yielded just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings. He did not allow a runner past second base after the first inning.
In the bottom of the first, Timber Rattlers second baseman Chris McFarland reached on an errant throw by Moon and went to second base when the ball went into the first-base dugout. Designated hitter Clint Coulter lined a game-tying single to left-center field, but left-hander Evan Grills (1-1) escaped the inning by inducing a ground-ball double play.
Grills worked around leadoff singles in the second and third innings to keep the score 1-1. In the fourth, Coulter hit a leadoff single, followed by consecutive walks of left fielder Jose Pena and right fielder Michael Ratterree. With the bases loaded, Brennan shot a line drive just inside the third-base line that scored Coulter, Pena and Ratterree for a 4-1 lead. After a flyout and groundout, shortstop Angel Ortega grounded a double past River Bandits third baseman Tyler White to score Brennan for a 5-1 Wisconsin lead.
After Ortega's hit, Grills retired nine of the next 11 batters he faced. With one out in the sixth, he walked Brennan, who was thrown out as the second runner caught stealing by catcher Brett Booth. After becoming the first River Bandit this season to pitch six innings May 2, Grills became the first River Bandit to complete seven innings Wednesday. He allowed five runs - four earned - on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts against Wisconsin (18-20).
Quad Cities' best chance to come back was in the eighth inning against right-hander Rodolfo Fernandez. Beginning his second inning out of the bullpen following Astin, Fernandez allowed a leadoff single by right fielder Ronnie Mitchell, and one-out singles by Phillips and Moon to load the bases. But Mayfield struck out looking, and first baseman Conrad Gregor grounded to second base to end the inning.
After River Bandits left-hander Chris Cotton pitched a perfect eighth inning, Fernandez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to complete three scoreless relief innings, allowing four hits while striking out four batters for his first save of the season.
Quad Cities opens a four-game series against first-place Kane County (26-13) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Geneva, Ill. River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser (1-1) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Duane Underwood (0-0).
UP NEXT: The official lighting of the Ferris Wheel will be a part of Markdown Monday when the River Bandits open their next homestand May 19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and bleacher tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer are just $2 each for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available online at www.riverbandits.com. Don't miss the great light show that comes with the new Ferris Wheel! To order any of the 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.
