McDonald and Mitchell hit home runs, team posts eight stolen bases for first time in more than a decade

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 28, 2014) - Designated hitter Chase McDonald hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the fifth inning, and second baseman Chan-Jong Moon became the first Quad Cities player in more than 15 years to steal four bases in a game, leading the River Bandits to a 9-5 win over the Beloit Snappers in front of 1,465 at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.

Led by Moon's four stolen bases - the best single-game mark by a Quad Cities player since at least 1998 - Quad Cities (26-26) stole eight bases, which was the highest single-game showing for the team since at least 2003. Moon stole one base in the first inning, two in the third inning and one in the sixth inning to raise his team-leading season total to 23. Catcher Brett Booth, left fielder Ronnie Mitchell, first baseman Jon Kemmer and shortstop Thomas Lindauer also each stole one base.

Beloit (23-29) jumped to an early lead against left-hander Chris Lee, as shortstop Melvin Mercedes hit a first-inning, one-out double, and designated hitter Jaycob Brugman hit thre first of his two home runs to right field for a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first inning, Snappers right-hander Bobby Wahl (0-4) allowed a leadoff walk to center fielder James Ramsay, and a wild pickoff throw sent Ramsay to third base. Moon drove in Ramsay with an infield single, stole second base, went to third base on a passed ball and scored the tying run on a single by right fielder Brett Phillips. Another wild pickoff by Wahl sent Phillips to third base, and McDonald lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in the go-ahead run. Lindauer added a fourth-inning RBI double to make it 4-2.

Lee worked around a baserunner in each of the second through fourth innings to keep Beloit off the scoreboard. In the fifth, Snappers catcher Jose Chavez hit a leadoff double, Mercedes drew a one-out walk, and Brugman went deep for the second time to give his team a 5-4 lead. Lee was removed after 4 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Right-hander Patrick Christensen (3-1) walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases before escaping the inning. Christensen went on to work 2 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding one hit and walking three batters while striking out two.

In the fifth inning against Wahl, Phillips led off with an infield single, and McDonald drove an 0-1 offering high down the left-field line for his second home run of the season and a 6-5 River Bandits lead. Kemmer followed with a single, stole second base and reached third on Chavez's throwing error, and scored on Mitchell's sacrifice fly off right-hander Stuart Pudenz, making it 7-5. Wahl was charged with seven runs - five earned - on nine hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. In the sixth inning, Pudenz walked Lindauer, allowed a single by Ramsay and bunt single by Moon to load the bases, and Phillips hit the team's third sacrifice fly for an 8-5 lead.

Moon and Mitchell tied for the game high with three hits, and the latter hit his fourth home run in the last eight games off right-hander Tyler Vail in the seventh inning for a 9-5 lead. Right-hander Andrew Walter held the score there with scoreless eighth and ninth innings.

Quad Cities continues the series against Beloit at 7 p.m. Thursday, when right-hander Michael Feliz (1-1) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (2-2).

UP NEXT: All ladies age 18 and over receive $2 off ANY regular ticket to the Ladies Night game at 7 p.m. Thursday. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the team store will offer 10% off women's apparel. Ladies 21 and over receive 2-for-1 $2 drink vouchers on Thirst-Day Thursday, which features $2 drink specials presented by Rock 104-9 and the River Cities' Reader. 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.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, followed by a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

Ramsay draws four walks, Mitchell goes 3-for-5 with a home runs as Quad Cities wins 10-9

BURLINGTON, Iowa (May 27, 2014) - In a game that featured five lead changes and three ties, the River Bandits ended up on top of the Burlington Bees 10-9 Tuesday at Community Field. It was Quad Cities' first one-run win since beating Beloit 6-5 on May 8.

After a three-run Burlington sixth put the Bees up 9-8, Brian Holberton, who went 2-for-5, led off the top of the seventh with a bloop double down the leftfield line. A wild pitch from Bees reliever Spencer Trygg (0-1) advanced Holberton to third, but he held there after a groundout by Jack Mayfield. The next batter, Ronnie Mitchell, drilled a two-run home run to right to put the River Bandits up for good at 10-9. Mitchell finished 3-for-5 with a triple shy of the cycle.

The Bandits got the scoring started in the top of the first. James Ramsay drew his first of four walks to lead off the game and scored when Chan-Jong Moon tripled down the rightfield line. Brett Phillips walked, and then with runners on first and third, Quad Cities executed a double steal to score Moon and make the score 2-0.

However, Burlington answered right back in the home half of the first. Kody Eaves doubled to lead off the inning and Exicardo Cayones walked against Quad Cities starter Andrew Thurman. Mike Fish flew out to right, but then Thurman surrendered an RBI single to Eric Aguilera and a three-run home run to Angel Rosa as Burlington grabbed a 4-2 advantage.

Thurman would battle to work a career-high 5.1 innings, but allowed eight runs on 10 hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.

Quad Cities tied things up again in the third. Moon singled to start off the frame. Phillips then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error on the third baseman Rosa allowed Moon to score all the way from first, with Phillips reaching third. After Chase McDonald was hit by a pitch from Burlington starter Clint Sharp, who gave up eight runs, five earned on seven hits in 4.1 frames, a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Holberton scored Phillips and tied the game at five.

Jon Kemmer homered for the fourth time this season to give Quad Cities a 6-5 lead in the top of the fourth, but Burlington tallied a run in the bottom half with Stephen McGee scoring from third on a passed ball to knot things up again.

In the top of the fifth, Holberton drilled a one-out solo homer, his fourth of the year, to right-center and the Bandits held a 7-6 advantage. Tyler White then doubled and advanced to third and then home, respectively, on two wild pitches to give Quad Cities an 8-6 lead.

Albert Minnis worked 2.2 innings out of the bullpen to earn the win. Minnis (1-1) scattered four hits to allow only one run while fanning two. Frederick Tiburcio worked a scoreless ninth with two punchouts for his first career save as Quad Cities salvaged the three-game set to improve to 25-26.

The River Bandits will Chris Lee (2-2, 2.77 ERA) to the mound tomorrow as they begin a three-game series with the Beloit Snappers.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 22, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits left fielder Ronnie Mitchell homered for a second straight game and had a game-high four RBIs, six players had multi-hit games, and every player in the lineup contributed one of the team's 15 hits in an 11-6 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 4,387 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.

Cedar Rapids (22-24) took the first lead of the game in the second inning against left-hander Chris Lee (2-2). Third baseman Bryan Haar hit a one-out infield single, left fielder J.D. Williams walked, and a two-out ground ball by catcher Michael Quesada got through shortstop Thomas Lindauer to score a run. In the next half-inning against right-hander Aaron Slegers (4-2), third baseman Tyler White and designated hitter Brian Holberton hit consecutive singles, and Mitchell lifted a game-tying sacrifice fly to center field.

In the top of the third inning, Kernels first baseman Chad Christensen hit a two-out single and scored on designated hitter Mitch Garver's double down the third-base line. Haar then doubled to right-center field, bringing home Garver for a 3-1 Kernels lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Quad Cities (22-23) used its highest-scoring inning of the season to take a commanding lead. With one out, second baseman Chan-Jong Moon singled to right field, and right fielder Brett Phillips put a bunt single to the third-base side of the pitcher's mound. After a double steal by Moon and Phillips, first baseman Conrad Gregor hit a game-tying double down the right-field line. White then collected his 11th hit in four games against the Kernels with a go-ahead double down the left-field line. Designated hitter Brian Holberton singled up the the middle to put runners at first and third bases, and Mitchell drove a 1-0 offering from Slegers to the Built Ford Tough Deck in right field for a 7-3 lead. The six runs were the most in a single inning for Quad Cities this season.

The River Bandits added on to the lead in the fourth, when center fielder James Ramsay hit a leadoff double to the center field fence, followed by Moon's RBI double down the right-field line. Phillips then hit an RBI triple - his team-high seventh of the season - to right-center field, and Gregor singled him home for his third RBI and a 10-3 lead. Having given up hits to 10 of the last 12 batters, Slegers was removed without recording an out in the fourth inning. He was charged with 10 earned runs on 14 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

Lee allowed a walk and single for another run in the fifth inning but completed the frame for his first Midwest League win as a starter. He allowed four runs - two earned - on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Right-hander Andrew Thurman began the sixth inning and with one out, he allowed a single and back-to-back walks before a bases-loaded groundout brought in a run. Thurman retired eight of the last nine batters he faced in three innings, with the exception an eighth-inning, one-out solo home run by center fielder Jason Kanzler to the DHCU On Deck in right-center field. Thurman allowed two earned runs on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

The River Bandits tallied their final run in the seventh, when White led off with a hit-by-pitch against right-hander Yorman Landa and scored on Lindauer's RBI single. With an 11-6 lead, right-hander Frederick Tiburcio tossed a scoreless ninth inning in his home debut.

With sole possession of fourth place in the Western Division, Quad Cities will continue its series with Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. Friday, when River Bandits right-hander Michael Feliz (1-1) is scheduled to face Kernels right-hander Ryan Eades (3-5).

UP NEXT: A limited number of tickets are still available for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation May 24. Only the first 300 will be sold for the noon to 3 p.m. event at Modern Woodmen Park. Call 563-421-6865 or visit Modern Woodmen park to order tickets. 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.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 20, 2014) - Right-hander Adrian Houser held the Burlington Bees to one run in six innings to win his third straight start, and the Quad Cities River Bandits tallied 13 hits in a 7-1 victory Tuesday in front of 5,176 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Throwing the game's first pitch less than 12 hours after Monday night's 12-inning game ended, Houser (3-1) worked around a one-out single for a scoreless first inning, and his teammates reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Center fielder James Ramsay reached on an error by Bees first baseman Eric Aguilera, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored after singles by shortstop Jack Mayfield and catcher Brett Booth for a 1-0 lead against right-hander Harrison Cooney (2-3).

Houser allowed consecutive one-out singles in the second inning but escaped with two groundouts to end the inning. Burlington (20-23) finally reached him in the third inning, as second baseman Kody Eaves hit a leadoff double to left-center field, and designated hitter Mike Fish hit a one-out, game-tying single to center field. It ended Houser's scoreless streak of 13 1/3 innings, but he got Aguilera to ground into an inning-ending double play, beginning a stretch of 10 batters he retired consecutively to finish his six innings, matching his season high.

In the bottom of the third inning, Quad Cities (21-23) retook the lead within three batters against Cooney. Second baseman Chan-Jong Moon reached on an infield single to first base, shortstop Jack Mayfield singled to center field to put runners at first and third bases, and first baseman Conrad Gregor grounded a go-ahead single to right field. When right fielder Exicardo Cayones overthrew third base, Mayfield tried to score but was thrown out. Cooney got the next two batters to keep the game at 2-1, but he allowed another run in the fourth inning, left fielder Tanner Mathis and center fielder James Ramsay hit consecutive two-out doubles.

The River Bandits put the game out of reach in the fifth inning. Gregor reached second base on a throwing error by second baseman Kody Eaves, and Booth hit his second RBI single of the day to left field. That ended Cooney's outing, but right-hander Michael Smith allowed an RBI double by third baseman Tyler White and an RBI fielder's choice by Mathis to make it 6-1. Quad Cities added its final run against right-hander Victor Alcantara, who began the sixth inning and worked two scoreless innings before giving up consecutive one-out doubles by right fielder Brett Phillips and Ramsay in the eighth inning, extending the Quad Cities lead to 7-1. Ramsay and Booth each had two hits and two RBIs. Moon and Mayfield also each had two hits, and a total of nine River Bandits contributed at least one of the team's 13 hits.

After Houser went six innings, allowing five hits and one earned run with four strikeouts, right-hander Tyler Brunnemann began the seventh inning. He worked around a one-out walk in the seventh and kept Burlington hitless until the ninth inning, when Aguilera doubled to right field, snapping the Bees' combined 0-for-17 stretch since Fish's third-inning hit. Brunnemann then got a strikeouts and groundout to complete a career-high three innings and earn his first Midwest League save.

Quad Cities and Burlington will meet for the series rubber match at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (0-0) is scheduled to make his first Midwest League start against Bees right-hander Ryan Etsell (3-1).

UP NEXT: A limited number of tickets are still available for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation May 24. Only the first 300 will be sold for the noon to 3 p.m. event at Modern Woodmen Park. Call 563-421-6865 or visit Modern Woodmen park to order tickets. 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.