Beloit will host Quad Cities Monday night to decide Midwest League Western Division Championship

BELOIT, Wis. (SEPT. 8, 2013) - Beloit Snappers second baseman Christopher Bostick hit a two-run home run in the first inning to put his team ahead to stay and finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs in a 4-3 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits in Game 2 of the Midwest League Western Division final at Pohlman Field Sunday night.

Beloit tied the best-of-three series at one game apiece and forced Game 3 at its home ballpark at 6:30 p.m. Monday, when the winner will advance to the Midwest League Championship. River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor (8-3) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Derek DeYoung (8-5). Sunday's loss ended a string of 10 straight postseason victories for Quad Cities.

The Snappers jumped to a lead against right-hander Zach Morton (0-1) in the first inning, as left fielder Aaron Shipman hit a leadoff single, and Bostick hit the first pitch he saw with one out over the left-field fence for his second postseason home run and a 2-0 Snappers lead. Later in the inning, Morton allowed consecutive two-out singles by third baseman Renato Nunez, right fielder John Wooten and center fielder Brett Vertigan, whose hit scored Nunez but ended with Wooten being thrown out between third and second bases.

Trailing 3-0, the River Bandits came back against right-hander Kyle Finnegan in the second inning. Third baseman Rio Ruiz drew a leadoff walk and reached third base on two groundouts. First baseman Jobduan Morales walked ahead of designated hitter Brian Blasik, who beat out a ground ball to the right side for an infield RBI single. Second baseman Tony Kemp lined a single to right field that scored Morales, but center fielder Teoscar Hernandez grounded out to end the inning with a 3-2 deficit.

Bostick helped the Snappers respond in the second inning, when Morton allowed two walks before Bostick lined a two-out RBI single to left field for a 4-2 Snappers advantage. Morton went 1 2/3 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. Right-hander Jamaine Cotton struck out first baseman Matt Olson on the way to starting 3 1/3 hitless innings of relief.

Finnegan left after walking the first two batters in the third. Right-hander Deyvi Jimenez entered and got a flyout and double play, but he allowed a leadoff bunt single by right fielder Jordan Scott in the fourth, when Kemp drew a walk, and Hernandez reached on an RBI infield single. Shortstop Carlos Correa walked to load the bases and force Jimenez out of the game. Left-hander Chris Lamb faced left fielder Danry Vasquez but threw a pitch in the dirt, and Kemp was tagged out trying to score on the final play of the inning, keeping the home team's lead at 4-3. It was the final time Quad Cities had the tying run at third base, as the visitors left 10 runners on base.

Quad Cities got two scoreless innings from left-hander J.D. Osborne and one shutout frame from right-hander Patrick Christensen to finish a 6 1/3-inning scoreless effort by the bullpen. Beloit used Lamb for 1 1/3 innings, then Kris Hall for a scoreless sixth inning, and right-hander Nolan Sanburn for two scoreless innings, although he worked out of a first-and-second, no-out jam in the eighth by getting a forceout on a bunt attempt and inducing a ground-ball double play. Right-hander Austin House allowed Hernandez to reach on a Nunez error in the ninth inning, but Vasquez struck out swinging with the tying run at second base to end the game.

Quad Cities can advance to Midwest League Championship with win Sunday or Monday in Beloit

DAVENPORT, Iowa (SEPT. 7, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits' dominant postseason pitching continued for a third straight game, as left-hander Josh Hader allowed one run on three hits in a career-high seven innings Saturday night, and the bullpen finished a 3-1 win over the Beloit Snappers in Game 1 of the Midwest League Western Division final in front of 1,760 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Quad Cities took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and can advance to the Midwest League Championship with a victory Sunday or Monday in Beloit, where Quad Cities went 5-2 as the visiting team this season. Dating back to the 2011 playoffs, the River Bandits have won 10 straight postseason games. Quad Cities has won 16 of 19 games overall and allowed only four hits for a third straight game.

Hader (1-0), who had starts of 6 1/3 and 6 2/3 innings with Delmarva in the South Atlantic League and twice worked six innings in the regular season for Quad Cities, faced one batter over the minimum Saturday. He allowed a first-inning leadoff single by left fielder Aaron Shipman, who was thrown out trying to steal second base. After a walk to designated hitter Ryan Mathews, Hader induced one of his team's two double plays. Hader had set down eight straight batters before Mathews hit a home run to left field with one out in the fourth inning. Hader then faced the minimum the rest of his outing, allowing only a fifth-inning leadoff single by right fielder John Wooten, who was retired as part of a double play. After allowing two earned runs on two hits and six walks with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings against Beloit last Sunday, Hader walked one and struck out one batter Saturday.

The River Bandits beat their opponent to the scoreboard for the first time in the playoffs. In the first inning, center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a one-hopper to shortstop Sam Roberts, who bobbled the ball and threw it into the first-base dugout to allow Hernandez to reach second base. Shortstop Carlos Correa dropped a single in front of left fielder Aaron Shipman to score Hernandez for a 1-0 lead.

In the third inning against right-hander Andres Avila (0-1), designated hitter Brian Blasik hit a leadoff single to left-center field, and second baseman Tony Kemp singled to right field. With one out, Correa drove a sacrifice fly to center field to score Blasik and make it 2-0. Avila left after 4 2/3 innings, having allowed six hits and two runs - one earned. Right-hander Vincent Voiro walked third baseman Rio Ruiz with one out in the sixth inning, and right fielder Jordan Scott drove an RBI double to left-center field for a 3-1 lead.

After Hader, left-hander Mitchell Lambson pitched a perfect eighth inning with one strikeout. For a third straight playoff game, right-hander Andrew Walter pitched the final inning. He allowed a two-out single by Shipman but earned his second postseason save by striking out Mathews to end the game with Shipman at first base - the only runner Beloit left on base. The two-hour, 10-minute game was shorter than any nine-inning regular season game for Quad Cities this season.

Saturday's River Bandits victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount Sunday, Sept. 8. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Sunday, Sept. 8. Quad Cities will travel to Beloit for Game 2 at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. River Bandits right-hander Zach Morton (0-1) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Kyle Finnegan (1-1).

River Bandits continue $1 drink and food specials, $5 for all regular individual seating

DAVENPORT, Iowa (SEPT. 6, 2013) - With a first-round sweep in the Midwest League playoffs, the Quad Cities River Bandits have advanced to the best-of-three Midwest League Western Division final, and the promotions take another step forward for Saturday's 5:35 p.m. Game 1 against the Beloit Snappers at Modern Woodmen Park.

With a Mega Tablet Giveaway, the River Bandits will give away nine tablets - one during each inning of Saturday's game - courtesy of Video Games, ETC.! The River Bandits will also auction their game-worn batting practice jerseys from this season on Saturday, with proceeds to benefit the Genesis Foundation. A postgame fireworks show will also take place at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, and the team will continue offering 12-ounce beer and soda for just $1 each, as well as $1 hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos. All regular individual seats are now on sale for $5 each.

"The playoffs are a perfect opportunity for us to say thank you to the people of the Quad Cities by offering discounted tickets, discounted food and drink, a great fireworks show and a huge new promotion," said River Bandits co-owner Dave Heller. "Our fans will have incredible opportunities to bid on the game-worn batting practice jerseys of this year's exciting River Bandits team, win a brand new Android tablet, and enjoy great deals on tickets and concessions - all capped off by another fireworks show at the Best Minor League Ballpark in the country!"

Groups may call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000 to book a group area or suite for the Saturday, Sept. 7, game.

Game 2 of the Western Division final will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Pohlman Field in Beloit, and Game 3, if necessary, would be at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Beloit. Every River Bandits game is broadcasted live presented by Mediacom at www.riverbandits.com.

The River Bandits advanced to the Midwest League Western Division final for the second time in three years Thursday with a two-game sweep of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, who finished the regular season with a Midwest League-leading 88 victories. Quad Cities has now won nine straight postseason games dating back to the 2011 Midwest League Championship run. Quad Cities has won five Midwest League Championships: 1968, 1971, 1979, 1990 and 2011.

UP NEXT: Saturday's playoff game will again feature all regular individual seats for $5 each, and 12-ounce beer and soda, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos will each be $1. Tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: 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 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The playoffs will likely be the last chance for Quad Cities fans to see 2012 No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa and many other future stars in a River Bandits uniform.

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Quad Cities advances to Western Division final and will host Beloit for Game 1 on Saturday

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (SEPT. 5, 2013) - For a second straight night, the Quad Cities River Bandits held the potent Cedar Rapids Kernels offense in check on Thursday night, and third baseman Rio Ruiz hit a go-ahead home run in a three-run fourth inning leading to a 4-2 win and two-game sweep of the Midwest League Western Division semifinal at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Quad Cities won its ninth straight postseason game, dating back to the 2011 Midwest League Championship run, and ended the season for the Kernels, who had a league-high 88 regular-season wins. The River Bandits will host the Beloit Snappers for Game 1 of the Midwest League Western Division Final on Saturday. Beloit swept its division semifinal against the Clinton LumberKings Thursday. Saturday's game time will be announced on Friday, and second-round tickets will be available beginning at noon Friday.

The Kernels took the first lead for a second straight game, as center fielder Jonathan Murphy led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left field off left-hander Joe Bircher (1-0). But Bircher bounced back to retire six straight hitters and work around single baserunners in the third and fourth innings. In the fifth he allowed a two-out double by third baseman Joel Licon and Murphy to reach on an error by shortstop Carlos Correa, but Bircher fanned shortstop Niko Goodrum to strike out the side. He completed five innings and gave up one earned run on three hits while striking out four batters.

The River Bandits tied the game against right-hander Tim Shibuya (0-1) in the second inning, as third baseman Rio Ruiz worked a two-out walk, and catcher Roberto Pena drove him in with a double down the left-field line. In a 1-1 tie, the visitors loaded the bases in the third inning, but Shibuya got a strikeout and groundout to escape the jam.

Ruiz broke the tie by launching the first pitch of the fourth inning to the base of the scoreboard in right-center field for the first River Bandits playoff home run since Game 3 of the 2011 Championship. Pena then reached on an infield single, and right fielder Jordan Scott placed a bunt single to first base. A sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position, and with two outs, center fielder Teoscar Hernandez grounded a two-run single through the left side of the infield for a 4-1 lead.

The Kernels managed to rally in the sixth inning against left-hander J.D. Osborne, as second baseman Jorge Polanco hit a leadoff double and right fielder Adam Brett Walker drew a walk. Polanco scored on a groundout, but right-hander Patrick Christensen came in to strike out designated hitter Travis Harrison. Christensen worked perfect seventh and eighth innings to retire all seven batters in 2 1/3 innings. For a second straight night, right-hander Andrew Walter pitched a perfect ninth inning, completing a game-ending string of 11 consecutive batters retired by the bullpen, which allowed only one run on two hits in the series. After leading the league in runs scored in the regular season, the Kernels had three combined runs on eight total hits in two postseason games.

Thursday's River Bandits victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount Friday, Sept. 6. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Friday, Sept. 6.

UP NEXT:Saturday's playoff game will again feature all regular individual seats for $5 each, and 12-ounce beer and soda, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos will each be $1. Tickets will go on sale Friday at noon at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: 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 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see 2012 No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa and the River Bandits in the playoffs. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

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