Clinton Lumberkings at Quad City River Bandits
April 12th, 2002
| Clinton |
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2 |
6 |
1 |
| Quad City |
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E-Thissen, Kuhaulua 2, Romero, LOB CLI-5, QC-5, 2B-Thissen, Tomlin, Torres, CS-Torres, SACB-Thissen, GIDP-Brown, Agar
SO-Rombley, Labandeira, Brown, Louisa 2, Williams 2, McMillan 3, Kerner 2, Tomblin, Kuhaulua, J.Mauer, Torres, Agar, BB-J.Mauer, Torres
T-2:12, A-428
U-Chris Griffith, Chris Tiller
Quad City Times
by Steve Batterson
Michael Sandoval was thinking fastball, but Clinton threw a curve into his plans Friday night.
Sandoval deposited the curveball he got into right field, driving in two runs with a two out single in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Quad City River Bandits secure a 4-2 victory at John O'Donnell Stadium.
The win ended a five game Midwest League losing streak and seemingly lifted the weight of the world off the shoulder of a 2-6 team that struggled through the first week of the season.
"This feels good for the team. This is a team that can win a lot of games and we needed to get this game tonight". said Sandoval, a Venezuela native who plays third base for the Bandits.
"We came out tonight thinking about winning the game. We came here thinking about getting to the playoff. We are going to be a good team. It is time we showed it."
Quad City showed that in almost every way Friday. Pitchers Josmir Romero and Jannio Gutierrez combined to strike out 12 and did not walk a batter in their six hit victory.
At the plate, the River Bandits spread out eight hits, collected a pair of clutch two out hits and , more importantly played with the consistent desire that manager Jeff Carter had been seeking.
"If we didn't do anything else, I wanted to see us play hard for nine innings, which we did. We gave ourselves a chance to win, and when the chance was there we went out and won the game." Carter said, "Now we have to go do that all over again. We can't be satisfied with one win."
Clinton made the Bandits earn their first win in a week. Romero found himself in a pair of early jame, but Quad Ciy helped itself by turning a pair of double plays and limiting Clinton to single runs in the second and third innings.
"That was big," Clinton manager Dave Machemer said, "We had a chance to get a good lead early. They'd lost a few in a row, and if we put some runs on the board it could have been a different story. Instead, we gave them a chance and they came back."
Notes
Starting pitcher Josmir Romero sensed a different attitude Friday when he arrived at John O'Donnell Stadium.
"It seemed like a different team," Romero said, "We all talked after the loss (Thursday) night and decided that we just needed to play ball. We came out and everybody was together."
Quad City manager Jeff Carter said Romero and reliever Jannio Gutierrez set the perfect tone as they combined to strike out 12 batters and not issue a single walk in the River Bandits win.
Gutierrez struck out the side in the ninth after Quad City rallied to take it's first lead of the game.
"Both of those guys pitched aggressively all night. They didn't back down," Carter said. "It was just what we needed."
Romero had to work out of trouble early. He was helped by double plays in the first and third innings. In the second, when the first three LumberKings he faced reached base. Romero struck out three. He also overcame two errors, including one of his own, while giving up one run in an inning that could have turned into a big one for Clinton.
"The way he worked through those situations let the other players know that he was doing his best to help the team and that attitude sort of rubbed off." Carter said.
Romero, a reliever who was making a spot start because of injuries and a doubleheader earlier in the week, said he was just trying to do what he could to help his teammates shake a five game losing streak.
"We needed that. It's been a long week," he said, "The whole thing I had to do tonight was keep the ball low. They couldn't hit it when I kept it low. When I did that, I did fine."
One for the road
Playing at John O'Donnell Stadium for the final time untill at least June, Davenport Assumption graduate Greg Thissen went 1 for 3 Friday for Clinton. Thissen scored a run after opening the third inning with a double. He also laid down a succesful sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning.
Thissen's game included a diving stop that robbed the River Bandits Barry Quickstad of a hit in the third inning.
Still streaking
Although the Quad City River Bandits haven't exactly been tearing it up at the play, outfielder Jason Kubel has quietly put together a six game hitting streak.
After going hitless in Quad City first two games of the season, Kubel has collected one hit in each of the River Bandits past six games, including a fourth inning single Friday that drove home Joe Mauer to tie the score at 2-2.
Hit or miss
A week into the Midwest League season, the River Bandits pitching staff leads the league with 90 strikeouts. Quad City pitchers also top the league with 31 walks.
How They Scored
Kings 2nd
Matt Brown reached on a two base throwing error by pitcher Josmir Romero, took third when Lorvin Louisa singled to center, scored when Clyde Williams singled to right. Drew McMillan struck out. Anthony Ambrosini reached on a fielding error by shortstop Kaulana Kuhaulua loading the bases. Craig Kerner struck out. Danny Rombley struck out
Kings 1, Bandits 0
Kings 3rd
Greg Thissen doubled to right, advancing to third when Labandeira singled to right, scored when Brown grounded into a double play. Louisa struck out.
Kings 2, Bandits 0
Bandits 3rd
Cory Agar singled to left, was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Barry Quickstad. Quickstad took third on a groundout to second by Jake Mauer. James Tomlin singled to left, scoring Quickstad. Kuhaulua lined out to right.
Kings 2, Bandits 1
Bandits 4th
Joe Mauer walked, advancing to third when Digno Torres doubled to right center. Michael Sandoval flew out to right. Jason Kubel singled to left, scoring Mauer and moving Torres to third. Agar grounded into a double play.
Kings 2, Bandits 2
Bandits 8th
Jake Mauer flew out to right. Tomlin doubled to center, advanceing to third when Kuhaulua singled to left. Joe Mauer struck out. Matt Abram walked, loading the bases. Michael Sandoval singled to right, scoring Tomlin and Kuhaulua and moving Abram to second. Kubel flew out to right.