Bandits fall in extra innings at home

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By Steve Batterson | Wednesday, May 28, 2008 11:45 PM CDT | () comments

Midwest League baseball teams enjoyed an off day Tuesday.

The Quad-Cities River Bandits’ bats took an extended break, mustering two hits in a 4-1, 11-inning Midwest League loss to Burlington on Wednesday night.

Back-to-back homers by the Bees’ David Lough and Mike Moustakas with one out in the top of the 11th handed Quad-Cities its fourth straight loss at Modern Woodmen Park.

“It sounds a little crazy when you have just two hits, but this was a game we probably should have won. We certainly had our chances,’’ River Bandits manager Steve Dillard said.

Burlington frustrated Quad-Cities twice in the game’s later innings, leaving the bases full of River Bandits after one run scored in the eighth and stranding the potential winning run at third base in the 10th inning.

“We had our opportunities. We just didn’t do anything with them,’’ Dillard said. “That’s the tough part. The chances were there.’’

Starting pitchers Alex Caldera of Burlington and Brian Broderick of Quad-Cities didn’t provide many opportunities early.

Caldera limited the River Bandits to a two-out single in the fifth by Adron Chambers in the game’s first seven innings.

Broderick surrendered only a one-out homer to the Bees’ Clint Robinson during his four-inning start, and reliever Josh Wilson didn’t allow more than one baserunner in any of his three innings.

A leadoff single by Domnit Bolivar in the eighth eventually denied Caldera a chance to win. A pair of errors, one by catcher Ryan Eigsti and one by Adrian Ortiz in center after a fielder’s choice by Chambers, scored Quad-Cities’ lone run.

Chambers took second on the error and got to third after an error that allowed Jose Garcia to reach and a walk to Tommy Pham that loaded the bases and ended Calder’s start.

Chris Chavez struck out Pete Kozma and got Charlie Kingrey to fly out to deny the River Bandits.

Quad-Cities threatened in the 10th when Chambers was hit by a pitch to open the inning, took second on a wild pitch and took third on a sacrifice by Matt Arburr.

Garcia and Pham grounded out to end the inning and give Burlington a chance to end the game in the 11th with its back-to-back homers off of reliever Dylan Gonzalez (0-2).

“We didn’t get it done when we had our chances,’’ Dillard said. “What you’re looking for is good at-bats, and we didn’t get them. It’s almost like everybody is worried that something is going to happen. We just need to go play and see what we can do.’’

River Bandits scoreboard

The score

Burlington Bees 4, Quad-Cities River Bandits 1, 11 innings

On deck

Burlington Bees at Quad-Cities River Bandits, 7 p.m., today, Modern Woodmen Park. Probable pitchers: Burlington, Mark Diapoules (3-0, 2.08 ERA); Quad-Cities, Sam Runion (0-2, 3.86). Soap Opera Night and Thirst-day Thursday half-price beverages

Bandits make move

Quad-Cities made a roster move before the start of Wednesday’s game.

Outfielder D’Marcus Ingram, a .188 hitter in 22 games for the River Bandits, was placed on the disabled list after suffering an ankle injury during the weekend road trip to Kane County.

Taking his roster spot is Nick Peoples, an outfielder who was a 19th-round pick of the Cardinals last June out of the University of Texas, where he hit .329 last season with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 38 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 61 starts in center for the Longhorns.

Quick trip

Quad-Cities manager Steve Dillard took advantage of Tuesday’s off day for a quick trip to Milwaukee where his son, Tim, has had three scoreless relief outings for the Milwaukee Brewers since earning his first call-up to the major leagues last Friday.

The rest of the team had a day off Tuesday, the River Bandits’ only scheduled day off from May 1 through June 16.

A Polynesian feel

A handful of fans enjoyed opening night in the River Bandits’ new Tiki Village, a themed area that sits beyond the right field fence at Modern Woodmen Park.

Complete with a Tiki Lounge, a Tiki Bar and even the Midwest League’s only Tiki Bed — yes, a Tiki Bed — fans enjoyed a new view of baseball from the berm and were able to sample a few concoctions being sold only at the Tiki Bar, Mississippi Mai Thais and Tiki Bombs.

The Tiki Bar is open to the public during every home game and fans who happen to be in the area whenever a River Bandits player hits a “Tiki Bomb’’ — a home run hit into over over the area — the drink will be sold at a discount for the remainder of the inning.

Three-headed pitcher

A lineup card snafu at Kane County on Monday led to three members of the River Bandits’ starting tandem pitching rotation seeing action Wednesday.

Brian Broderick and Josh Wilson worked as scheduled, but Thomas Eager took the mound for two innings as well after recording the first out in Quad-Cities’ win at Kane County.

Eager was accidentally listed as the starting pitcher on Dillard’s lineup card in place of scheduled starter Eduardo Sanchez. When the error was pointed out by Cougars manager Aaron Nieckula, Eager was forced to quickly warm up and face the first batter of the game. He was then pulled from game in favor of Sanchez.

Mom’s night out

Rescheduled from an earlier rainout, the River Bandits’ celebrated Mother’s Day on Wednesday.

The club handed out carnations, provided free manicures and gave away a spa treatment.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.