GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Quad Cities River Bandits shut out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8-0 on Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field. Quad Cities scored four runs in the first and two runs in the second to take a commanding lead early in the contest. Three Quad Cities hurlers scattered seven hits to hand Wisconsin its third shutout this month.
The River Bandits (62-61 overall, 32-26 second half) jumped to the early lead. Wisconsin starting pitcher Ryan Birchard walked the lead-off batter on four pitches. Then, Spencer Nivens hit a home run to right on the ninth pitch of his at bat for a 2-0 lead. Birchard got the first out with a strikeout but walked the next two batters. Dustin Dickerson followed with a double to right to plate both runners for a 4-0 lead. Birchard gave up a single to the next batter and that was it for him as he had compiled 36 pitches against the first seven batters of the game.
Jeferson Figueroa got the final two outs of the first inning with no more damage. In the top of the second, Figueroa walked Nivens with one out before getting a strikeout for out number two of the frame. Trevor Werner made Figueroa pay for the walk when he launched a high fly to left that just stayed fair for a two-run homer and a 6-0 lead.
Quad Cities added another run in the fifth against Tyler Bryant on a two-out, RBI double by Omar Hernandez.
Wisconsin (74-49, 32-25) managed two hits off Bandits starting pitcher Frank Mozzicato over four innings. They would get something rolling in the fifth against reliever Shane Panzini.
Matt Wood singled to start the fifth. Then, with one out, Felix Valerio walked and Eduarqui Fernandez singled. However, Panzini got out of the inning on a popup and a routine flyout to right.
Hoby Milner, on a rehabilitation assignment from the Milwaukee Brewers, pitched a scoreless top of the sixth for the Rattlers. He threw just nine pitches against four batter and only allowed a two-out double to Jac Caglianone, the top pick of the Kansas City Royals in the 2024 draft. There were two weak grounders and a soft foul popout for the other three batters to face Milner in the inning.
The final run of the game scored against Victor Torres, Wisconsin’s backup catcher who was called into action for the top of the ninth. Caglianone doubled and Werner singled to put runners on the corners. Carson Roccaforte’s fly to left was dropped, but an out was recorded at second for the first out as Caglianone scored on what was ruled a sacrifice fly for an 8-0 lead.
The Timber Rattlers have been shutout four times this season, but three times this month, including twice by Quad Cities, a team that is looking more likely to be Wisconsin’s playoff opponent in the Midwest League playoffs.
The River Bandits maintained their two-game lead over the Peoria Chiefs for the second half West Division playoff spot with their win tonight. The Chiefs staged a comeback win at Beloit tonight to remain in the race. The losses by Beloit and Cedar Rapids on Friday night have knocked them both five games behind Quad Cities with eight games remaining in the season.
Game five of the series is Saturday night. Will Rudy (5-7, 4.66) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities has named Hunter Owen (6-7, 4.41) as their starter. Game time is 6:40pm CDT
Tomorrow is the final night of Bratoberfest presented by Jones Dairy Farm. There is a Bratoberfest Ticket Offer for those 21 and older that includes a box seat ticket, a Beer Bat, and a free fill up of your new Beer Bat. That ticket package is available here. Plus, the team is wearing their one-of-a-kind Wisconsin Brats jerseys. Those jerseys are available for you to bid on in an online auction here.
Tom Enneper’s Old Time Memories Band has the pregame entertainment outside the stadium from 5:00 to 6:15pm. The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a Brice Turang bobblehead courtesy of Cher-Make. The current Brewers second baseman is depicted in his Brats jersey from his 2019 season with the Timber Rattlers. Bluey will be at this game, too. There is a special ticket package for the fan you know that includes a box seat ticket, hot dog, chips, soda, and a photo opportunity with Bluey. The evening ends with post-game fireworks and Kids Run the Bases courtesy of Meijer.
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