Quad City River Bandits at Burlington Bees
April 18th, 2004
| Quad City |
|
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
5 |
3 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
|
13 |
11 |
2 |
| Burlington |
|
|
7 |
0 |
3 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
14 |
18 |
2 |
E-Peterson, Whitrock, Donachie, Keim, LOB QC-7, BUR-12, 2B-Garcia, Whitrock, Sanchez 3, Donachie, Sevilla, HR-Whitrock 2, Pattee, Moses, Lubanski, SB-Barry
HB-Doanchie (Barrett), Peterson (Gragg), Garcia (Gragg), Span (Gragg), McFall (Tautor), WP-Barrett, Burgos, PB-Johnson, BK-Burgos, BB-Graham, Maier
U-Mark Ripperger, Clinton Mahan
T-3:27, A-517
Burlington Hawk Eye
by John Bohnenkamp
Chris Lubanski's three run home run in the third inning gave the Burlington Bees a nine run lead Sunday.
Lubanski didn't plan on having to slide across home plate with the winning run eight innings later.
"When you have a high scoring game, and the wind's blowing like it was today, things can get pretty crazy," The Bees' centerfielder said.
No kidding
Adam Donachie's two out single in the 11th inning drove in Lubanski to give the Bees a 14-13 Class A Midwest League win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Community Field.
Crazy, indeed, on a day where a 20 mph wind that gusted in the 30s at times was blowing out.
Consider: The Bees scored seven runs in the first inning after Lubanski's home run had a 10-1 lead with two outs in the third inning. The losing team had more home runs (4) than the winning team (1), The Bandits refense was involved in three playes where Bees batters reached base or advanced after someone fell to the ground. The two teams combined for 30 hits, but six hitters, the Bandits, Josh Johnson, Brock Peterson and Denard Span, and Burlington's Adam Keim, Mitch Maier and Brian McFall went hitless. Span did score two runs, and Keim and McFall each reached base once.
On a day with all of this offense, the Bandits go ahead run in a three run eighth inning scored on....a hit by pitch. Burlington reliever John Gregg hit three batters in his 3 2/3 innings of work, and was the winning pitcher. The two teams combined for 95 at bats.
"It was a weird game," Bees manager Jim Gabella said, "It was kind of a negative, giving away the lead that we had. But it was a positive that we were able to bounce back and get the win. Giving back a lead, then coming back to win, that's huge."
Burlington, which squanderd a bases loaded opportunity in the 10th inning, got the win one inning later. Bryan Graham led off the inning with a walk, but was erased on Lubanski's ground out to shortstop. Lubanski who reached base in all seven of his plate appearances, beat the throw to first.
"He had great at bats all day," Gabella said.
Lubanski moved to second on Angel Sanchez's ground out. Bandit manager Kevin Boles then elected to intentionally walk Maier to get to Donachie, who was 1 for 5 on the day.
As Donachie stood in the on deck circle waiting for Maier's walk to be completed, some Bees fans in the third base grandstand gave the catcher some encouragement.
"Hey, they're calling you out," one fan yelled. "I heard them," Donachie said after the game.
Donachie then slapped Peter Tautor's pitch through the right side of the infield. "I got a good pitch and drove it." Donachie said. "My only thought was, 'Whoever is on second better be running fast." Lubanski was.
"I knew I had to score to end the game, wherever the ball went," Lubanski said.
Right fielder Scott Whitrock's throw was to the right of the plate. Johnson gloved the throw then lunged toward the plate. But Lubanski was already there, slideing across with the winning run.
"This was a huge win for us." Gabella said.
The Bees (4-6), who have won three consecutive games over the Bandits, looked to be in control before Quad Cities started chipping away at the margin.
The Bandits scored five runs in the seventh, then took the lead in the eighth. Gregg hit Brock Peterson with the bases loaded. Then, after J.R. Taylor's single tied the game. Gregg hit Alex Garcia to give Quad Cities a 13-12 lead.
"Some of the guys were down," Donachie said, "But we knew we could battle back."
Burlington did in the bottom of the ninth. Kila Kaaihue singled with one out, then pinch runner Anibal Figuereo moved to second on Graham's ground out. Lubanski followed with a single to center field, bringing in Figuereo with the tying run.
"This group here... they've been working hard," Gabella said, "And now it's starting to pay off."