LANSING, Mich. - The Quad Cities River Bandits (15-12) enjoyed early offense for the second straight night, romping to a 9-2 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (18-11) on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.Lansing starter Yennsy Diaz (Loss, 3-1) entered the game having allowed only six hits and four
LANSING, Mich. - The Quad Cities River Bandits (15-12) enjoyed early offense for the second straight night, romping to a 9-2 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (18-11) on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
Lansing starter Yennsy Diaz (Loss, 3-1) entered the game having allowed only six hits and four runs (one earned) in his first five games, but the River Bandits' J.J. Matijevic opened the game with a home run to center field, starting an six-hit, eight-run output against Diaz in just three innings plus three batters. Diaz's ERA rose from 0.31 to 2.56.
Quad Cities left-hander Parker Mushinski (Win, 1-0) struck out eight batters in 5 1/3 innings, limiting the Lugnuts to a Kevin Smith RBI double in the fourth inning.
Smith later singled and scored the Lugnuts' second run in the eighth inning, coming home on a Christian Williams RBI double.
In all, the Lugnuts' star shortstop finished 2-for-2 with a single, double and two walks, raising his batting average to .358 and extending his hitting streak to 16 games and his on-base streak to 27 games.
Norberto Obeso went 2-for-4, the only other Lugnut with a multi-hit game. The Lansing left fielder has reached base 12 times in his last four games.
Dany Jimenez gave the Nuts three scoreless innings of relief, stretching from the fourth through the sixth innings. Kyle Weatherly pitched the seventh and the eighth, allowing one run on three hits. Ty Tice fired a scoreless ninth, giving the right-hander his ninth consecutive scoreless outing to start the season.
The Lugnuts look to avoid a three-game sweep on Sunday at 1:05 p.m., sending right-hander Graham Spraker (2.29 ERA) against Quad Cities southpaw Patrick Sandoval (6.30). Gates open at 11 a.m. on a Delta Dental Kids Day… with a Helicopter Drop! To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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