Lugnuts lose opener in Iowa City, 4-2

IOWA CITY, Ia. - Playing at Duane Banks Field on the campus of the University of Iowa due to flooding in Davenport, the Quad Cities River Bandits (19-10) received seven shutout innings from Austin Hansen in a 4-2 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (14-16).

It was the River Bandits' first game at Banks Field since April 30, 2008, also caused by the Mississippi River flooding Davenport, and also against the Lugnuts. The Bandits won that game, too, 4-3.

Hansen (Win, 3-1) held the Nuts hitless until a Rafael Lantigua single leading off the sixth inning. He finished with just one hit and two walks (both drawn by Nick Podkul) allowed, striking out 10.

The Lugnuts broke up the shutout bid on Mc Gregory Conteras's RBI double in the eighth against southpaw Jonathan Bermudez, and then crept within two runs in the ninth on a Podkul sacrifice fly off right-hander Riley Cabral. Cabral responded by retiring Jake Brodt on a grounder and a D.J. Neal strikeout, picking up his third save.

Lansing starter Cobi Johnson (Loss, 0-2) allowed an immediate run on an Austin Dennis leadoff triple and an Enmanuel Valdez RBI groundout in the first inning, but blanked the River Bandits from that point on in a five-inning stint. Johnson struck out five, walked four and allowed three hits, lowering his ERA to 3.08.

Fitz Stadler pitched three innings in relief, allowing three seven-inning runs and striking out three.

The Lugnuts and River Bandits play the second game of their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Eastern, 6:05 p.m. local time, on Tuesday night at Banks Field.

The Lugnuts return home for a three-game series against the West Michigan Whitecaps from a Dollar Monday, May 13th, through a Dog Days of Summer Wednesday, May 15th. To live the Lug Life and purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

 
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