Bandits Blank Rattlers for Third-Straight Win

Appleton, Wisconsin – The Quad Cities River Bandits pitched their ninth shutout of the season Friday, as they beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8-0 at Fox Cities Stadium.

The bats did their part early and handed starter Frank Mozzicato an early lead as quickly as the second batter of the night. After Justin Johnson drew a game-opening walk, Spencer Nivens capped off a 10-pitch at-bat with a two-run shot, his 17th of the season and his minor league-leading 12th in the month of August.

Dustin Dickerson helped continue the first-inning surge, driving in two more with an RBI-double to help knock Wisconsin starter Ryan Birchard out of the game after recording just one out and allowing a 4-0 Bandits lead.

While Jeferson Figueroa was able to finish off the frame in relief unscathed, Quad Cities got to him in the second courtesy of Trevor Werner, who launched a two-run homer, his 10th of the year.

Working with a 6-0 lead, Mozzicato cruised through a 4.0-inning start with just 42 pitches and allowed just two hits with four strikeouts. The southpaw also induced five popups and did not allow a walk for the first time in his career.

Omar Hernandez extended the Bandits’ advantage to 7-0 with an RBI-double in the fifth against Thomas Bryant. But the six-run lead was more than enough for Shane Panzini, who worked out of a bases-loaded jam as part of a scoreless, 2.0-inning performance. Connor Fenlong matched his career-high with 3.0-scoreless innings and his season’s first save to close out the game.

Panizni (2-3) earned the win for Quad Cities, while Birchard (0-2) was saddled with the loss, allowing four first-inning runs.

The River Bandits return to action for game five of the six-game set Saturday and send Hunter Owen (6-7, 4.41) to the hill opposite Will Rudy (5-7, 4.66). First pitch at Fox Cities Stadium is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.