River Bandits Blank Loons in First Half Finale

Midland, Michigan – The Quad Cities River Bandits completed the first half of the 2024 Midwest League season on a high note, defeating the Great Lakes Loons 7-0 on Thursday night at Dow Diamond.

The scoreless effort, Quad Cities’ fifth of the year and the team’s first since April 30, was led by starter Hunter Owen, who struck out four and allowed just three Loons base runners over his career-high 7.0-shutout innings.

While the Bandits’ bats also struggled early, managing just two hits over the 5.0-inning start of Peter Heubeck, Quad Cities scored all seven runs against Great Lakes’ bullpen and plated the game’s first tally in the sixth. Jared Dickey drove in his fourth RBI in two games with an RBI-single before the next batter, Carson Roccaforte tagged Livan Reinoso for a second and third run with a two-run homer.

Quad Cities then took a 5-0 lead against Madison Jeffrey in the seventh, plating a pair on Brett Squires’ RBI-single, with Jean Ramirez scoring in on a Dylan Campbell error—his second in as many nights.

After A.J. Block kept the shutout intact with a scoreless eighth inning, Jack Pineda doubled and Carter Jensen singled in runs against Jonathan Edwards in the ninth to put QC up 7-0. Natanael Garabitos pitched the bottom of the ninth and picked up the final three outs of the game.

Owen (6-2) earned his team-leading sixth win of the season after posting the Bandits’ first 7.0-inning start of the season, while Reinoso (4-4) was saddled with the loss, giving up three runs in 1.0 frame of relief.

Having concluded the first half 30-35 and on a three-game win streak, Quad Cities will look to secure its first series win since April on Friday, as they send Frank Mozzicato (3-4, 2.59) to the bump opposite Great Lakes’ Chris Campos (2-2, 3.40). First pitch at Dow Diamond is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.