With a chance to sweep South Bend in the Midwest League finals, the River Bandits got to work early. Josh Hader (who came to Houston in the Bud Norris trade) retired the top of the 1st in order and Tony Kemp singled to lead off the bottom half. A Teoscar Hernandez sac bunt and throwing error sccored Kemp, and Hernandez scored on Danry Vasquez's single to take a 2-0 lead after one inning. South Bend got a single in the second, but a Rio Ruiz homer and a a Tony Kemp RBI double made it 4-0 Quad Cities after two.
There were threats on both sides for the rest of the game, and Andrew Walter gave up a two-run homer in the top of the 9th, and had the tying run at the plate for two batters, but got a popout and a fly out to end the game and preserve a 4-2 Championship-clinching win.
Hader threw 7IP, 3H/0ER, 8K:1BB; Mitchel Lambson walked one in 1IP and Walter gave up 2H/2ER, 1K:1BB in the 9th. Tony Kemp was 3x4 with a double and an RBI; Danry Vasquez and Rio Ruiz (HR) each had a hit and a walk.
Man of the Match: Josh Hader
Series: Quad Cities wins 3-0
Next Up: 2014
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
