(WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS) GRAND CHUTE – The Quad Cities River Bandits quick start in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader at Neuroscience Group Field set the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers back on their heels and on the path to an 11-5 loss.
The River Bandits (12-8) grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning on four walks and one hit. Wisconsin starting pitcher Bryce Meccage walked three straight batters with one out. He got the second out before walking Austin Charles on a 3-2 pitch to force in the first run. Then, Derlin Figueroa cleared the bases with a double for a 4-0 lead.
Quad Cities poured on the offense in the second inning as they launched four home runs and scored six runs. Tyriq Kemp started the inning with a homer. Meccage left the game with two on and one out in favor of Bryan Rivera, who gave up a three-run home run to Ramon Ramirez. Rivera got the second out of the inning but allowed back-to-back home runs to Austin Charles and Figueroa.
Charles tripled with two outs in the top of the fourth and scored on a wild pitch. Charles reached base three times and scored three runs.
Wisconsin (13-8) had three runners on base with two outs for Juan Baez, who drew the fourth walk of the frame from Bandits starting pitcher Mason Miller.
Andrew Fischer launched his fifth home run of the season with two outs and none on in the bottom of the fifth for Wisconsin. That started a streak of four straight hits for the Rattlers with Daniel Dickinson knocking in the second run of the frame with a single.
Fischer reached base for the fourth time in the game with a lead-off double in the bottom of the seventh. Eric Bitonti cracked a one-out home run to center, his third homer of the season, to drive in Fischer for the final two runs of the game.
Game 2
David Shields and two Quad Cities River Bandits relief pitchers combined on a two-hit, 8-0 shutout in game two of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Neuroscience Group Field. The performance by the trio of hurlers allowed the Bandits to complete the doubleheader sweep of the Rattlers.
Quad Cities (13-8) scored first for the third straight game of the series when they scored three runs in the top of the third inning in the nightcap. A bloop single and a pair of one-out walks from Wisconsin starter Wande Torres loaded the bases for the Bandits. Ramon Ramirez blooped in a single to left to drive in the first run. Jose Cerice followed with a sacrifice fly. Luke Pelzer had a two-out, RBI single to make it 3-0.
The Bandits added to their lead in the fifth inning on a two-run single by Cerice.
In the top of the sixth, Wisconsin pitchers allowed a single walked four, hit a battler, and threw a wild pitch as Quad Cities added three more runs. Michael Fowler walked Blake Mitchell and Ramirez with the bases loaded and two outs to force in two runs. Yerlin Rodriguez relieved Fowler and threw a wild pitch to allow the final run to score before he got the third out.
Wisconsin (13-9) had two hits and five base runners in the game. Luiyin Alastre singled with two outs in the third inning. Luis Castillo had a lead-off single in the fifth. There were three walks and a hit batsman to account for the other Rattlers to reach base.
Shields pitched five scoreless innings, walked two, allowed both hits, and struck out six to earn his second win of the season. Kamden Edge and Yimi Presinal each tossed a scoreless inning out of the Quad Cities bullpen to close out the game.
Game two of the doubleheader marked the first time the Rattlers have been shutout this season.
The series continues at Neuroscience Group Field on Friday night. Wisconsin has named Yorman Galindez (0-2, 7.27) as their starting pitcher. Quad Cities will go with Justin Lamkin (1-0, 1.02). First pitch is set for 6:40pm.
The 2026 debut of Los Granjeros de Wisconsin is set for this game as the Timber Rattlers celebrate Hispanic Heritage by playing this game as their Copa de la Diversiόn identity. The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a bobblehead of Luis Peña, the Milwaukee Brewers #2 prospect, courtesy of Merkts. Children twelve and under may run the bases courtesy of Menasha Corporation after the game.
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