Published: July 16, 2008 07:03 am            

River Bandits knock around Romero, LumberKings

CLINTON — The Quad Cities River Bandits gave Levi Romero a hard welcome to the Midwest League as they beat the LumberKings 7-2 Monday in a game that started at 10 a.m.

The Bandits scored five runs, walked five times and collected five hits off Romero in three innings of work. Romero was a Rule 5 Draft selection from the Houston Astros in 2006 and missed the entire 2007 season with elbow surgery.

“Command was an issue and its hard to pitch when you’re behind in the count. A lot of deep counts and some big hits from them” said Clinton Manager Mike Micucci of his starter.

The Bandits got on the board quickly as Ross Oeder got his first home run of the season to right to give the Bandit’s the quick 1-0 lead.

Lead-off hitter Engel Beltre tied the game up as he belted his seventh jack of the season into the Lumber Lounge in right.

Romero struggled mightily with his control in the second as he gave up four walks and had a wild pitch.

Francisco Rivera walked with one out to start off the Bandits.

D’Marcus Ingram singled to right to put runners on first and second.

The Bandits catcher Roberto Espinoza took a walk to load the bases. The number nine hitter Oliver Marmol took a walk as well that brought home Rivera for the easy RBI.

Adron Chambers stuck out for the second out. Romero uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Ingram to give the Bandits a two run lead.

Carlos Pupo doubled for the third time of the season to lead off the third for the visitors.

Peoples walked and Rivera popped out to Jose Felix behind the plate for the first out.

Ingram went down swinging for the second out and Romero seemingly would get out of the inning, but back-to-back doubles by Espinoza and Marmol scored three runs to give the Bandit’s the 6-1 lead. Chambers flew out to center for the final out of the inning.

Keisuke Ueno who is 3-1 on the season came in to replace the struggling Romero and had some trouble of his own out of the gate.

Oeder went down swinging for the first out of the frame. Peter Kozma one of two first round picks on the Bandit’s squad doubled to left for his 13th of the season.

Pupo single to center to put runners on the corners and Peoples got his first RBI on the day when he bounced one to third that Jonathan Greene couldn’t come up with, allowing Kozma to score.

Rivera reached on a error by Ueno who threw wide to the right side of the bag at second. Ingram flew out to center but the strong arm of Beltre didn’t allow Pupo to score from third. Espinoza was then called out on strike to end the threat.

The fourth inning was the last inning the Bandits would score in.

The LumberKings did post one more run in the six when Midwest League All-Star MVP, Tim Smith, struck for his fifth home run of the season.

“We had some chances, but it’s hard to hit when you’re down like that. One or two hits and we would have been right in the game.” said Micucci

Jonathan Greene was hit twice in the game making it the 26th time this season he has been hit by a pitch. Greene, also known by team members as “Dirt”, already has the franchise record which was held by last year’s first baseman, Mauro Gomez, who had 18. The league record is 32.

The Midwest League will have the day off today due to the Major League All-Star game.

“Rest, the guys are working hard and all of the games are wearing on you and now with the heat and the weather like it is, we’ll rest up. No, I’m not in the tournament we believe Bama (Brian Dayett) rigs it” said Micucci of the teams fishing tournament that hitting coach Brian Dayett puts on every year.

Michael Main will start Wednesday for the LumberKings making his home debut. Main was the 24th overall selection in the 2007 draft and the second pick in the first behind Blake Beavan.

Main made his league debut last Thursday at West Michigan. Main went 4 and 2/3 innings and struck out three and got a no decision.

        

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