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Record: 22-24, 5th, 5 GB Kansas City
Quad City smacked five home runs on its way to defeating St. Louis ace Aaron Nola in a 9-6 win at Busch Stadium (1997).
Nola allowed three of those home runs --two of them to Aaron Nola, a two run shot in the first and a solo homer in the fifth and one to Blake Rutherford in the second which scored two -- as the Thunder took a 5-2 lead while Nola was on the mound.
With the win, Quad City swept the three-game road series.
The River Walkers did draw close for a bit, Rhys Hoskins solo homer off Quad-City reliever Jacob deGrom, did pull them to within 5-4.
However, Bobby Poyner penchant for giving up the long ball struck again in the top of the eighth, as Miguel Gomez hit one worth two runs and Scott Kingery blasted one worth one as Quad City went up 8-4.
Austin Hedges two-run homer off Evan Steele in the bottom of the eighth made it 8-6.
And with the help of another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, Blake Rutherford scoring the run when a walk was called on Phil Maton, Quad City went on to complete the sweep.
It took the Thunder six pitchers to get through this one.
Michael Santos handled the opening 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits.
P.J. Canlon handled the next 1.2 innings and earned his second win of the season.
de Grom, Evan Steele, Verlander and J.D. Hammer all handled an inning apiece to close it out.
Hammer earned his second save of the season.
Conlen notched his second win after ending the fifth inning.