Quad Cities River Bandits RF Chas McCormick went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in Thursday’s game. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

One night after being no-hit by the Beloit Snappers, the Quad Cities River Bandits bounced back Thursday with a 5-2 win over the same team, becoming the first Midwest League team to clinch a second-half playoff berth.

QC’s magic number to clinch the Western Division title in the second half is two. The River Bandits have an eight-game lead over the Peoria Chiefs, who would be the Western Division wild-card team for the second half if the season ended today. Trailing the Chiefs in the standings are the Snappers (-2.5 games), the Clinton LumberKings (-3 games), the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (-4 games) and the Burlington Bees (-6 games), with 11 days left in the season. (The Kane County Cougars and the Cedar Rapids Kernels won Western Division playoff berths in the first half.)

Chas McCormick, a 21st-round draft pick of the Houston Astros this year, starred offensively for the River Bandits in Thursday’s clincher. He went 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI. The right-fielder also had an outfield assist, throwing out a runner who attempted to advance from first to third on a single.

RHP Robert Corniel picked up the win in relief after allowing only two walks in three scoreless innings. He allowed no hits and struck out two batters.