4/22/2006

Rattler Game Notes for 4/22

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers beat the Silver hawks 6-3. Luis Valbuena drove in three runs and scored another. Robby Hudson had three hits, including two doubles, drove in a run, and scored two. Jose Escalona allowed one run on three hits over five innings for his second win of the season.

CALIENTE: Valbuena had a two-out triple that drove in a pair of runs in the top of the third. Valbuena is 4-for-4 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, and seven RBI in his last six plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

IT GOT INTERESTING: The Rattlers led 6-1 after scoring a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Rattler reliever Joe Woerman, who had pitched a scoreless eighth inning, came out for the ninth. With runners at first and third and one out, Pedro Ciriaco sent a line drive to rightcenter. Alex Gary appeared to have made the catch for the second out and threw the ball to the infield to double that runner off for the final out of the game – appeared to being the key words. Ciriaco wound up with an RBI double and the Hawks had runners on second and third after the play was ruled a trap. Rattler manager Jim Horner garnered his first ejection of the season in arguing the call. On the very next pitch, Greg Thomson rapped a single through the right side of the infield for an RBI single and suddenly, South Bend had the tying run coming to the plate.

SAVINGS PLAN: Edgar Guaramato entered the game at that point and struck out the final two batters for his second save of the season.

INTRODUCING: Justin Upton, the number one overall pick of the 2005 draft, made his professional debut last night. Upton went 0-for-5 and struck out twice for the Silver Hawks.

TRIFECTA: The Rattlers are currently on their longest winning streak of the year with three straight wins.

OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Eduardo Baeza was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 47th round of the 2004 draft out of Mission Junior College in California as a draft-and-follow. The Dodgers selected him in the 33rd round of the 2002 draft, but he chose Mission. Last season with Missoula in the Pioneer League, Baeza was 1-2 and three saves with a 2.25 ERA in 25 relief appearances. Baeza lost his last start for South Bend. He struck out nine in six innings at Kane County allowing three runs on four hits on April 17. This is Baeza’s first career appearance against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Baeza is tied for the Midwest League lead in the strikeout category with 22 K’s this season.

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