Game Notes 5/10

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Michael Saunders and Bryan Sabatella hit home runs and Justin Thomas pitched six innings without allowing an earned run to lead the Rattlers to a 4-2 win over the Swing. Joe Woerman worked two scoreless innings out of the Rattler bullpen. Edgar Guaramato pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.

FIRST TIMERS: Saunders and Sabatella each hit their first home runs of the season last night. Also, last night was the first time the Rattlers have hit two home runs in the same inning this season.

CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: The two homers by the Rattlers last night give them five at Fox Cities Stadium this season. The Rattlers have hit eight homers on the road in 2006.

STOPPING A SLIDE: Sabatella’s home run ended his hitless streak at 0-for-16.

SAUNDERS STAYS HOT: The home run by Saunders extended his hitting streak to eight games. That hit streak is a season and professional high for Saunders.

THE JUSTIN THOMAS SHOW: Thomas allowed a run in the first and a run in the second, but that was all the Swing managed. He walked four, but struck out six and allowed just three hits for his first win at Fox Cities Stadium. It wasn’t easy though. He had only one 1-2-3 inning on the evening and had to get out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth.

HABIT FORMING: Guaramato is 4-for-4 in his last four save opportunities.

RED HOT ROTH: Quad Cities’ Randy Roth went 1-for-5 last night to extend his current Midwest League best hitting streak to eighteen games. Roth’s hit was a bad hop single in the top of the fifth inning.

RUBY TUESDAY: Last night was the first Tuesday night win for the Rattlers this season. They are 1-4 on Tuesdays.

WE LIKE WEDNESDAY: The Rattlers go into today’s game with a 3-0 record on hump day.

OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Kevin Sadlowski of Kutztown University was the 34th round pick of the Cardinals in the 2005 draft. He was 9-4 with three complete games and a 3.78ERA for Kutztown before signing with the Cardinals. He split time between Johnson City (Appalachian League) and New Jersey (New York-Penn League) in his first year as a pro and went 1-5 with a save and an ERA of 6.86. In his last start for the Swing, Sadlowski beat South Bend at John O’Donnell Stadium. He gave up just two hits in five shutout innings; walked two; and struck out three. He has made three starts and five relief appearances this season. Sadlowski is making his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers and an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.