Game Notes for 5/18

ABOUT WEDNESDAY: The Timber Rattlers lost 2-0 to the Cougars in a rain-shortened game. Jason Ray got credit for a six inning complete game, gave up just three hits, and struck out three. Paul Fagan allowed two runs over 5-2/3 innings for the loss. Anthony Recker scored the first run and drove in the second for the Cougars.

TOUGH LUCK: Yesterday was the second time this season Fagan has been on the losing end of a rain-shortened game this season. The Rattlers lost 2-0 to West Michigan on April 29 at Fox Cities Stadium in a 5-inning game. Fagan allowed two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

TOUGH LUCK (PT II): In his last three decisions, Fagan is 0-3 with an ERA of 4.60. In those three losses, the Rattler offense has scored two runs.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: The Rattlers had runners at second and third with one out in the top of the third innings. But, Ray got Casey Craig and Luis Valbuena to pop out to end the threat.

SACRIFICING: Robby Hudson dropped a sacrifice bunt in the third inning to give the Rattlers that scoring opportunity. It was his second of the season and he leads Wisconsin in that category. Wisconsin has seven sacrifice bunts as a team this season.

FIRST RUN WINS? The last three Timber Rattler games have been shutouts. The Rattlers are 1-2 in those games. Also, four of the last five Wisconsin games have been shutouts and the Rattlers are 1-3 in those shutouts.

FIRST RUN WINS? (PT II): The Rattlers are 11-6 when they score first and 6-16 when the opponents cross home plate first.

CAN WE GET TO NINE, PLEASE? Only one of the last six games for the Rattlers has been a regulation nine inning game. Since May 13, Wisconsin has played three seven inning games, a six inning game, a five inning game, and a nine inning game.

SEASON LOW: The Rattlers are at 17-22, five games below .500. This is the second time in 2006 that Wisconsin has been five games under the .500 mark.

OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Trey Shields was a ninth round pick of the Athletics out of the University of Alabama, where he was 1-1 with a 5.50 ERA in seven appearances as a junior for the Crimson Tide. Shields would go 3-3 with a 3.34ERA with 81 strikeouts in 59-1/3 innings for Vancouver in the Northwest League. Shields is making his first appearance against the Rattlers. He pitched three times against Everett, the Northwest League affiliate of the Mariners, in 2005. In two starts and a relief appearance, Shields had no record with an ERA of 4.85. He gave up seven runs on twelve hits with eleven strikeouts and six walks over thirteen innings. In his last start for the Cougars, Shields pitched a 6-inning complete game but took the loss against the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field on May 14. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four in the loss.

Edits: Below .500. Not below .550. second time in 2006. Not second time tin 2006.