Game Notes for 5/2

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers and Whitecaps split a double header. West Michigan won game one 9-4. Wisconsin held on for a 4-3 win in the nightcap. By winning game two, the Rattlers avoided being swept in a double header for the first time since Southwest Michigan swept a day-night twinbill from the Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium on June 6, 2005.

GAME ONE: Rattler starting pitcher Marwin Vega gave up three first inning runs, two in the second, and two more in the third inning. The Rattlers trailed 7-1 heading into the bottom of the third.

GAME TWO: Rattler starting pitcher Jose Escalona pitched 5-1/3 innings allowing just one unearned run for his third straight victory. Escalona is tied for the Midwest League lead in wins with four. He is tied with Ramon Garcia of West Michigan and Chi-Hung Cheng of Lansing.

INTO THE SIXTH: By retiring the first batter in the top of the sixth inning of game two last night, Escalona made it past the fifth inning for the first time this season.

KEEPING IT GOING: Rattler DH Robby Hudson had a pair of hits in the first game of the double header and has extended his hitting streak to nine games. (16-for-37, .432)

A RARE OCCASION: The home run hit by Jeramy Laster in the top of the seventh inning was only the fifth hit off a Rattler pitcher in 217 innings this season. That’s one home run every 43+ innings by an opponent this season.

SAVINGS PLAN: Edgar Guaramato made it exciting in the top of the seventh of game two, but nailed down his third save of the season. After getting the first batter, Guaramato gave up a double and a walk. An error by Bryan Sabatella loaded the bases, then Guaramato forced in a run with a walk to cut the Rattler lead to 4-2. A single knocked in another run and the Whitecaps had the bases loaded with one out and a 4-3 deficit. Guaramato got Ryan Roberson to pop out and struck out Mike Hollimon to preserve the victory.

OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Burke Badenhop was selected by the Tigers out of Bowling Green State University in the 19th round of the 2005 draft. He was 9-2 with a 3.73ERA in his final season with BGSU. Pitching for Oneonta in the New York-Penn League last season, Badenhop was 6-2 with a 2.92ERA. In his last start for the Whitecaps, Badenhop beat Kane County on April 27. He gave up ten hits, but only three runs in seven innings for the win.