ABOUT SUNDAY: The Timber Rattlers trailed 5-0 after the bottom of the third inning to the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Rattlers chipped away, but fell 6-5.
¾ OF THE WAY TO A CYCLE: Two players in yesterday’s game had opportunities for a cycle. Timber Rattler third baseman Ron Garth had a single in the first, a double in the fourth, and a home run in the seventh. In the ninth, Garth struck out. Kernel third baseman Dallas Morris homered in the first, tripled in the third, and singled in the fourth. He grounded out in the sixth and did not get another opportunity.
STREAK SNAPPED: Rattler pitcher Jose Escalona had his three game winning streak snapped yesterday. He allowed five runs (four earned) over five innings with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts.
ADVENTURES IN BASERUNNING: Luis Valbuena was on first and Jeff Dominguez was on second with no outs in the top of the first inning. Garth lined a single into left and Dominguez slipped coming around third. He was tagged out and Valbuena, who had been more than halfway to third, was out trying to get back to second. Later in the game, JB Tucker rounded second too far after an RBI single by Eddy Hernandez and was out trying to get back.
GIVING A HAND: Rattler centerfielder Mike Saunders recorded his team leading fourth outfield assist of the season when he threw out a runner trying to stretch a single into a double. Casey Craig also picked up an outfield assist by throwing out a runner at the plate in the sixth inning.
OUT OF THE PEN: Rollie Gibson pitched three innings in relief of Escalona yesterday. It was the second time this season the lefty has tossed three innings out of the bullpen.
SUNDAY, NO FUN DAY: The Rattlers are 0-3 on Sundays in 2006.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Swing of the Quad Cities are the Midwest League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are 13-17 and in fifth place in the Midwest League’s Western Division. In their most recent series, the Swing dropped three out of four games at home to the South Bend Silver Hawks. Two of their losses in that series were in extra innings. The manager of Quad Cities is Keith Mitchell.
FAMILIAR FACE: The Swing have just added former Timber Rattler closer Brian Stitt to their roster. Stitt was 2-10 with 16 saves in 2004. He began the season as the closer, but moved into the starting rotation after the All-Star break. Stitt was a Midwest League All-Star in 2004.
VS. QC IN ’05: Wisconsin and Quad Cities met seventeen times in 2005. Wisconsin finished 8-9 against the Swing. Wisconsin was 4-6 against the Swing at Fox Cities Stadium.
PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA’S Top 30 Cardinal Prospect list includes four members of the current Swing roster. Outfielder Colby Rasmus, the first round pick of the Cardinals in 2005, is ranked as #2 on the list. Pitcher Mark McCormick (#5), Pitcher Josh Wilson (#23), and infielder Jose Martinez (#28) also make the list. The Swing have seventeen members of the Cardinals 2005 draft class on their roster. Rasmus, McCormick (1st-suplemental), and Wilson (2nd) are joined by pitchers Jason Cairns (8th), Adam Daniels (15th), Jaime Garcia (28th), Matt Trent (30th), Scott Vander Weg (34th), Kyle Sadlowski (34th), and Cory Meacham (35th). Other players from last year’s Cardinal draft: Bryan Anderson (5th), Randy Roth (10th), AJ Van Slyke (23rd), Adam Rodgers (25th), Charles Carter (27th), and Casey Rowlett (32nd).
OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Cory Meacham was selected in the 35th round of the 2005 draft out of Alabama Southern CC. Last season, he split time between Johnson City, New Jersey, and Quad Cities in the Cardinal system. He was 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA combined as a pro in 2005. In his last start, Meacham got a no decision against Fort Wayne on April 23. He went four innings and gave up three runs on three hits and three walks. He went on the DL after that start.
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