ABOUT LAST NIGHT: South Bend starting pitcher Adam Howard pitched a career high 8-1/3 innings and struck out a career high twelve batters in a 9-4 Hawks win over the Rattlers. South Bend tagged a pair of homers on their way to building a 9-0 lead.
IT WAS SCORELESS: Until the Hawks loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning. Leyson Septimo drove in the first two runs of the night with a two-run single. One out later, Will Crouch crushed a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a home run and a 5-0 lead.
LOTS O’ K’s: Howard’s previous high for strikeouts in a game was eight. He was the first Silver Hawk pitcher this season to reach the 10K mark. The most times an opposing pitcher struck out Rattler hitters before last night was eleven. Joe Piekarz of Kane County struck out eleven Rattlers in eight innings on June 23. Last night, Kuo Hui Lo was the only Rattler hitter who did not strikeout.
WORKLOAD: Rattler starting pitcher Jose Escalona threw nearly ninety pitches in 3-2/3 innings and took the loss. He allowed six runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts to become the second Rattler pitcher to reach double digits in losses this season.
GOPHER BALLS: Last night was the sixth game in a row that the Rattler pitching staff has given up at least one homer. In the last six games, opponents have hit eight homers off Rattler hurlers. Of those eight homers six have been solo shots. The other two were three-run blasts.
BRIGHT SPOT: Rattler reliever Roman Martinez pitched two scoreless innings last night to extend his scoreless streak to 8-2/3 innings. The last time he allowed a run was July 10 in a game against Lansing at Fox Cities Stadium. He hasn’t given up a run in five straight outings.
MINAKER MAKES IT HAPPEN: Rattler shortstop Chris Minaker had a pair of hits, scored one run and drove in another last night,
NEW GUY AT THE TOP: Lo was Wisconsin’s leadoff hitter last night. He became the eighth different leadoff batter of the season for the Rattlers. Other Wisconsin leadoff hitters in 2006 have been: Ron Garth (20), Robby Hudson (6), Casey Craig (10), Luis Valbuena (15), Jeff Dominguez (47), Kevin Reynolds (5), and Chris Minaker (1)
TOUGH NIGHT WITH THE LEATHER: The Rattlers committed four errors last night to run their season total to 136.
Originally had Kyle Wright in as today's opposing starter. He is tomorrow's starter. Anthony Cupps is the starter for tonight and his informatin follows.
OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Anthony Cupps was a 7th round pick out of Mississippi by the Diamondbacks in the 2005 draft. He was 4-6 with a 5.05 ERA in fifteen games (twelve starts) for Missoula in the Pioneer League last season. In 2006, Cupps is 6-4 in nineteen starts for the Hawks. The Rattlers got to him for four runs on eight hits over six innings on April 23 at Coveleski Regional Stadium. Cupps walked two and struck out three for a no decision. In his last start, Cupps gave up two runs on six hits over 5-2/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts for a no decision against Kane County on July 20.
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