ABOUT SUNDAY: The Cedar Rapids Kernels beat the Rattlers 4-2 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels scored all four runs after there were two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Jordan Renz hit a two-run homer to break a 2-2 tie in the frame. Robert Mosebach scattered twelve hits over seven innings for his tenth win of the season. The Kernels took the final three games of the four game series from the Rattlers.
AFTER TWO THEY GO: Wisconsin led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning. The Kernels had a runner at second with two outs. Marco Albano doubled in the runner. Moments later, Albano scored the tying run on a single by Hainley Statia. Renz worked the count to 3-2 on Rattler starting pitcher David Asher and fouled off a pair of pitches before curling a drive around the left field foul pole for his Midwest League leading 22nd home runs of the season.
RENZ RIPS RATTLERS: The Kernel right fielder was 7-for-14 with a homer and six RBI in the series with the Rattlers.
MISSED OPPORTUNITES: The Rattlers loaded the bases on three straight singles in the top of the first inning and scored a run when the Kernels turned a 6-4-3 double play. Wisconsin had four straight hits in the top of the second, but scored only one run on a double by Robby Hudson.
WHAT HAPPENED? In the fifth inning, the Rattlers were down 4-3 and had runners at first and third with no outs. Mosebach picked Mike Saunders off first and Saunders got into a rundown. The runner at third, Chris Minaker, broke for the plate during the rundown and got caught himself. After Minaker was tagged out, Saunders rounded second base too far and was caught for the second out before he could get back to the bag.
GREAT SCOTT: Rattler catcher Travis Scott was 2-for-4 with a single, a double, a run, and an RBI yesterday.
SEASON LOW: The Rattlers have hit 43-77 for their season record. They are 34 games below .500 for the first time this year.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They won the first half Western Division title with a record of 41-28 and have qualified for the playoffs. In the second half, the Chiefs are 24-26 to give them an overall record of 65-54. They are managed by former Cub catcher Jody Davis. The Chiefs are coming into this series off a series split with the Burlington Bees at O’Brien Field.
VS. PEORIA ’06: The Rattlers are 5-5 against the Chiefs this season. On opening weekend at Fox Cities Stadium, the Rattlers and Chiefs split a four game series. Peoria took two of three games at Fox Cities Stadium June 26-28. Wisconsin won two out of three at O’Brien Field July 12-14. The Rattlers and Chiefs meet in one more series this season: August 28-31 at O’Brien Field.
PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA’s Top 30 list of Cub prospects has only one active member of the Chiefs on it. Catcher Mark Reed was listed at number 19 before the season. Shortstop Dylan Johnston is at number 27 but is currently on the disabled list. Ryne Malone is the only member of the 2006 Cub draft class on the Peoria roster. He was a 49th round pick out of Florida State.
TRADE WINDS BLOW TO PEORIA: A pair of Peoria pitchers joined the Cubs organization through trades. Todd Blackford became a Cub after a trade sent Todd Hollandsworth to the Atlanta Braves in August of 2005. Joel Santo was traded to the Cubs organization from the Padres for reliever Scott Williamson just before the 2006 trading deadline. Santo started this season with the Fort Wayne Wizards.
OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Scott Taylor was a fifth round pick of the Cubs in the 2005 draft out of Hermitage High School in Richmond, Virginia. He was 0-3 in six starts for the Arizona League affiliate of the Cubs before making three starts (no decisions) for the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League in 2005. Taylor’s last start was a loss at Kane County on August 7. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs on six hits. This is Taylor’s first appearance against the Timber Rattlers.
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