ABOUT SUNDAY: The Rattlers took a 4-1 lead over the Fort Wayne Wizards on a Greg Halman three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth. The Wizards erased that lead with a seven run sixth inning and eventually took an 11-4 lead. The Rattlers rallied with a run in the seventh and five in the eighth to get to within 11-10. The Rattler put the tying run on board in the bottom of the ninth, but RJ Rodriguez got the final two outs of the game for the save. Fort Wayne took three out of four from the Rattlers.
NICE START, MAN: Wisconsin starter Chris Tillman allowed one run on six hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked one.
ANOTHER ONE? The Rattler bullpen was charged with another blown save yesterday. It was their fifth of the season.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN? Rob Harmon relieved Tillman to start the top of the sixth. The Wizards had a runner at first and one out when Jesus Lopez tripled in the first run. An error allowed Lopez to score. Javis Diaz singled in the tying run. A throwing error on a stolen base attempt put the go ahead run across the plate. Daryl Jones singled in a run and Sam Carter drove in two more with another single (this one off Rollie Gibson) for an 8-4 Wizard lead.
COMING BACK: Wisconsin scored five times in the bottom of the eighth inning on just three hits.
HALMAN UPDATE: Halman extended his hitting streak to nine games with his 2-for-4 day on Sunday. Halman is 13-for-38 during the streak. He has collected at least one hit in fourteen of his last fifteen games.
TRU BELIEVER: Carlos Triunfel had his first three hit game of his pro career yesterday with two singles and an RBI double.
FORE! Juan Beltran had the first four hit game by a Rattler player this season with his 4-for-5 game.
GOING DEEP: Halman and Alex Liddi both homered yesterday for Wisconsin. Sunday was the first time this season the Rattlers have hit two home runs in a game.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds. Last season, the Dragons were 67-73 and missed the playoffs. This season is a different story for Dayton. They currently have the best record in the Midwest League 15-4. They lead the second place Lansing Lugnuts by two games in the Eastern Division. Dayton is managed by Donnie Scott. He was the manager of the Dragons from 2001-2003 and returns to the Dayton bench this year.
LAST YEAR: The Timber Rattlers and Dragons played eight times in 2006. Dayton won the season series 5-3. The Dragons took three of the four games that were played here. Wisconsin split the four game series in Dayton.
PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA has placed seven members of the current Dragon roster on their top 30 list of Cincinnati Red prospects. Outfielder Drew Stubbs is the highest rated Dragon at number five. He is followed by pitcher Sean Watson at number seven. Shortstop Chris Valaika is number ten on the list and was the MVP of the Pioneer League while playing for the Billings Mustangs in 2006. Pitchers Daryl Thompson (#18), Jordan Smith (#23), and Rafael Gonzalez (#28) are on the list. Third baseman Juan Francisco (#26) is on the list.
OPPOSING STARTER: Travis Webb was the 8th round pick of Cincinnati in the 2006 draft out of Washington State University. He was 4-0 with eight saves in 21 relief appearances in his final season with the Cougars. He struck out 31 in 29 innings pitched and recorded an ERA of 2.17. Webb pitched for Billings in the Pioneer League after signing with the Reds. He was 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 13 games (seven starts) for the Mustangs. In Webb’s last start for the Dragons he received a no decision against the Burlington Bees on April 24. He pitched five innings, allowed two runs on four hits, and struck out eight with no walks. This is Webb’s first appearance against the Timber Rattlers and his first appearance against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
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