Game Notes -- 6/25

ABOUT SUNDAY: The Rattlers won their second straight home game with a 6-5 victory over the Swing of the Quad Cities. Juan Diaz had three hits and drove in three runs. Ricky Orta pitched six solid innings for the win. Joe Kantakevich pitched the ninth and got the save.

ORTA SHOWS HIS QUALITY: Orta allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings for his second win and a quality start. The win was the second consecutive decision the ended with a victory for Orta. His previous win was in his second start of the season when he won at Cedar Rapids on April 14.

SWINGING AWAY: Juan Diaz had a pair of doubles in his three hits. He drove in a pair of runs with a second inning single. An eighth inning single knocked in a run to give the Rattlers a 6-3 lead.

PERFECT IN RELIEF: Eddy Fernandez relieved Orta and retired all six batters he faced as he worked a scoreless seventh and eighth.

NERVOUS NINTH: Joe Kantakevich got the first out of the top of the ninth, but allowed a single, a double, a wild pitch, and an RBI groundout to let the Swing get back to within 6-5. Kantakevich struck out Wilmer Alvarado for the final out of the game and his second save.

FIVE IS NOT A PROBLEM: Yesterday was the second time Wisconsin has won a game in which they have allowed five or more runs in a game. Wisconsin is now 2-32 when that happens.

TWO IN A ROW AT HOME: By winning the final two games of the series against the Swing on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium, the Rattlers matched their season high for a home win streak. The last time they won two in a row at home was May 21-22.

MORE ROSTER MOVES: Andrew Barb, Wisconsin’s All-Star closer, and Drew Fiorenza, a fellow member of the Rattler bullpen, have been placed on the disabled list. Two members of the Seattle Mariner 2007 draft class have joined the team today. Pitchers Steve Kelley and Keith Renaud were promoted to the Rattlers from Everett of the Northwest League. Kelley was a 13th round pick out of Austin Peay State University. Renaud was the 10th round pick from Franklin Pierce College. Kelley had appeared in three games and Renaud in one game for the AquaSox before coming to Wisconsin.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They finished the first half of the season at 32-38. The Chiefs split a four game series in Beloit to start the second half of the season. Peoria is 16-19 at home this season. They are managed by baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

THE SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Chiefs have met nine times this season. Wisconsin is 4-5 in the 2007 season series. The Rattlers are 2-3 at O’Brien Field.

PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA puts one member of the current Peoria Chief roster on their list of top 30 prospects in the Cub organization. That player is infielder Josh Lansford and he is ranked at #20. At one point this season there were three other members of the Top 30 list on the Chief roster, but Rocky Roquet, Mark Pawelek, and Dylan Johnston have all moved on to other places in the organization.

LOOK WHO’S BACK: First baseman Ryan Norwood rejoined the Chiefs since the last time the Rattlers saw them. Norwood hit .307 with 15 home runs and 69 RBI for the Chiefs in 2006. He was hitting .215 with no home runs for Daytona of the Florida State League before returning to Peoria. Last season, Norwood hit .394 (28-for-71) with no homers and eight RBI in 18 games against the Rattlers.

OPPOSING STARTER: Marco Carillo was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Mexico in 2005. He made his Midwest League debut against the Timber Rattlers on August 30, 2006. The Rattlers got to him for six runs (five earned) on seven hits in three innings. Carrillo has faced Wisconsin three times (two starts) this season. He is 1-0 with a 3.09ERA. He won game two of the double header here at O’Brien Field on May 28 with five shutout innings. Carrillo allowed four hits and struck out six for that win. In his last appearance, Carrillo pitched one inning of relief on June 21 at Beloit. The Snappers got one run on one hit with one walk and one strikeout in that inning. Carrillo’s last start was on June 15 against Clinton. In that game, Carrillo gave up six runs (four earned) on five hits with two hit batters, three walks, and two strikeouts. But, he picked up a no decision.