BIG CROWD: Tuesday's attendance of 6,711 was the largest of the 2007 season for the Timber Rattlers. The previous high this season was 5,425 on Tuesday, May 22 against Kane County.
DRY SPELL: Rattler shortstop Juan Diaz is on an 0-for-28 streak. Diaz was 0-for-12 in three games against the Silver Hawks.
AROUND THE DIAMOND: Leury Bonilla had three hits on Tuesday night and played right field. Bonilla played in three games of the series at three different positions against the Silver Hawks. He played short on Sunday and went 2-for-3. Bonilla was the third baseman for the Rattlers on Tuesday and he was 2-for-3.
STILL TOP TEN: Kyle Parker, the Rattler starting pitcher on Tuesday allowed five earned runs in the third inning. He had not allowed five earned runs in any of his prior 15 appearances in 2007. Parker saw his ERA move from 2.64 to 3.01, but he is still ranked in the top 10 (9th) in the Midwest League ERA race.
SERIES RECORD: The Rattlers went 1-3 against the Hawks in the four game series. In fourteen home series this season, Wisconsin has won two, split four, and lost eight.
HOME RECORD: The Rattlers are 13-32 at home this season.
ROSTER MOVES: Rattler reliever Brian Kappel retired after Tuesday’s game. Joining the team today will be 2006 Midwest League All-Star reliever Harold Williams.
D-FENCE: The Rattlers are hosting the Great Lakes Loons in a four game series that starts tonight. Wisconsin is ranked 14th in the Midwest League in defense. Great Lakes is ranked 13th. The Rattlers have been charged with 170 errors and have a fielding percentage of .954 in 2007. The Loons have committed 159 errors and have a fielding percentage of .957 this season. Opponents have scored 121 earned runs against the Rattlers this season. The Loons have allowed 99 unearned runs in 2007.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Great Lakes Loons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are currently 43-57 overall and 9-21 in the second half. They did not qualify for the playoffs in the first half. The Loons are currently sixth in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division. Great Lakes is managed by former major league catcher Lance Parrish.
THE SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Loons split a four game set at Dow Diamond May 8-11. Great Lakes won game one of the series 5-3. Wisconsin took games two and three by scores of 6-4 and 4-2. The Loons won the final game of the series 6-5 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
HEY, WEREN’T THEY?: The Loons are the Midwest League franchise that used to be based in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays moved to Midland, Michigan at the end of the 2006 season.
WELCOME BACK: The Dodgers are the parent club of the Loons. This is the first time the Dodgers have had an affiliate in the Midwest League since 1979 when they were affiliated with Clinton.
BLOODLINES: Loon infielder Preston Mattingly is the son of former major leaguer Don Mattingly. Loon outfielder Scott Van Slyke is the son of former major leaguer Andy Van Slyke.
PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA has put seven members of the current Great Lakes roster on their list of top 30 prospects in the Dodger organization. Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw is the highest rated prospect at #2. Infielders Josh Bell (#9) and Preston Mattingly (#10) are also in the top ten. Starting pitcher Steven Johnson (#16), catcher Carlos Santana (#23), relief pitcher Miguel Sanfler (#28) and starting pitcher Josh Wall (#29) also made the list.
OPPOSING STARTER: Josh Wall was the second round pick of the Dodgers in the 2005 draft out of Walker (LA) High School. He was 3-5 with a 5.86 ERA for the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League in 2006. In his last start for the Loons, Wall allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings against the Swing of the Quad Cities. He walked three and struck out five for a no decision. Wall faced the Timber Rattlers on May 10 at Dow Diamond. The Rattlers got two runs (one earned) on five hits over 5-2/3 innings against him. Wall struck out eight, but got a no decision. He left with the game tied 2-2 and the Rattlers went on to a 4-2 win.
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