Game Notes -- 7/4

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers and Kernels were rained out.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: The rainout on Tuesday was the eighth Wisconsin home date lost to the weather. The other seven games have been: April 6, April 7, April 9, April 11, April 12, June 4, and June 7.

IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING: There were nine home dates lost to the weather during the 2003 season. Those are the most lost since 2000.

DOUBLE DOWN: Tonight will be the seventh doubleheader of the season for the Timber Rattlers. Wisconsin has split two doubleheaders and has been swept in the other four.

LID LIFTERS: In their six doubleheaders, the Rattlers have been beaten in the first game of all six.

LAST RATTLER ACTION: The Timber Rattlers defeated the Swing of the Quad Cities 9-6. Joe White had three this – including a three-run home run and Juan Diaz added three hits and two RBI to the Rattlers offensive attack. Wisconsin starting pitcher Nathan Adcock struggled to get out of the fifth inning, but picked up his second win of the season. Keith Renaud (3.0) and Joe Kantakevich (1.0) worked the final four innings to nail down the Rattler win.

SPLIT ON THE TRIP: The Rattlers concluded their eight game road trip to Peoria and Quad Cities on Tuesday night with a 4-4 record. The Rattlers went 2-2 at O’Brien Field and 2-2 at John O’Donnell Stadium. The Rattlers needed to win the final two games of the series with the Swing to get the split.

PROGRESS: The Rattlers are 6-6 in the second half. In the first half, Wisconsin did not get their sixth win until the 26th game of season.

THEY’LL BE BACK: After this series is over, the Rattlers will not return to Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium until July 21. Wisconsin hits the road for a three game series at Kane County, a four game series at Lansing, and a four game series at Beloit. There are also three scheduled off days during that span.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They are 7-5 and in third place in the Western Division to start the second half. Overall this season, the Kernels are 45-36. Cedar Rapids did not qualify for the playoffs in the first half despite a record of 38-29. The Kernels are managed by Ever Magallanes.

THE SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers lead the season series 4-3. Cedar Rapids took three out of four games in a series at Veterans Memorial Stadium April 13-16. Wisconsin swept a three game series at the Vet June 15-17 right before the end of the first half.

PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA lists nine members of the active Cedar Rapids roster on their list of top 30 prospects in the Angel organization. Pitchers Sean O’Sullivan, Tommy Mendoza, and David Herndon are listed 9th, 10th, and 11th respectively. Infielders PJ Phillips (#14) ad Matt Sweeney (#16) are on the list. Pitchers Jeremy Haynes (#17), Trevor Bell (#21), and Barrett Browning (#28) are joined by infielder Mark Trumbo (#29). The Kernels also have three players on their disabled list who are on the BA’s top 30 list. Catcher Hank Conger (#6), outfielder Peter Bourjos (#12), and infielder Ryan Mount (#20) are all on the Kernel DL.

OUT OF THE DRAFT: Catcher Brian Walker is the only member of the 2007 Angel draft class who is on the current Kernel roster. He was drafted by Los Angeles in the 29th round out of the University of Arkansas.

GAME ONE OPPOSING STARTER: David Herndon was the 5th round pick of the Angels in the 2006 draft out of Gulf Coast (FL) Community College. He has faced the Timber Rattlers twice this season. On April 15, Herndon allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts over seven innings and picked up the victory. Wisconsin beat Herndon on June 17 in the final game of the first half. The Rattlers got four runs on nine hits over five innings to beat Herndon.

GAME TWO OPPOSING STARTER: Tommy Mendoza was the 5th round pick of the Angels in the 2005 draft out of Monsignor Pace High School in Miami, Florida. He went 11-6 with a 4.17ERA in 27 starts for the Kernels in 2006. He faced the Rattlers one time in ’06. On August 23, he gave up nine hits over seven innings, but only allowed three runs for a win. Mendoza is making his first start of the season. He had made on five inning relief appearance for the Arizona League affiliate of the Angels. On June 26 he picked up the victory against the Rangers.