ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Rattlers 6-2. Sean O’Sullivan allowed an unearned run in the first inning, but nothing else over his seven innings of work. The Kernels took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI single by Matt Sweeney and an RBI triple by Mark Trumbo. Cedar Rapids scored three times in the eighth and once more in the ninth to put away the Rattlers.
LUCK OF THE IRISH: Wisconsin had at least one runner on base in all but one of the innings against O’Sullivan, including the leadoff hitter in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. But, the Rattlers could not pad their 1-0 lead. O’Sullivan struck out seven and – after the first inning – did not allow another runner past second base until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
HOW TO TAKE AN EARLY LEAD: Reed Eastley singled with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. The ball was misplayed by Kernel rightfielder Julio Perez and Eastley wound up on third base. Trevor Lawhorn singled in Eastley for the 1-0 advantage.
ON THE LOSING END OF THE DUEL: Rattler starter Kyle Parker worked through five scoreless innings. But, in the sixth, Wil Ortiz doubled and was sacrificed to third. Sweeney looped in a hit just over Lawhorn’s glove at second. Trumbo followed with his triple and the Kernels took a lead they would not give up.
PULLING AWAY: Cedar Rapids extended their 2-1 lead to 5-1 with a two-out rally in the top of the eighth. Abel Nieves singled and took second on an error with two out and none on base. Wisconsin walked Sweeney intentionally. Then, Trumbo, Brian Walker, and Perez connected on back-to-back-to-back RBI singles
SPLITSVILLE, AGAIN: For the fourth time in the second half, Wisconsin ended a four game series with a split. The Rattlers won the first two games of the series with Cedar Rapids before dropping the final two.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Rattlers begin a stretch of 11 road games over 14 days tonight. Wisconsin does not have another home game until Saturday, July 21.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are off to a 5-11 start in the second half of the season. The Cougars are currently in eighth place in the Midwest League’s Western Division. Kane County is 29-56 overall. They are managed by Aaron Nieckula.
THE SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 3-7 against the Cougars in 2007. Wisconsin lost a pair of games against the Cougars at Phil Elfstrom Stadium on May 14 & 15. A week later, Wisconsin won a pair of games from the Cougars on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on May 21 & 22. The teams split a pair of games at Elfstrom Stadium on May 23 & 24. The final meeting of the first half between these teams was a four game series in Grand Chute and Kane County won all four games.
PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA places two players on Kane County’s active roster on their top 30 list of Oakland prospects. Outfielder Jermaine Mitchell is rated as #5 and pitcher Trevor Cahill is ranked #10. There are three players on Kane County’s disabled list on the BA list: Pitcher Craig Italiano (#22), pitcher Chad Lee (#29), and outfielder Larry Cobb (#30).
OUT OF THE DRAFT: The Cougars have three players from Oakland’s 2007 draft class. Infielder Sean Doolittle was a supplemental first round choice out of the University of Virginia and was the 41st player taken in the 2007 draft. Pitcher Travis Banwart was Oakland’s 4th rounder out of Wichita State. Catcher Matt Smith was a 14th round pick out of Texas Tech.
OPPOSING STARTER: Henry Rodriguez was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela on July 18, 2003. He went 5-2 with a 7.42 ERA for the Arizona League affiliate of the Athletics in 2006. Rodriguez beat Wisconsin with five shutout innings on May 24 at Kane County. The Rattlers got two hits and walked four times in the game, but Rodriguez struck out six in an 8-4 Kane County win. Rodriguez also beat the Rattlers in the second game of a double header on June 9 in Grand Chute. He allowed two runs on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts over five innings in a 6-2 Cougar victory. In his start prior to this evening, Rodriguez allowed one run on one hit with five walks and five strikeouts over 5-2/3 innings at Cedar Rapids on July 2 and took the loss.
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