8/01/2007

Game Notes -- 8/1

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Dayton Dragons beat the Timber Rattlers 2-1. Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning. The Dragons scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning and held on for the win.

FAST START: Ron Garth’s RBI single in the top of the first inning gave the Rattler the early lead. Wisconsin has scored in the first inning of the first each of the first two games of this series.

PERFECT FOR A TIME: Rattler starting pitcher Tony Butler retired the first twelve batters he faced. Jason Louwsma homered to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Then, the Dragons collected four more hits in a row. An RBI single by Denis Phipps snapped the 1-1 tie.

OUT HITTING: The Rattlers outhit the Dragons 8-5. All five of Dayton’s hits came in the fifth inning.

CHANCES: Wisconsin had at least one base runner on in every inning from the first through the seventh. The Rattlers left eight runners on base.

SHUTDOWN: Dayton reliever Misael DeJesus entered the game with two runners on and two outs in the top of the seventh inning. DeJesus got the final out of the inning and retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings.

IN CONTROL: Butler did not walk a batter over five innings. Last night was the second time this season Butler has pitched five innings without walking a batter.

HIT BY PITCH: Rattler starting catcher Juan Beltran was hit in the head by a pitch from Rafael Gonzalez in the top of the second inning. He was replaced by Jair Fernandez in the bottom of the third inning.

HERE’S A STREAK: Since June 12, Rattler infielder Reed Eastley has reached base in 37 consecutive games. Eastley extended his streak with a walk in the top of the first inning last night. This is the longest streak of its kind in the Midwest League this season.

GOOD BYE, JULY: The Rattlers wrapped the month of July with an 8-18 record. The Rattlers hit .262 as a team in the month. Wisconsin pitchers had an ERA of 4.53.

OPPOSING STARTER: Alexander Smit was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Minnesota Twins out of the Netherlands in 2002. He spent two seasons (2005 and 2006) with the Beloit Snappers. Baseball America rated Smit as the #15 prospect in the Minnesota organization before the start of 2007. Smit was on the Twins 40-man roster. The Reds claimed Smit off waivers when Minnesota tried to take him off the 40-man roster. Smit is 0-2 in two starts for the Dragons. Smit started the season with Fort Myers in the Florida State League and was 1-4 with a save and a 5.86ERA in 18 games (8 starts). Smit has faced the Rattlers four times (2 starts) in his career. He is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA.

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