Friday Blast from the Past

Juan Sandoval was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Triple A phase of the Rule 5 draft. Sandoval was 11-10 with a 4.46 ERA. He allowed 190 hits in 178-1/3 innings, walked 58 and struck out 73 in 27 starts that season.

At some point this off-season, I was planning on the last regular Friday morning post as being a play-by-play of a memorable regular season game since 2000. Today seems just as good as any because the Friday Blast from the Past is Juan Sandoval’s best start as a Timber Rattler.

It was July 3, 2003 as the Rattlers took on the Quad City River Bandits at old John O’Donnell Stadium. This was the final game of a seven game road trip for Wisconsin. They had dropped two out of three games at Clinton to start the trip, but had won the first three games of a four game set with the Bandits. Sandoval was facing Scott Tyler as they went for the sweep. Tyler was the second round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2001 draft.

The records of the two pitchers did not inspire the thought that this game would be a low scoring duel. Sandoval was 4-7 with a 4.34 ERA and Tyler was 2-8 with a 5.38 ERA. On top of that, it was 91 degrees and humid on the Mississippi River.

The starting lineups that day:

RATTLERS			RIVER BANDITS
PLAYER	POS		PLAYER	POS
Corey Harrington	3B		Trent Oeltjen	RF
Tim Merritt	2B		Jesus Merchan	2B
Gary Harris	DH		Seth Davidson	SS
TJ Bohn	CF		Danny Matienzo	1B
Carlos Arroyo	LF		Alex Romero	CF
Jon Nelson	1B		Jose Morales	C
Tomo Aoki	RF		Omar Burgos	3B
Rene Rivera	C		Garrett Guzman	LF
Michael Garciaparra	SS		Kaulana Kuhaulua	DH
Juan Sandoval	SP		Scott Tyler	SP

Top of 1^st:

Harrington singles. With Merritt at bat, Harrington steals second and goes to third on a throwing error by catcher. Merritt walks. With Harris at bat, Merritt is caught stealing second, Harrington still at third. Harris pops out to short. Bohn singles, Harrington scores. Arroyo grounds out 1-3. Rattlers lead 1-0.

Bottom of 1^st:

Oeltjen triples. Merchan hit by pitch. Davidson lines out to third. Matienzo strikes out looking. Romero grounds out 4-3. Rattlers lead 1-0.

Top of 2^nd:

Nelson flies out to center. Aoki strikes out swinging. Rivera walks. Garciaparra grounds out 5-3. Rattlers lead 1-0.

Bottom of 2^nd:

Morales flies out to center. Burgos pops out to short. Guzman grounds out 4-3.

Top of 3^rd:

Harrington flies out to right. Merritt strikes out swinging. Harris doubles. Bohn walks. Arroyo singles, Harris scores, Bohn to second. Nelson singles, Bohn scores, Arroyo to third. Aoki walks to load the bases. Rivera walks, Arroyo scores, bases still loaded. Garciaparra reaches on fielder’s choice, Rivera forced out at second second base. Rattlers lead 4-0.

Bottom of 3^rd:

Kuhaulua doubles. Oeltjen flies out to center. Merchan grounds out 4-3. Davidson grounds out 3 unassisted. Rattlers lead 4-0.

Top of 4^th:

Harrington singles. (PITCHING CHANGE: Tyler replaced by Tristan Crawford) Merritt singles. Harris grounds out 3 unassisted, Harrington to third, Merritt to second. Bohn walks, bases loaded. Arroyo singles, Harrington and Merritt scores, Bohn to third. With Nelson batting, Arroyo steals second. Nelson singles, Bohn scores, Arroyo to third. Aoki doubled, Arroyo and Nelson score. Rivera grounds out 6-3. Garciaparra walks. With Harrington batting, wild pitch moves Aoki to third and Garciaparra to second. Harrington singles, Aoki scores, Garciaparra to third. Merritt lines out to short. Rattlers lead 10-0.

Bottom of 4^th:

Matienzo grounds out 6-3. Romero singles. Morales singles, Romero to second. Burgos grounds into 4-6-3 double play. Rattlers lead 10-0.

Top of 5^th:

Harris grounds out 3 unassisted. Bohn singles. Arroyo grounds out 4-3. Nelson singles, Bohn to third. Aoki singles, Bohn scores, Nelson to second. Rivera grounds out 5-3. Rattlers lead 11-0.

Bottom of 5^th:

Guzman grounds out 4-3. Kuhaulua grounds out 4-3. Oeltjen strikes out swinging. Rattlers lead 11-0.

Top of 6^th:

(PITCHING CHANGE: Kevin Cameron replaced Crawford) Garciaparra grounds out 4-3. Harrington doubles. Merritt singles, Harrington scores. Harris doubles, Merritt to third. Bohn strikes out. Arroyo grounds out 5-3. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Bottom of 6^th:

Merchan flies out to center. Davidson fouls out to first. Matienzo singles. Romero singles, Matienzo to second. JD Huether pinch hits for Morales, flies out to center. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Top of 7^th:

DEFENSIVE SWITCH: Huether to catcher

Nelson grounds out 5-3. Aoki grounds out 5-3. Rivera singles. Garciaparra strikes out looking. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Bottom of 7^th:

Burgos flies out to right. Guzman lines out to second. Kuhaulua lines out to third. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Top of 8^th:

Harrington singles. Merritt flies out to center. Chris Phillips pinch hits for Harris. Phillips grounds into 6-4-3 double play. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Bottom of 8^th:

Oeltjen flies out to center. Merchan grounds out 4-3. Davidson walks. Matienzo walks, Davidson to second. Romero pops out to third. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Top of 9^th:

(PITCHING CHANGE: Kaulana Kuhaulua replaces Cameron) Bohn singles. Arroyo grounds into 6-4-3 double play. Nelson doubles. Aoki walks. Rivera flies out to right. Rattlers lead 12-0.

Bottom of 9^th:

(PITCHING CHANGE: Renee Cortez replaces Sandoval) Huether doubles. Burgos strikes out. Guzman doubles, Huether scores. With Kuhaulua at bat, Guzman takes third on wild pitch. Kuhaulua grounds out 1-3. Oeltjen hit by pitch. Merchan reaches on E-4, Guzman scored, Oeltjen to second. Davidson strikes out. Game over. Rattlers win 12-2.

In case you lost count up there, the Rattlers collected 21 hits in the game. Highlighted performances.

Sandoval: 8IP, 6H, 0R, 2BB, 2K

Harrington: 5-for-6, three runs, RBI

Nelson: 4-for-6, 2 RBI

Arroyo: 2-for-6, 3RBI

Aoki: 2-for-4, 3RBI

Sandoval lost his next start on July 8 against Dayton, but after that he would win his next five starts to get his record to 10-8. He would finish the year 11-10. Now, he’s in the Milwaukee organization. Best of luck.