April 27 Game Notes

ABOUT SATURDAY: The Timber Rattlers split a doubleheader with the Beloit Snappers. The Snappers won game one 6-5. Wisconsin won game two 3-0.

GAME ONE RECAP: The Rattlers built an early 5-1 lead with a pair of runs in the first inning and three more in the second. But, Beloit starting pitcher David Bromberg allowed two hits over his final three innings and allowed the Snapper bats to get going. Beloit scored twice in the fourth on an RBI single by Steve Singleton, who had three hits in the game. Beloit tied the game with two runs in the fifth. Chris Cates singled in the go ahead run in the sixth. Loek Van Mil shutout the Rattlers over the final two innings for the save.

GAME TWO RECAP: Donnie Hume and Phillippe Aumont combined on a four hit shutout to earn the split. Wisconsin scored a run in the first inning on a passed ball, a run in the fourth on a Juan Diaz RBI single, and a run in the fifth on an RBI double by Calvin Beamon. Hume worked the first four innings. Aumont allowed one hit over the final three innings for the win.

FIVE: The Rattlers are 0-9 in games in which they have allowed more than five runs. Game one yesterday was the first game that the Rattlers lost in which they scored five or more runs.

DOUBLE SIXES: Nathan Adcock got the start in game one yesterday. He struck out six and walked six over 4-2/3 innings. The six walks in a start is a high for a Timber Rattler pitcher this season.

TRUCKIN’: Edilio Colina had two hits in game one and a double in game two to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Colina is 11-for-30 during the streak. Calvin Beamon also got a hit in both games. His current hitting streak is at six games.

ALL BY MYSELF: Rattler first baseman Gerardo Avila turned a pair of unassisted double plays in the first game of the double header.

SHUTOUT TANDEM: The Timber Rattlers have tossed three shutouts this season. Hume and Aumont have pitched in all three. Aumont was the starter in the first game of a doubleheader at Quad Cities on April 5. Hume was the starter and winner in the second game of that doubleheader against the River Bandits.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Beloit Snappers are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They were 79-61 last season and made it to the playoffs as the first half western division champions. Beloit made it to the Midwest League Championship Series, but lost in five games to the West Michigan Whitecaps.

SEE YOU IN THE SECOND HALF: Today is the final meeting of the first half between the Rattlers and Snappers. Wisconsin and Beloit renew acquaintances in Grand Chute July 5-7; in Beloit July 19-21; and back in Grand Chute July 26-28.

SNAPPERS IN 2008: The Snappers are 7-15 in the first 22 games of 2008. In their most recent series, the Snappers were swept in a three-game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps in Comstock Park, Michigan. They are 3-7 on the road this season under new manager Nelson Prada.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: Beloit is hitting .245 as a team and has scored 80 runs (3.6/game). They have hit 16 home runs this season. Beloit’s pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.04. The Timber Rattlers are hitting .242 as a team; have scored 46 runs (3.0/game); and have hit two home runs this season. Wisconsin’s pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.97.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 3-2 in five games against the Snappers in 2008.

BELOIT STARTING PITCHER: Daniel Berlind was the 7th round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2007 draft out of Pierce (CA) Junior College. He went 6-2 with a 1.93ERA in 11 games (nine starts) for the Gulf Coast League Twins in his first pro season. Today is his first appearance against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. In his last start for the Snappers, Berlind allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and no strikeouts over four innings at West Michigan on April 22. Baseball America rates him as the #26 prospect in the Minnesota organization.

I did it. And I'd do it again. Just be glad it wasn't the Celine Dion version.