Game notes (4/18)

LAST GAME ACTION: The Timber Rattlers defeated the Fort Wayne Wizards 6-2. Wisconsin snapped a 2-2 tie with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Juan Diaz drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run. Joe Dunigan followed with a two-run double. Edilio Colina concluded the inning with an RBI single.

HOW ABOUT THAT START: Juan Ramirez pitched 6-1/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits for a no-decision. Ramirez walked one and struck out seven.

AND THE WINNER IS: Michael Pineda worked two scoreless innings and struck out five to earn the win.

A CARROLL-ING WE’LL GO: Rattler outfielder Daniel Carroll had three hits, an RBI, a double, two runs scored and a stolen base on Tuesday. Carroll has seven steals this season and is tied for second in the Midwest League in that category.

DOUBLE PLAYS THE ODD WAY: The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have turned a double play on Tuesday when Drew Cumberland lined out to second and Brad Chalk was doubled off first base. The Rattlers have turned three double plays this season, but none of them have been on grounders to an infielder. The other two twin killings came on hit-and-run plays with a fly ball or popout and the runner got doubled off first base.

SEASON HIGHS: The six runs in Tuesday’s game and the four runs in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game set new team highs for the Timber Rattlers.

END OF THE STREAK: Wisconsin ended their three-game losing streak with the win on Tuesday.

REVERSE VAMPIRES: All four Timber Rattler wins this season are in day games. Wisconsin is 0-4 in night games.

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.

SNAPPERS IN 2008: The Snappers are 5-9 to start this year. In their most recent series, the Snappers went 1-2 in a three-game series with the Dayton Dragons at Pohlman Field. They are 3-7 at home this season under new manager Nelson Prada.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: Beloit is hitting .249 as a team and has scored 55 runs (3.9/game). They have hit eight home runs this season. Beloit’s pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.33. The Timber Rattlers are hitting .217 as a team; have scored 24 runs (2.4/game); and have hit one home run this season. Wisconsin’s pitching staff has a combined ERA of 2.59.

2007 SEASON SERIES: The Timber Rattlers went 5-7 against Beloit last season. The Rattlers were 0-6 at Pohlman Field last season.

NOT LIKING BELOIT: Wisconsin has not won at Pohlman Field since April 12, 2006. The Snappers have won ten straight over the Rattlers in Beloit.

PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook has seven members of the current Beloit roster on their list of top 30 prospects in the Minnesota system. Outfielder Joe Benson (#2) is the highest rated player with the Snappers. Outfielder Chris Parmelee (#12) and third baseman Deibinson Romero (#13) are the other position players on the list. Pitchers David Bromberg (#15), Mike McCardell (#18), Loek Van Mil (#19), and Dan Berlind (#26) are the also on the list.

OUT OF THE DRAFT: There are twelve members of the 2007 Minnesota draft class on the current Beloit roster. The pitchers are: Dan Berlind (7th), Blair Erickson (10th), Steven Hirschfeld (9th), Mike McCardell (6th), Charles Nolte (24th), Dominique Rodgers (36th), Spencer Steedley (25th), and Michael Tarsi (12th); catcher Daniel Lehmann (8th), infielders Chris Cates (38th), Ben Petsch (19th), and outfielder Ozzie Lewis (21st) are also on the Snappers roster.

VETERANS: There are 14 members of the 2008 Beloit Snappers who played for the Snappers in 2007.

FAMILIAR FACE: Catcher Jair Fernandez was a Timber Rattler in 2007 and was slated to start the season in Grand Chute. But, just before camp broke, Fernandez was traded to the Minnesota organization so that the Seattle Mariners could hold on to the rights to pitcher RA Dickey, a Rule 5 selection in December of 2007.

BELOIT STARTING PITCHER: Brian Kirwan was 11th round pick of the Twins in the 2005 draft. He joined the Snappers in late May and spent the rest of 2007 with Beloit. He went 2-8 in 19 games (18 starts) with a 5.30ERA. He faced the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers twice last season. He went 0-1 in those two starts. On July 18 at Pohlman Field, he pitched four scoreless innings, allowed two hits, and struck out three but got a no decision when the game was suspended by rain in the bottom of the fourth. On August 7 in Grand Chute, he gave up five runs on seven hits over six innings and took the loss as the Rattlers topped Beloit 6-1. In his previous start this season, Kirwan picked up the victory against Fort Wayne in the second game of a doubleheader on April 13. He allowed one run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts over five innings.

Why, yes, there was a Simpsons' reference up in there somewhere. Thank you for noticing.