ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers were shutout by Michael Anton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels 2-0. Anton allowed two hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out three. Wisconsin starting pitcher Michael Pineda allowed one run over six innings and took the loss. Gordie Gronkowski and Clay Fuller drove in the runs for the Kernels.
*DÉJÀ VU: On May 9, Pineda and Anton faced each other in Grand Chute. Pineda pitched 6-1/3 innings without allowing a run. Anton tossed a complete game, four-hit shutout in a 5-0 Kernel win.
**HEY, NINTEEN: Gavin Dickey singled to lead-off the game last night. Alex Meneses singled with one out in the third. Meneses was caught stealing for the second out of the inning. Then, Anton retired the final 19 Timber Rattler hitters of the game.
CONSOLATION: Pineda has now pitched enough innings this season to qualify for the top spot in the Midwest League ERA race. Pineda has a 0.78 ERA. Craig Italiano of the Kane County Cougars is second with a 0.80 ERA.
***ONE: Pineda allowed a one out single to Jay Brossman in the bottom of the sixth. Efren Navarro followed with a walk. Gronkowski blooped in a double down the right field line to send Brossman home.
FILLING YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS: The Kernels tacked on a run against Walter Suriel in the seventh on an RBI single by Clay Fuller.
0-0-0-0: The last four losses for the Timber Rattlers have all been shutouts.
THE LAST TIME: The Rattlers have not scored a run since Scott Robinson’s game-ending homer last Saturday to beat Kane County 4-2, that was 18 innings ago.
I REALLY HATE MONDAYS: The Rattlers are 0-7 on Mondays this season.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Kernels were 78-61 last season and made the Midwest League playoffs as the second half Western Division champions. They were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Clinton LumberKings. Keith Johnson is in his first year as Kernel manager.
KERNELS IN 2008: Cedar Rapids is currently 19-24 and in sixth place in the Midwest League Western Division, 11.5 games behind division leading Clinton. The Kernels are 9-10 on Dale & Thomas Popcorn Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids had lost five straight, including being swept by Clinton in a just completed three-game series in Cedar Rapids, before breaking the streak with the win on Monday.
THEY MIGHT BE GOING: The Kernels lead the Midwest League in stolen bases with 73. They also lead the league in attempts with 105.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .235 as a team and have scored 134 runs (3.4/game). Wisconsin has hit 10 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.24. The Kernels are hitting .219 as a team and has scored 180 runs (4.2/game). Cedar Rapids has hit 21 homers. The Kernels have a combined ERA of 3.79.
2008 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin leads the season series 3-2. The teams met on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium May 8-11 and the Rattlers went 3-1.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: Michael Davitt was a 29th round pick of the Angels in the 2006 draft out of Oskaloosa Walton (FL) Community College. He signed with the Angles in May of 2007, before the draft. He pitched for Orem in the Pioneer League in his first pro stop and was 0-3 in 13 games (eight starts) for the Owlz. He walked 16 and struck out 30 in 33-1/3 innings pitched while racking up an ERA of 5.67. In his start prior to today, Davitt lost at Kane County on May 15. He allowed four earned runs over 5-1/3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Wisconsin beat Davitt on May 8 in Grand Chute. The Rattlers got to him for five runs on five walks over three innings. Davitt did strikeout five in the game, but he allowed a three-run double to Alex Liddi in the bottom of the first inning as the Rattlers cruised to a 7-1 win.
*-This has happened before, right?
**-Steely Dan
***-With a Metallica chaser
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