ABOUT TUESDAY: The Timber Rattlers lost 11-6 at Cedar Rapids. The loss was Wisconsin’s third straight. Michael Davitt allowed two unearned runs over five innings for the win. Andrew Romine hit a three run homer for Cedar Rapids. Clay Fuller and Angel Castillo each drove in two runs in the win.
FOR JUST THE SECOND TIME: Yesterday was only the second time this season the Rattlers have allowed 10 or more runs in a game this season. The last time was on April 23 at South Bend in a 10-2 loss.
FOR JUST THE SECOND TIME (PT: II): The Rattlers lost for just the second time this season when they have scored five or more runs.
FALL BACK: Wisconsin committed four errors yesterday that led to five unearned runs. In the ten games before yesterday, the Rattler defense committed just five errors.
TOUGH START: Rattler starting pitcher Juan Ramirez was knocked out of the box in the fourth inning. He allowed six runs (one earned) on four hits, no walks, and a strikeout over 3-2/3 innings. This was the shortest start for Ramirez since his three-inning outing against the Clinton LumberKings on April 7.
GET A LITTLE CLOSER: The Rattlers had an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but the Kernels scored once in the third and five times in the fourth to go up 6-2. Wisconsin rallied with three runs in the top of the sixth inning on a Calvin Beamon sacrifice fly and a two-run homer by Denny Almonte to get to within 6-5.
PULLING AWAY: In the bottom of the sixth, Cedar Rapids got the three runs homer from Romine. The Kernels tacked on two more runs in the seventh.
DEEP TO RIGHT: Almonte’s home run in the sixth inning was his second of the season. The centerfielder has two homers in eight games for the Rattlers and he is tied for second on the team in that category.
*MULTI-BALL: Three Rattlers had two-hit games yesterday. Almonte, Edilio Colina, and Alex Liddi combined for six of Wisconsin’s seven hits. Almonte and Colina both had a pair of RBI for the Rattlers in the game.
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.
SAME PLACE; NEW NAME: The Kernels still play at Veterans Memorial Stadium. But, they sold the naming rights this past off-season. This series will take place on Dale & Thomas Popcorn Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
KERNELS IN 2008: Cedar Rapids is currently 20-24 and in sixth place in the Midwest League Western Division, 11.5 games behind division leading Clinton. The Kernels are 10-10 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 140 runs (3.4/game). Wisconsin has hit 11 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.33. The Kernels are hitting .223 as a team and has scored 191 runs (4.3/game). Cedar Rapids has hit 22 homers. The Kernels have a combined ERA of 3.80.
2008 SEASON SERIES: The series is even at three wins a piece. 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: Trevor Reckling was the 8th round pick of the Angels out of St. Benedict’s Prep School in Newark, New Jersey in the 2007 draft. He pitched for the Arizona League affiliate of the Angels after signing. He went 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in nine games (five starts) with 55 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. Reckling faced the Timber Rattlers for the first time on May 11 in Grand Chute. He tossed an eight-inning complete game in a 3-1 loss. He gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits with five strikeouts in the loss. In his start prior to tonight for the Kernels, Reckling got a no decision against Clinton in Cedar Rapids on May 16. He gave up three earned runs on four hits over seven innings with four walks and three strikeouts. Reckling is rated at the #16 prospect in the Angel organization by Baseball America.
*-I was more a fan of The Twilight Zone machine.
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