LAST ACTION: The Timber Rattlers lost 5-3 at Peoria. The Rattlers scored twice on three hits in the top of the first inning off Chief starter Billy Muldowney. But, Peoria scored four times in the bottom of the first inning off Edward Paredes. The Rattlers collected two more hits the rest of the game.
BIG BANG: Maximo Mendez hit the first pitch of the game for a home run to right field. The homer was the first of the season for Mendez. The Rattlers followed up with a one out double by Edilio Colina and a two-out RBI double by Alex Liddi for a 2-0 lead.
FIRST SINCE: That lead-off homer was the first time a Rattler started a road game with a home run since Gavin Dickey hit a lead-off home run at Peoria on June 25, 2007.
BIGGER BANG: The Chiefs tied the game two batters into the bottom of the first. Rattler starting pitcher Edward Paredes allowed a lead-off single to Nate Samson and a two-run homer to Josh Donaldson. A double, single, and walk to the next three batters loaded the bases. Dylan Johnston cracked a two-run single to drive in two more runs for a 4-2 Peoria lead. Paredes retired the next three batters to get out of the inning without any more damage.
*HEART LIKE A WHEEL: Muldowney did not allow another hit over his final four innings of work. He did not walk a batter and struck out four to earn his first win of the season.
AGAIN WITH THE STREAK: Colina’s double in the first inning gave him a seven-game hitting streak. Colina also had a 15-game hitting streak earlier this season.
AWARD WINNER: Paredes was named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week on Monday. The lefty won the award for his game against Cedar Rapids on May 21, in which he took a no-hitter into the bottom of the eighth inning and picked up a win in Wisconsin’s 1-0 victory.
TRANSACTION: Joe Dunigan was activated off the Timber Rattler disabled list today. Paredes was transferred to the roster of the Everett AquaSox.
**ON THE ROAD: The Rattlers are 2-6 in the first eight games of their current 12-game road trip. The Rattlers are hitting .203 (51-for-251) and have scored 18 runs (2.3/game) on this trip. Opponents are hitting .240 (60-for-249) and have scored 36 runs (4.5/game) during the last eight games.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The Cougars are 30-20 this season. They are currently in second place in the Midwest League Western Division. Kane County trails first place Clinton by 6.5 games. The Cougars hold the first half Western Division Wild Card spot by 2.5 games over third place Beloit. The Cougars are 13-11 at Elfstrom Stadium. Kane County went 2-3 in a five game home series with the Quad Cities River Bandits that ended on Monday.
200: Tonight is the 200th regular season meeting between the Rattlers and the Cougars. The Rattler lead the all-time series 100-99.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .233 as a team and have scored 152 runs (3.2/game). Wisconsin has hit 13 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.38. Kane County is hitting .257 as a team and has scored 209 runs (4.2/game). The Cougars have hit 25 home runs this season. Their pitching staff has a combined ERA of 2.70.
2007 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Cougars played 16 times in 2007. Wisconsin went 5-11 against Kane County last season. The Rattlers were 1-6 in seven games at Elfstrom Stadium in 2007.
2008 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin leads the series 2-1. The Rattlers won the first two games of the series in Grand Chute by scores of 8-6 on May 16 and 4-2 on May 17. The Cougars won the final game of the series 4-0 on May 18.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook has placed two members of the current Kane County roster on their list of the top 30 prospects in the Oakland organization. Outfielder Corey Brown is rated #6 and pitcher Craig Italiano is ranked #30.
OUT OF THE DRAFT: The Cougars have 14 members of the 2007 Oakland draft class on their current roster. Pitchers Justin Friend (13th), Brad Hertzler (15th), Scott Hodsdon (6th), Chad Kerfoot (30th), Brent Lysander (16th), Lance Sewell (7th), and Ryne Tacker (34th) are joined by catchers Jonathan Johnston (42nd) and Dusty Napolean (19th). Infielders Justin Frash (27th), Danny Hamblin (10th), and Matt Ray (18th) and outfielders Corey Brown (1st supplemental) and Adam Klein (48th) are also on the team. Two members of the Cougar disabled list were also drafted last season. Catcher Matt Smith (14th) and infielder Michael Richard (11th) are both on the Kane County DL.
VETERANS: There are seven members of the current Kane County roster who played at least part of 2007 with the Cougars.
KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: Scott Hodsdon was the 6th round pick of the Athletics in the 2007 draft out of Azusa Pacific University. In his final season at APU, Hodsdon was 10-1 in 25 games (14 starts) with an ERA of 3.17 and struck out 116 with 25 walks in 108 innings. In his first professional season, Hodsdon went 7-1 with a 4.57ERA in 16 games (10 starts) for the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. He struck out 67 and walked 23 in 67 innings for Vancouver. In his start prior to this evening, Hodsdon picked up a win at Burlington on May 22. He allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings with a walk and six strikeouts as the Cougars beat the Bees 4-2. Hodsdon faced the Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on May 17. He allowed an unearned run in 7.1 innings and struck out seven while allowing just three hits. The Cougars led 2-0 when Hodsdon left the game, but one of his runners left on base scored. Then, Wisconsin scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 4-2 victory over the Cougars.
*-Was going for a video of the Shirley Muldowney biopic. Steve Miller will work.
**-Or, the Canned Heat song that I can stand
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