ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Cedar Rapids Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 5-0. Michael Anton allowed four hits, walked two, and struck out eight as he pitched his first professional complete game. The Kernels broke a scoreless tie with a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth.
NO DECISION: Rattler starting pitcher Michael Pineda allowed three hits and no runs in 6-1/3 innings pitched last night. He left the game after recording the first Kernel batter in the top of the seventh. Pineda has not allowed a run in 16-2/3 innings as a starter this season. He has only given up one run in 23-2/3 innings overall this season for an ERA of 0.38. If he had enough innings to qualify, Pineda would be leading the Midwest League in ERA.
TOUGH DEBUTS: Walter Suriel and Jose Escalona made their debuts for the Rattlers last night. Suriel relieved Pineda in the seventh and hit the first batter he faced. A stolen base and a walk put runners on the corners with two outs. An error allowed the first run of the game to cross home plate. Suriel did not retire a batter in the eighth, with an error and two more walks. Escalona, a Rattler in 2006, entered and gave up a two-run single to Efren Navarro, threw a wild pitch and committed a balk to allow Suriel’s three runs and one of his own to score.
ARGUABLE*: Wisconsin was down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh. Gavin Dickey started the inning with a double and a Joe Dunigan sacrifice bunt moved the tying run to third. Alex Liddi lifted a fly ball to left field. Dickey tagged on the catch and appeared to get home plate with a hand as catcher Chris Rosenbaum bobbled the throw from Jeremy Moore. However, plate umpire Brent Rice ruled that Dickey missed the plate and Rosenbaum tagged Dickey for the final out of the inning. In the ensuing argument, both Dickey and Liddi were ejected from the game.
ONE MOORE: The assist for Moore was his Midwest League leading seventh of the season.
FIRST TIME: Last night was the first time in 2008 the Rattlers have been shutout in a game. The last time the Rattlers were held scoreless in a game was August 22 of last year when Peoria beat the Rattlers 8-0.
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.
KERNELS IN 2008: The Kernels are 17-16 and currently in third place in the Western Division. Cedar Rapids is 7.5 games behind division leading Clinton. Cedar Rapids just wrapped up a three game series at home with the Peoria Chiefs in which the Kernels went 1-2. Cedar Rapids is 9-9 in road games this season.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .235 as a team and have scored 96 runs (3.2/game). Wisconsin has hit eight home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.55. The Kernels are hitting .233 as a team and have scored 152 runs (4.6/game). Cedar Rapids has hit 16 home runs in 2008. The Kernel pitching staff has a team ERA of 3.81.
RUNNING MEN: Cedar Rapids leads the MWL in stolen bases with 59. They have been caught 26 times in 85 attempts.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: Mason Tobin was a 16th round pick of the Angels out of Everett (WA) Community College. He split time between the Arizona League affiliate of the Angels and the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. Tobin was 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in eight games (seven starts) for the AZL Angels and struck out 32 in 28-1/3 innings pitched. After his promotion to Orem, Tobin went 2-1 with a 3.21ERA in six games (all starts) and struck out 23 in 28 innings. Today is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers. He did make three appearances (two starts) against Seattle’s Arizona League affiliate in 2007. He had no record in those games and allowed three runs (two earned) over nine innings with a walk and nine strikeouts. In his last start for the Kernels, Tobin took the loss to Peoria on May 5. He allowed five runs on seven hits over seven innings with two hit batsmen, four walks, and two homers allowed. Tobin is rated as the #21 prospect in the Angel organization by Baseball America.
*-I'd like to have an argument, please.
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