June 12 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Bees handed the Timber Rattlers an 11-6 defeat at Community Field. Kyle Martin went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs, a walk, four RBI, and three runs scored. Burlington banged out 16 hits – seven for extra bases – in their third consecutive win over the Rattlers.

*FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST**: The Bees scored five runs in the first inning last night. An error on a potential inning ending double play allowed the first run to score. An RBI single by Clint Robinson was followed by a three-run homer by Martin. Burlington has outscored the Rattlers 12-0 in the first inning of the first three games of this series.

IN CONTEXT: Before this series began, Burlington had been outscored 45-12 by their opponents in the first inning of games.

DOUBLE DIGITS: Last night was only the third time this season Wisconsin has allowed 10 or more runs in a game. The Rattlers lost 10-2 at South Bend on April 23 and 11-6 at South Bend on May 20 in the other games in which they allowed double digit runs.

HIT PARADE: The 16 hits and the three home runs given allowed by Rattler pitching were both season highs. The Rattler batters rang up 13 hits – including three by Joe Dunigan – and missed their season high by one.

***MITCHELL! Burlington starting pitcher Matt Mitchell allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six for his fourth win of the seaon.

RAMIREZ! Rattler starting pitcher Juan Ramirez lasted three innings, allowed five runs on six hits, walked two and struck out three to take the loss.

SPLITS: In the first three games of this series, Rattler starting pitchers have gone a total of 6-2/3 innings; allowed 17 runs (15 earned) on 19 hits; walked six; and struck out six. The Rattler bullpen has worked 17-1/3 innings; allowed seven runs on 15 hits; walked seven; and struck out 17.

****SO, YOU’RE SAYING THERE WAS A CHANCE: The Rattlers trailed 10-6 in the top of the eighth inning against Burlington reliever Joe Augustine. Alex Liddi, Gavin Dickey, and Joe Dunigan came through with consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. However, Augustine got out of the inning on a popup and two strikeouts without a run scoring.

DISTURBING TREND: The Rattlers are 7-for-40 (.175) with 18 RBI when they have the bases loaded this season.

*****THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD: The Rattlers dropped their fifth straight road contest last night. Since May 19, Wisconsin is 3-12 in 15 road games.

ROSTER MOVES: The Seattle Mariners placed Phillippe Aumont on the disabled list, retroactive to June 10, before tonight’s game. Taking his spot on the roster is Edward Paredes, who was transferred to Wisconsin from the roster of the Everett Aquasox of the Northwest League. Paredes is the scheduled starting pitcher tonight. Aumont, who had been chosen to play next Tuesday in the Midwest League All-Star, will not participate in the game.

THE REPLACEMENT ALL-STAR: Rattler reliever Travis Mortimore will take the spot of Aumont and represent the Timber Rattlers on the Western Division squad.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Burlington Bees are the Midwest League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are currently 28-38 and in eighth place in the Midwest League Western Division. The Bees have won three straight and are 19-15 in 34 home games this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .239 as a team and have scored 206 runs (3.4/game). Wisconsin has hit 15 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.47. The Bees are hitting .234 as a team and have scored 247 runs (3.8/game). Burlington has hit 46 home runs this season. The Bees pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.58.

2007 SEASON SERIES: Burlington won the season series with Wisconsin last year. The Rattlers went 3-5 in eight games with the Bees. Wisconsin was 1-4 at Community Field.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Bees lead the season series 4-3. The Rattlers took three out of four games from the Bees on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium May 12-15. The Bees won the first game of the series 1-0 in ten innings. The Rattlers won the final three games of the series: 6-4, 3-1, and 7-2.

OUT OF THE 2008 DRAFT: Joining the Bees today is Kansas City’s second round pick of this year’s draft. Johnny Giovatella, a second baseman out of the University of New Orleans, was the 49th overall pick of the 2008 draft.

BURLINGTON STARTING PITCHER: Alex Caldera was the 13th round pick of the Royals in the 2007 draft out of Chaffey College. He was the Foothill Conference Pitcher of the Year after compiling a record of 9-2 with a 1.70ERA. He spent his first professional season with the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League. Caldera was 1-2 with a 3.40ERA in 12 games (seven starts) with 13 walks and 39 strikeouts in 42-1/3 innings. In his start prior to this evening for the Bees, Caldera allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven over five innings in loss at Cedar Rapids on June 7. Caldera made a start against the Timber Rattlers on May 12 in Grand Chute. He pitched seven shutout innings; allowed four hits; and struck out nine in a no decision.

*-For the guys
**-For the ladies
***-MST3K Classic
****-It makes me laugh
*****-Sir Paul