June 24 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers outlasted the Kernels 4-2 in 15 innings. Five Wisconsin pitchers combined to keep the Kernels off the scoreboard over the final 12-2/3 innings. Juan Diaz scored the go ahead run on a passed ball in top of the fifteenth.

D-FENCE! D-FENCE! Rattler outfielder Denny Almonte recorded three outfield assists last night. In the third inning, he doubled Hector Estrella off second after catching a line drive. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Almonte threw Efren Navarro out at the plate after a single by Anel De Los Santos. In the bottom of the 14th, Almonte threw out Julio Perez at the plate as Perez tried to score after a throw to third on a stolen base got into left field.

HOW DID WE GET TO THAT POINT? The Kernels scored single runs in the second and third off Rattler starting pitcher Jake Wild. Chris Rosenbaum singled in the first run and Navarro knocked in the second with a ground out. Wisconsin evened the game 2-2 with an RBI double by Ron Garth and an RBI single by Alex Liddi in the sixth.

DODGEBALL: The Kernels had the winning run on base in the ninth, tenth, eleventh, thirteenth, and fourteenth innings. In the thirteenth, Estrella was on third base with no outs. But, Rob Harmon struck out the next three batters to send the game to the fourteenth.

KEEP AWAY: Rattler pitchers combined to strike out 18 Kernel batters in the game. Wild pitched six innings and struck out five. Travis Mortimore worked four scoreless innings and struck out three. Harmon struck out six over three innings. Jose Escalona, who got the win, struck out three in 1-2/3 innings. Justin Souza struck out the final batter of the game for his fourth save.

ROSTER MOVES: Mortimore has been promoted to the High Desert Mavericks of the California League. Replacing Mortimore is Johnny DuRocher, a 34th round pick of the Mariners in the 2007 draft out of the University of Washington. Also, outfielder Gavin Dickey was placed on the disabled list.

THEY’LL TAKE IT: Diaz singled to start the top of the fifteenth inning for the first Wisconsin hit since the seventh inning. He went to second on a passed ball and took third on a sacrifice bunt by Edilio Colina. Garth was at the plate with a 3-1 count and the Kernels decided to walk him intentionally. De Los Santos missed the ball for another passed ball and Diaz scored the go ahead run. Later in the inning, Almonte singled in a run for a little insurance.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliates of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They finished the first half with a record of 32-36 and out of the playoffs in the Western Division. The Kernels are 3-2 to start the second half of the season. Their three game winning streak ended last night. Cedar Rapids is 20-19 at home this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .235 as a team and have scored 249 runs (3.5/game). Wisconsin has hit 22 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.39. The Kernels are hitting .228 as a team. They have scored 303 runs (4.2/game). Cedar Rapids has hit 41 home runs this season. The Kernel pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.47.

2008 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin leads the season series 5-4. In the first half, the Rattlers and Kernels split eight games this season. Wisconsin won three out of four games from the Kernels on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Cedar Rapids won three out of four games from the Rattlers on Dale and Thomas Popcorn Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: Trevor Bell was a supplemental 1st round pick (37th overall) in the 2005 draft out of Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescent, California. Bell was 8-4 and a 4.14 ERA in 21 starts with the Kernels in 2007. He began the 2008 season with Rancho Cucamonga, the California League affiliate of the Angels, and was 5-6 with a 5.08ERA. Bell joined the Kernels again right before the All-Star break and in his last start before today allowed one run on seven hits and struck out six over seven innings against Quad Cities on June 19. Bell made four starts against Wisconsin in 2007 and was 2-1 with a 5.16ERA. He struck out 23 and walked five over 22-2/3 innings against the Rattlers in ’07.