June 30 Game Notes

ABOUT SUNDAY: The Bees beat the Rattlers 4-3. Johnny Giavotella had three hits in the game, including a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning that drove in the winning run.

THAT SEEMED FAMILIAR: For the third game in a row, the Bees rallied after Wisconsin grabbed the early lead. Wisconsin has had the lead in each of the first seven games of this road trip, but they are 2-5 so far.

QUICK STARTS: The Rattlers scored twice in the top of the first inning. Ron Garth drove in a run with a two-out double. Alex Liddi drove in Garth with an RBI single. The Bees scored twice on a Mike Moustakas homer in the bottom of the first.

MOUSTAKAS MASH: The Burlington third baseman is hitting .242 with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 77 games against the Midwest League this season. In 15 games against Wisconsin, Moustakas is hitting .356 with 4 homers and 12 RBI.

ECHOES: The Timber Rattlers retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Denny Almonte beat out a relay to first on a potential inning ending double play to allow a run to score from third. But, Burlington tied the game again in bottom of the sixth. Nick Van Stratten drove in a run with a two out single to even the game 3-3.

LATE CHANCES: The Rattlers and Bees both had opportunities to go in front in the eighth inning. Wisconsin put runners on first and third with no outs, but Almonte was thrown out at the plate on a grounder to third. The Bees had runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Both innings ended on double plays.

BOILING CALDERA: Burlington starting pitcher Alex Caldera pitched eight innings and allowed three runs on ten hits with three strikeouts. In four starts against the Rattlers, Caldera is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.03. Over 26-2/3 innings, he allowed six runs on 23 hits.

THIS CURSED PLACE: The Rattlers are 0-7 against the Bees at Community Field this season. Including 2006, Wisconsin is 5-16 in Burlington. Tonight is the final game between the teams this regular season.

TEAM VS. TEAM: The Bees have outscored the Rattlers 76-49. They have outhit the Rattlers 143-119. Burlington has outhomered Wisconsin 12-4. Wisconsin pitchers have walked 60 and struck out 102. Burlington pitchers have walked 27 and struck out 133.

ROSTER MOVE: Pitcher Robbie Dominguez was transferred to Everett just before yesterday’s game. The Rattlers currently have 24 players on their roster.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Burlington Bees are the Midwest League affiliates of the Kansas City Royals. They finished the first half with a record of 30-39 and out of the playoffs in the Western Division. The Bees are 7-4 to start the second half of the season. Burlington is 24-18 at home this season. They have won three straight games.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .238 as a team and have scored 281 runs (3.6/game). Wisconsin has hit 24 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.57. The Bees are hitting .240 as a team. They have scored 310 runs (3.9/game). Burlington has hit 55 home runs this season. The Bee pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.43.

2008 SEASON SERIES: Burlington leads the season series 11-4. Burlington swept a four game series at Community Field June 9-12. The Rattlers and Bees split eight games on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

BURLINGTON STARTING PITCHER: Matt Mitchell was a 14th round pick of the Royals out of Barstow (CA) High School in the 2007 draft. Mitchell won the Arizona League ERA title in his first professional season as he went 5-1 with a 1.80ERA in 14 games (7 starts) with 72 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. In his start prior to this evening, Mitchell beat the Timber Rattlers on June 20. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits over five innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Mitchell is 2-0 in two starts against the Timber Rattlers this season. In 11 innings versus Wisconsin, Mitchell has allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits. Mitchell’s last appearance against before tonight, he worked three innings of relief against Peoria at Community Field on June 25. He took the loss as he allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout.