7/27/2008

July 27 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers beat Beloit 1-0. Jake Wild, Ryan Moorer, and Jeff Dunbar combined on a 5-hit shutout. Blake Ochoa’s RBI single in the bottom of the second inning was the only run of the game.

WILD NIGHT IS CALLING: Wild won his second consecutive start with seven scoreless innings. The righty allowed four hits, two walks, and struck out six. He matched his season-high for innings pitched with the start last night.

HOLD ON: Moorer worked around a single and a walk in the eighth inning and got the first out of the ninth for his third hold of the season.

SAVINGS PLAN: Dunbar picked up his second save of the season by getting the final two outs. Dunbar is 2-for-2 in save situations with the Rattlers and 5-for-5 in save opportunities between Pulaski in the Appalachian League and Wisconsin this season.

TIP OF THE CAP: Three Beloit pitchers combined to hold Wisconsin hitters to just three hits. The Snapper trio also struck out 14 Rattlers. Shooter Hunt, who made his Midwest League debut last night, struck out nine. Blake Martin struck out four over two innings and Charles Nolte got one K in one inning.

ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER: Ochoa stepped to the plate with runners at first and third with one out in the bottom of the second inning. His base hit to left dropped in to drive in the only run of the game. That single was also the last hit the Rattlers had in the game.

WITH THE ARM, TOO: Estarlin de Los Santos drew a one out walk in the top of the eighth inning. He attempted to steal second, but Ochoa threw him out. Ochoa is 26-for-69 (.377) in throwing out would-be base stealers.

LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: Last night was the seventh shutout tossed by Rattler pitching this season.

1-0: The Rattlers have been involved in three 1-0 games this season. Burlington topped the Rattlers 1-0 in ten innings on May 12 in Grand Chute. The Rattlers won 1-0 at Cedar Rapids on May 21.

ON THE SKIDS: Beloit has lost six straight games.

HITLESS: Joe Dunigan’s hitting streak ended at seven games as he took an 0-for-3 last night.

GROUND RULES: The suspended game from July 7 will be restarted with the Rattlers leading Beloit 2-1. That game was halted just after the end of the second inning. There will be a 30-minute break between the end of the suspended game and the start of the second game today. The second game is scheduled for seven innings.

CORRECTION TIME: Israel Nunez launched his first professional homer in North America on Friday night at West Michigan. The number of pro at bats before that blast was left blank on Saturday’s game notes. This is being corrected today. The leadoff blast in the eighth inning off Kelvin Cedeno was the first in 157 North American at bats for the Rattler catcher. Nunez had three homers in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2006.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Beloit Snappers are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They finished the first half with a record of 36-32 and missed one of the two Western Division playoff spots. The Snappers are 17-17 in the second half. They trail division leading Peoria by 3.5 games. The Snappers are behind Burlington by three games for the second half wild card. Beloit has a record of 28-25 away from Pohlman Field this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .239 as a team and have scored 372 runs (3.7/game). Wisconsin has hit 37 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.98. Beloit is hitting .259 as a team and has scored 474 runs (4.7/game). The Snappers have hit 54 home runs this season. The Beloit pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.84.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The season series is tied 6-6. The Rattlers went 4-2 at Pohlman Field this season. Beloit is 4-2 on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

GAME TWO BELOIT STARTING PITCHER: RH Mike McCardell was the sixth round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2006 draft. McCardell pitched his college baseball for Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. He was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Pitcher of the Year in his final season at the NCAA Division II school. McCardell earned that honor by going 6-1 with 13 saves for the Golden Bears. After signing with the Twins, McCardell went 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 95 strikeouts over 63 innings pitched between the Gulf Coast League and the Appalachian League. So far this season, McCardell is 7-2 with a 3.08ERA and 88 strikeouts in 87-1/3 innings pitched for the Snappers. In his start prior to this evening, McCardell beat West Michigan despite allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings. McCardell faced the Timber Rattlers in Beloit on April 20 and picked up a no decision. He allowed one run on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. The Rattlers would win that game 4-3.

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