July 31 Game Notes

ABOUT WEDNESDAY: The Lugnuts beat the Rattlers 4-2. Raul Barron had four hits and drove in three runs for Lansing.

OUT OF THE GATE: Wisconsin rallied with two outs and none on in the bottom of the second inning to score a pair of runs. Juan Diaz singled and Blake Ochoa drew a walk to start the rally. Maximo Mendez followed with a triple to right and both runners scored to give Wisconsin a 2-0 lead.

LUGNUT ANSWER: Barron singled in a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to tie the game at two.

LORIN’S DAY: Timber Rattler starting pitcher Brett Lorin retired six of the first seven batters he faced in the game with a strikeout. He struck out seven over four innings, but left after four innings after he reached his pitch limit. He walked two and allowed four hits in his first home start for Wisconsin.

A BIT OF A DROUGHT: After Mendez tripled in the second inning, Wisconsin had only four hits the rest of the day. The Rattlers did not have two runners on base at the same time in any inning after the second.

STILL GOING: Daniel Carroll extended his hitting streak to seven games with a fifth inning single. The current streak matches Carrolll’s season-high hit streak from earlier this season.

BLOOP: Yohermyn Chavez stepped to the plate with two out and the go ahead run at second base in the top of the sixth. His singled just flared into shallow right to drive in Lansing’s third run.

DRAWN IN: Barron picked up his third RBI of the game in the seventh inning. Justin Jackson was on third with one out. Wisconsin brought the infield in, but Barron hit a soft line drive that hit just behind the second base bag.

LANSING BULLPEN: Joe Wice worked two perfect innings in relief for the Lugnuts. Tim Collins allowed one hit over the final two innings for the save.

DENIED: The Rattlers two-game winning streak came to an end with the loss yesterday. Wisconsin has not won three straight games since a five-game winning streak June 2-June 6.

GRADUATION DAY: Rattler starting pitcher Jake Wild was promoted to High Desert, Seattle’s California League affiliate, after yesterday’s game.

MEET THE NEW GUY: Pitcher Jose Jimenez joins the Timber Rattlers from Pulaski, Seattle’s Appalachian League affiliate, today. Jimenez was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Mariners in 2003 out of Venezuela. Jimenez has spent time with High Desert and Pulaski this season. He was 1-3 in five games (four starts) with an 8.72ERA for the Mavericks. Jimenez was 1-0 in three games (two starts) with a 3.21ERA for Pulaski.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They finished the first half with a record of 39-31 and as the first half champions of the Eastern Division. They are currently 60-49 on the season. The Lugnuts ended a five-game losing streak with their win yesterday.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .240 as a team and have scored 399 runs (3.8/game). Wisconsin has hit 42 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.89. Lansing is hitting .258 as a team and has scored 460 runs (4.2/game). The Lugnuts have hit 58 home runs this season. The Lansing pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.05.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers lead the season series 3-2. Wisconsin took two out of three from the Lugnuts at Oldsmobile Park earlier this season. The Lugnuts beat the Rattlers 6-2 on May 1. Wisconsin won the final two games of the series 5-2 on May 2 and 5-2 on May 3.

LANSING STARTING PITCHER: RH Trystan Magnuson was a first round supplemental pick (56th overall) of the Blue Jays out of the University of Louisville in the 2007 draft. Magnuson was 3-3 with nine saves and a 1.77ERA in 37 relief appearances in his final season with the Cardinals. He did not pitch professionally in 2007. Magnuson made his professional debut with the Lugnuts on April 3, 2008 at Fort Wayne. Magnuson is 0-8 with a 5.91 ERA in 21 starts this season. In his last start before tonight, Magnuson allowed one run on two hits over four innings against Clinton on July 26 at Oldsmobile Park. He got a no decision in that game. Tonight is Magnuson’s first appearance against the Timber Rattlers and against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.