August 10 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers beat the Cougars 2-1 in eleven innings. Juan Diaz drove home the winning run with a single in the bottom of the eleventh.

FASTBALLS AT 60’-6”: The Rattlers broke up a scoreless tie with Alex Liddi’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning. That single was only the third hit of the game for the Rattlers. Kane County starter Scott Hodsdon retired all nine batters he faced on a limited pitch count. Lance Sewell left the game with a runner at second and two outs after allowing just two hits. Rattler starting pitcher Michael Pineda had tossed six scoreless frames and allowed just two hits while striking out five.

PINEDA PUSHES UP: Pineda’s performance dropped his earned run average to 2.17 on the season. He is currently third in the Midwest League in that category – behind only Jonathan Kibler (1.66) and Alfredo Figaro (2.05) of West Michigan.

LE RETOUR A L'ACTION: Last night, Phillippe Aumont came off the disabled list and made his first appearance since a start in Burlington on June 9. Aumont pitched three innings, allowed three hits, two walks, and one run. The 2007 first round pick of the Mariners struck out one, but was charged with his second blown save of the season.

EVENED UP: Kane County tied the game in the top of the eighth. A two-out RBI single by Justin Frash drove in the tying run.

ASSISTS: On that RBI single by Frash, Daniel Carroll threw Michael Richard out at third base. The run scored just before the out at third was recorded. That was the second outfield assist of the week and third of the season for Carroll.

HOW TO WIN: Joe White doubled to start the bottom of the eleventh. Edilio Colina pinch-ran for White and scored on the RBI single to left by Diaz.

FIRST SINCE: The Rattlers had lost three straight extra-inning games before the win last night. The last time the Rattlers won a game that went into extra frames was the 4-2 15-inning victory at Cedar Rapids on June 23. The Rattlers are 6-5 in extra-innings this season and 4-3 at home.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT: Rattler catcher Israel Nunez had two hits last night. The Rattlers had eight hits last night and Nunez was the only Rattler with two hits in the game. He has raised his season batting average to .214. At the end of the first half, Nunez was hitting .154. In the second half, Nunez is hitting .245.

DOUBLE UP: Rattler first baseman Joe Dunigan doubled in the fourth inning last night. He and Ron Garth are tied for the team lead in that category with 27.

MAKING TWIN KILLINGS: Wisconsin turned another double play last night. The Rattlers have turned nine double plays in the last five games to run their season total to 93.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They were the first half Western Division Wild Card with a record of 39-29. They are currently 59-56 overall and have the best record in the Midwest League. Kane County is 29-27 on the road this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .240 as a team and have scored 434 runs (3.8/game). Wisconsin has hit 45 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.89. Kane County is hitting .257 as a team. They have scored 513 runs (4.5/game). The Cougars have hit 69 home runs this season. The Kane County pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.35.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The season series between the Rattlers and the Cougars is tied at four wins each. Wisconsin went 2-1 against the Cougars in a series on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium May 16-18. The Rattlers won the first two games 8-6 and 4-2. They Cougars won the series finale 4-0. Kane County took three of four at Elfstrom Stadium May 28-31. The Cougars won game one 3-1. Wisconsin took game two 2-1. Kane County won the final two games of the series 4-2 and 6-4.

KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: LH Anthony Capra was the fourth round pick of the Athletics out of Wichita State University in the 2008 draft. In his final season with the Shockers, Capra went 9-1 in 15 games (14 starts) with an ERA of 3.54, 33 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 76-1/3 innings pitched. He made his professional debut with the Cougars on July 13 with a start at South Bend. He pitched 2-1/3 scoreless frames, allowed one hit and struck out two for a no decision. Capra’s start prior to this evening was a loss to Beloit at Elfstrom Stadium on August 5. He allowed two runs on one hit with a pair of walks and four strikeouts over six innings. Capra is 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA with Kane County. Tonight is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers and his first against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.