August 11 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers lost 8-5 to Kane County last night. The Cougars jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and added runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh to hold off the Timber Rattlers. Justin Frash and Petey Paramore each had a pair of RBI for Kane County. Anthony Capra picked up the win by going five innings and allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

FIRST OF ALL: The Cougars sent nine men to the plate in the top of the first inning against Rattler starter Keith Renaud. The first two batters reached on a walk and a single. After getting the first out, Renaud gave up an RBI single to Todd Johnson. Renaud got the second out, but gave up a two-run double to Frash and an RBI single to Paramore.

QUICK EXIT: Renuad left the game after two innings.

BACK AND FORTH: Joe White singled to drive in a run in the bottom of the second, but the Cougars scored in the top of the fourth to go up 5-1.

THAT’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERYDAY: Blake Ochoa doubled to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners on second and third and two outs. Ochoa wound up at third base after Johnson picked up the ball in foul territory and then dropped it over the chain link fence by the berm seating at the stadium.

WELL, MAYBE YOU DO SEE IT EVERY DAY: In the top of the sixth inning Frash doubled to start the inning. Greg Dowling lined a single to right field. The ball deflected off the leg of Rattler outfielder Maximo Mendez out of play to the right field berm and Frash scored on the play.

PADDING: Kane County added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to go up 8-3.

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR FIVE STRAIGHT HITS? Ochoa doubled and Mendez singled to start the bottom of the seventh inning off reliever Brad Hertzler. Daniel Carroll followed with an RBI single. Then, Hertzler picked Carroll off first base. Alex Meneses singled to knock in Mendez, put the score at 8-5 and knock Hertzler out of the game. Denny Almonte greeted Justin Friend with another single to bring the tying run to the plate. But, Friend would get out of the inning with a double play ball.

NOT THE ONLY ONE: The Rattlers would get base runners on in the eighth and ninth innings against Friend, but he got a double play turned behind him in those innings, too.

STILL SCORELESS: Rattler reliever Jeff Dunbar allowed two inherited runners to score in the top of the seventh, but has not allowed any of his own runs in ten relief appearances for Wisconsin this season. He is unscored upon in 12-1/3 innings with the Rattlers.

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 60-56 overall and have the best record in the Midwest League. Kane County is 30-27 on the road this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .241 as a team and have scored 439 runs (3.8/game). Wisconsin has hit 45 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.92. Kane County is hitting .258 as a team. They have scored 521 runs (4.5/game). The Cougars have hit 69 home runs this season. The Kane County pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.37.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Cougars lead the season series 5-4. 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 Carlos Hernandez was a 35th round pick of the Athletics in the 2006 draft out of West Valley College in California. He signed with the A’s before the 2007 draft and split time between Vancouver in the Northwest League and the Arizona League. He went 2-1 in eight relief appearances with a 6.75ERA and 16 strikeouts over 12 innings. Hernandez started the 2008 season with the Vancouver Canadians and was 2-0 in seven starts with a 1.82 ERA and 38 strikeouts and seven walks over 39-2/3 innings before joining the Cougars in late July. In three starts for Kane County, Hernandez is 3-0 with a 3.12ERA. In his start prior to today, he beat Beloit on August 6. Hernandez tossed five innings and allowed one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. This is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers. He has made one appearance against a Seattle affiliate. Hernandez got a no decision against Everett earlier this season in a start on June 30 for Vancouver. Hernandez allowed two runs on seven hits over 4-2/3 innings in that game.