August 15 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers beat the Peoria Chiefs 7-5. Joe White’s two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning snapped a 5-5 tie. Alex Liddi also homered and had three RBI for Wisconsin.

EARLY BACK-AND-FORTH: Peoria scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Jovan Rosa in the bottom of the first. Juan Diaz drove in a run for Wisconsin with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second. Tyler Johnston hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.

AUMONT UPDATE: Phillippe Aumont made his first start since June 9 and went four innings. He allowed two runs on three hits with a walk, a hit batsman, a wild pitch, and three strikeouts over four innings. Aumont picked up a no decision and his ERA inched up to 2.79.

COLINA OUT: Rattler second baseman Edilio Colina was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the top of the third inning. He was removed from the game at the end of the inning as a precautionary measure.

FORTUNATELY: Alex Meneses was in the game as the starting first baseman and slid over to play second. White entered the game to play first base and took over Colina’s spot in the batting order.

TAKING THE FIFTH: The Rattlers scored four times in the top of the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Joe Dunigan beat out a relay to first on a potential inning ending double play ball to drive in the first run of the frame. Liddi followed with a three-run home run to left and the Rattlers were up 5-2.

NOT SO FAST: The Chiefs rallied back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against Jose Jimenez and Keith Meyer. Jimenez retired one batter with a strikeouts, but allowed a double, a walk, an RBI single, and committed a balk. He left the game with runners at the corners and the Rattlers up 5-3.

RELIEF WORK: Keith Meyer entered the game got a grounder that may have ended the inning with a double play. But, the ball was booted for an error and a run scored. A two-out, RBI single by Brandon Guyer tied the game. Meyer would keep the Chiefs off the scoreboard for the next 3-1/3 innings. In all, Meyer pitched four innings, allowed no runs of his own, and struck out three without a walk.

FIRST SINCE: White’s home run was his first of the season. It was also his first since August 5, 2007 when he hit a grand slam at Fort Wayne.

FIRST SINCE (PT II): Joe Kantakevich got the final two outs of the game to earn his first save of the season. It was the first save for Kantakevich since August 10, 2007 when he pitched a scoreless ninth inning against Beloit on August 10, 2007.

TRIFECTA! The Rattler won their third straight game last night. This is the first three-game winning streak for Wisconsin in the second half. The last time the Rattlers won more than two games in a row was a five game win streak from June 2-6.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Chiefs are 55-64 overall. They are currently 25-28 in the second half. Peoria did not qualify for the playoffs in the first half. They currently trail Western Division leading Burlington by 6-1/2 games. The Chiefs are five games behind Cedar Rapids for the second half Western Division Wild Card. Peoria is 29-31 at home this season

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .243 as a team and have scored 463 runs (3.9/game). Wisconsin has hit 49 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.89. Peoria is hitting .253 as a team. They have scored 500 runs (4.1/game). The Chiefs have hit 84 home runs this season. The Peoria pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.92.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Chiefs lead the season series 8-6. Wisconsin went 1-3 in a four game series at O’Brien Field over Memorial Day weekend. The Rattlers were 3-5 in eight games played on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium against the Chiefs this season.

PEORIA STARTING PITCHER: RH Robert Hernandez was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in July 2005. He was scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Chiefs on Opening Night at Burlington on April 3. But, he failed a test for performance enhancing drugs and had to serve a 50-game suspension. The suspension ended on May 31 and he made his first appearance of 2008 against the Rattlers on June 3. In 2007, Hernandez was 8-9 with a 4.34 ERA for the Chiefs. He made one start against Wisconsin last season and picked up the win on June 26, 2007. Hernandez is 1-0 in two starts against the Rattlers this season. In 10 innings against Wisconsin Hernandez has allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts. In his start prior to this evening, Hernandez got a no decision at Beloit on August 10. He allowed three runs on two hits and four walks over two innings. Hernandez was rated as the #17 prospect in the Cubs’ minor league system by Baseball America before the 2008 season.