August 16 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Peoria Chiefs defeated the Timber Rattlers 6-4. Dylan Johnston and Rebel Ridling each hit three-run homers to account for all of the offense for the Chiefs. Joe White and Alex Meneses each had solo homers for the Rattlers.

TWO OUT WALK: Rattler starting pitcher Keith Renaud had two out and a runner at second in the bottom of the first inning. He would walk Brandon Guyer on a 3-2 pitch. Then, Johnston hit a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence for his eleventh homer of the season. It was also his second home run in as many nights.

BB:K: Renaud walked three and struck out four over five plus innings last night. Renaud has walked 40 and struck out 34 in 46 innings for the Rattlers this season.

WHITE HOT: White also homered in his second straight game when he went deep in the fourth inning last night. In his last seven plate appearances, White is 4-for-4 with two homers, three RBI, and three walks.

ANOTHER ONE: Renaud issued a walk to Guyer and allowed a single to Johnston in the bottom of the sixth inning before leaving in favor of Jose Escalona. The lefty got the first out, but gave up a homer to Ridling on a 3-1 pitch.

HEY! HEY! The home run by Meneses was his first as a professional. He had gone 501 at bats before hitting that first homer last night.

FROM THE TINIEST SEED: That solo homer started a three run rally for the Rattlers in the top of the eighth inning against Zach Ashwood. Meneses led off the inning with the homer. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Juan Diaz, who knocked in a run with a fielder’s choice. White followed with an RBI single to pull the Rattlers to within 6-4.

DENIED: Craig Muschko relieved Ashwood with the tying runs aboard and one out in the eighth. He retired the next two batters to end the eighth. Then, Muschko pitched a perfect ninth inning for his sixth save.

SETTE E IN FILA UNA STAGIONE ALTA: Alex Liddi doubled in the top of the first inning last night to give him a season-high seven game hitting streak. Liddi had a nine-game hitting streak last season.

POWER PLAY: The Rattlers hit five homers in the three game series against the Chiefs. Wisconsin hit 11 homers this season vs. Peoria. That total is the most for the Rattlers against a Midwest League opponent this season. The Rattlers have hit three homers against the Kane County Cougars. Wisconsin did not hit a home run against Dayton or South Bend this season.

END OF THE LINE: The Rattlers finished the season series against the Chiefs with a record of 6-9. They were 3-4 at O’Brien Field.

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 64-58 overall. Kane County is 33-29 at home this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .243 as a team and have scored 467 runs (3.9/game). Wisconsin has hit 51 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.91. Kane County is hitting .257 as a team. They have scored 552 runs (4.5/game). The Cougars have hit 75 home runs this season. The Kane County pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.42.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 5-6 against the Cougars in the 2008. 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 Rattlers and Cougars split a four game series in Grand Chute August 9-12.

PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook placed no members of the current Kane County roster on their list of top 30 prospects in the Oakland organization before the 2008 season. Formers Cougars Corey Brown and Craig Italiano were on the list before the season began but they have been promoted.

OUT OF THE DRAFT 2007: The Athletics have 13 members of their 2007 draft class on the current Kane County roster. Of those 13 players 10 are active. Those on the active roster are: Pitchers Justin Friend (13th round), Brad Hertzler (15th), Scott Hodsdon (6th), Chad Kerfoot (30th), Brent Lysander (16th), and Lance Sewell (7th); infielders Justin Frash (27th), Matt Ray (18th), and Michael Richard (11th); and outfielder Adam Klein (48th).

OUT OF THE DRAFT 2008: The A’s have four members of their 2008 draft class on the current Cougar roster. Infielder Jemile Weeks (1st) is joined by pitcher Tyson Ross (2nd), catcher Petey Paramore (3rd) and pitcher Anthony Capra (4th).

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 four starts for Kane County, Hernandez is 4-0 with a 2.96ERA. In his start prior this evening, he beat the Rattlers on August 11 on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Hernandez allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings. Tonight is his second appearance against the Timber Rattlers. He has made one other 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.