August 19 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers beat Kane County 8-7 in 13 innings. Maximo Mendez got down a suicide squeeze bunt with the bases loaded in the top of the thirteenth to break a 7-7 tie. The win ended Wisconsin’s three-game losing streak.

STUDY IN CONTRAST: The Rattlers scored four runs in the top of the first. Kane County scored three runs in the bottom of the second. Wisconsin got their runs on a passed ball with a runner at third, an RBI single by Joe Dunigan, a bases loaded walk drawn by Joe White, and a Denny Almonte RBI grounder. The Cougars scored their runs on a three-run double by Petey Paramore.

PICKING UP THE PACE: Wisconsin went up 7-3 on back-to-back two-out, RBI, extra-base hits in the fourth and a run-scoring double play in the sixth. Daniel Carroll tripled in a run and Alex Meneses followed with an RBI double in the fourth inning. Blake Ochoa grounded into a 6-3 double play with runners at the corners in the sixth.

A NEW LOCATION: Ochoa was placed in the #3 spot in the batting order last night. This marked the first time in the 2008 season that a Timber Rattler catcher hit anywhere other than the seventh, eighth, or ninth spot in the batting order.

BACK TO EVEN: The Cougars scored four times in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game 7-7. Larry Cobb drew a bases loaded walk, Justin Frash had a two-run single, and Jake Smith’s fielder’s choice scored a run from third.

HOLDING ON: The Cougars had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the eleventh. Cobb was at second with one out and Smith singled sharply to center. Carroll fired a strike to the plate and Cobb tried to separate the ball from Ochoa. But, Ochoa held on for the second out of the inning.

SMALL BALL: The Rattlers used three bunts in the thirteenth inning to take the lead. Terry Serrano reached base to start the inning with a bunt. After Joe White singled, Almonte dropped a sacrifice bunt. Juan Diaz was walked intentionally. Then, Mendez dropped the squeeze bunt with Serrano breaking from third on the first pitch of his at bat.

REDEMPTION SONG: Rattler closer Jeff Dunbar did not retire any of the five batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday night. He was tagged with the loss as Kane County rallied from a 5-1 deficit for a 6-5 win. Last night – with a little help from Carroll and Ochoa – Dunbar pitched three scoreless innings to pick up his first win as a Rattler. After Cobb was thrown out at the plate, Dunbar retired the final seven Cougar batters he faced, including striking out Cobb to end the game.

INJURY LIST: Two Timber Rattler players had to leave the game due to injury last night. Alex Liddi was hit on the elbow with a pitch in the top of the first inning. He played third base in the bottom of the first, but left before the bottom of the second inning. Ochoa was down for a few moments after absorbing the collision with Cobb, but got up and left under his own power.

THE REPLACEMENTS: Serrano subbed for Liddi and went 1-for-4 and scored the winning run. Israel Nunez came into the game for Ochoa in the bottom of the eleventh and go 0-for-1 at the plate.

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 66-59 overall. Kane County is 35-30 at home this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .242 as a team and have scored 480 runs (3.9/game). Wisconsin has hit 53 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.95. Kane County is hitting .259 as a team. They have scored 570 runs (4.6/game). The Cougars have hit 75 home runs this season. The Kane County pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.41.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 6-8 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.

KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: RH Jamie Richmond was originally a 34th round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 2004 draft. He pitched for Rome in the South Atlantic League in 2007 and went 7-6 with a 3.05ERA in 25 games (24 starts). He was acquired from the Braves in a trade involving Mark Kotsay on January 14, 2008. Richmond is 7-9 with a 4.74ERA with the Cougars this season. In his last start prior to this afternoon, Richmond gave up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits over 7-1/3 innings against the Cedar Rapids Kernels on August 14. He walked one and struck out five. Richmond has made one start against the Rattlers this season. On May 31, he picked up the victory at Elfstrom Stadium despite allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. That start on May 31 of this year was the only appearance Richmond has made against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.