August 26 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 6-2. Julio Perez hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Trevor Reckling struck out six over six innings to get his tenth win of the season.

PLAY AT THE PLATE: Hector Estrella singled with two outs in the top of the first inning. He tried to score from first on a double to left-center by Perez. But, Daniel Carroll threw a strike to shortstop Juan Diaz. The relay throw from Diaz was a one-hop strike to catcher Israel Nunez. Estrella tried to jar the ball loose from Nunez, but the Rattler catcher held on for the third out.

HELPING HANDS: Carroll now has seven outfield assists this season. As a team, the Rattlers have 37 outfield assists in 2008.

SPEED DEMONS: Cedar Rapids pulled a double steal in the top of the third inning to set up their first two runs. Clay Fuller was at second and Andrew Romine was at first with one out when they broke for the next base. The steal for Romine was his 59th of the season and he leads the Midwest League in that category. A wild pitch and a fielder’s choice allowed the two runs in that frame to score. In 13 games against the Timber Rattlers this season, the Kernels are 20-for-31 in stolen base attempts.

EVEN THINGS UP: Joe Dunigan hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 2-2. The home run was his 13th of the season and gave him 53 RBI. Dunigan leads the Rattlers in homers and RBI in 2008.

SECOND ACT: Dunigan was hitting .212 with three homers and 16 RBI when the first half of the 2008 season ended. Dunigan is hitting .248 with 10 homers and 37 RBI since the Midwest League All-Star Break.

NOT SO FAST: The Kernels took the lead two batters into the top of the fifth inning. Estrella singled to start the frame. Perez lined a homer of the left field wall for his 14th homer of the season and a 4-2 lead.

INSURANCE: The Kernels added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh for a 6-2 lead. Estrella, who had four hits in the game, singled and scored on a triple by Jeremy Moore. Gabe Jacobo singled to drive in Moore.

ALMOST: The Rattlers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. But, Nunez struck out to end the inning.

ROSTER MOVES: Catcher Blake Ochoa was activated from the Timber Rattler disabled list today. To make room for Ochoa, catcher Jonathan Arias has been transferred to Pulaski in the Appalachian League.

ONE OTHER: Pitcher Johnny DuRocher, who has been on the Timber Rattler disabled list since a start against Beloit on July 7, retired yesterday.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They did not qualify for the Midwest League playoffs in the first half. But, they are currently 36-27 in the second half and hold the Western Division Wild Card. They lead Quad Cities by four games with seven games remaining in the season. The Kernels lead the Midwest League with 236 stolen bases. The second place team in that category is Beloit with 171.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .242 as a team and have scored 498 runs (3.9/game). Wisconsin has hit 59 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.92. Cedar Rapids is hitting .242 as a team. They have scored 581 runs (4.4/game). The Kernels have hit 83 home runs this season. The Cedar Rapids pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.62.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 6-7 against the Kernels this season. In the first half, Wisconsin won three out of four games from the Kernels on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium and the Kernels won three out of four games in Cedar Rapids. The two teams split a four game series in Cedar Rapids earlier in the second half.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: RH Jose Perez was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2006. He spent the two previous seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League and was 7-2 with a 2.19ERA in 20 games (17 starts). Perez has pitched at three levels in the Angel organization this season. On April 9, he pitched four scoreless innings for Rancho Cucamonga against High Desert, the California League affiliate of the Mariners. On May 26, Perez took the loss against Clinton. Perez joined the Orem Owlz to start the Pioneer League and was 5-2 in 11 starts with a 4.17ERA and a K:BB ratio of 77:8 over 58-1/3 innings. Perez rejoined the Kernels on August 15 and is 0-1 in his last two starts.