August 27 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 4-0. Jose Perez and Tim Kiely combined to strikeout 12 in the five-hit shutout.

PEREZ AND PEREZ: Julio Perez scored twice and drove in a run for the Kernels. Jose Perez pitched eight innings, struck out 10, allowed five hits, and walked one in the win.

GETTING STARTED: Julio Perez singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error, and scored on a single by Clay Fuller in the top of the second.

A RARE ERROR: The throwing error that allowed Perez to take third base was charged to Timber Rattler catcher Blake Ochoa. It was his sixth error of the season. Timber Rattler catchers have been charged with 10 errors this season.

A CHANCE: The Rattlers had runners at first and second in the fifth inning after a leadoff double by Alex Liddi and a walk to Denny Almonte. A sacrifice bunt by Juan Diaz moved both runners up a base. But, Perez got a strikeout and a fly ball to left to end the inning.

HAT TRICK: Daniel Carroll threw out Jeremy Moore at the plate in the top of the sixth. Carroll has an outfield assist in three consecutive games. He has eight of Wisconsin’s 38 outfield assists this season.

UNLUCKY SEVENTH: Rattler starter Keith Renaud kept the Rattlers within 1-0 until the top of the seventh inning. Hector Estrella doubled to start the inning. Perez followed with an RBI double. Estrella would score when center fielder Maximo Mendez dropped a fly ball to center of the bat of Fuller. Later in the inning, Fuller scored on a sacrifice fly by Jay Brossman.

A MAN NAMED RENAUD: The Rattler starter allowed four runs (three earned) over 6-2/3 innings without walking a batter and striking out five. He has adjusted his K:BB ratio to 35:32.

THREE TIMES: The Rattlers had not been shutout in the second half in their first 60 games. Since being shutout by Kane County on August 17, the Rattlers have been held scoreless in three of their last nine games.

JUST MENTIONING IT: Timber Rattler hitters struck out 12 times for 1,093 this season. Here are the top five strikeout seasons by Rattler hitters since 1995:

2007: 1,216
2008: 1,093
2000: 1,087
2006: 1,072
2004: 1,060

MISSED: The loss last night dropped Wisconsin’s home record to 29-33 with two games remaining. The Rattlers will finish with a below .500 record at home.

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 37-27 in the second half and hold the Western Division Wild Card. They lead Quad Cities by five games with six games remaining in the season. The Kernels lead the Midwest League with 237 stolen bases. The second place team in that category is Beloit with 173.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .242 as a team and have scored 498 runs (3.8/game). Wisconsin has hit 59 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.91. Cedar Rapids is hitting .242 as a team. They have scored 585 runs (4.5/game). The Kernels have hit 83 home runs this season. The Cedar Rapids pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.59.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 6-8 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: LH Robert Fish was a 6th round pick of the Angels in the 2006 draft out of AB Miller High School in Fontana, California. He appeared in 16 games (15 starts) with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League and was 3-4 with a 3.27ERA last season. He also made one start and took a loss for Rancho Cucamonga (California League) in 2007. In his start prior to this evening, Fish beat Peoria on August 22. He allowed three runs one nine hits over 6-1/3 innings with eight strikeouts. So far this season, Fish is 9-4 with a 5.07ERA with the Kernels. He beat the Rattlers on May 22 in Cedar Rapids with seven shutout innings. Fish allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out five.