August 9 game notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers lost 3-1 at Clinton. Blake Beavan pitched six shutout innings and struck out nine for his third straight win. Cristian Santana and Matt Lawson each had solo homers for Clinton. Joe Dunigan drove in the lone Rattler run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth. The win gave the LumberKings their third win in the four game series.

EARLY ON: The Rattlers loaded the bases against Beavan in the top of the first. Denny Almonte drew a walk. Ron Garth and Dunigan had back-to-back singles and the sacks were full. But, Beavan got an inning-ending double play ball to keep the Rattlers off the scoreboard.

AFTER THAT: Beavan allowed only one more baserunner over his final five innings of work. Joe White singled in the top of the fifth. But, he was the final out of the inning when he was thrown out trying to advance to third base on a pitch in the dirt.

PICKET FENCE: Clinton scored single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to support Beavan. Mitch Moreland drove in his Midwest League leading 78th RBI of the season when he grounded into a force out at second base with the bases loaded. Santana and Lawson homered in the fourth and fifth innings respectively.

PARTY ON, GARTH: Garth extended his hitting streak to seven games with that first inning single. This is the second seven-game hit streak for the Rattlers this season and he is 10-for-28 (.357) during this current string.

TURNING TWO: The Timber Rattlers converted eight double plays in the just completed four game set with the LumberKings.

AVOIDING THE ZERO: Dunigan’s run-scoring sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning kept the Timber Rattlers from being shutout for the first time in the second half. Wisconsin has not been shutout out since a 5-0 loss at Burlington on June 12.

ROSTER MOVES: Pitcher Phillippe Aumont has been activated from the Timber Rattler disabled list. The #1 pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2007 draft is scheduled to pitch in relief tonight. To make room for Aumont, the Mariners have sent pitcher Jose Jimenez to Everett, their Northwest League affiliate.

AUMONT UPDATE: The last time Aumont pitched in a game was on June 9 in a game at Burlington. The Canadian righty allowed six runs on seven hits over 1-2/3 innings and took the loss. Aumont is 4-4 with two saves and an ERA of 2.62. He has made 12 appearances (six starts) for the Timber Rattlers in his first professional season. Aumont is scheduled to toss three innings or sixty pitches – whichever comes first – tonight.

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 59-55 overall and have the best record in the Midwest League. Kane County is 29-26 on the road this season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .241 as a team and have scored 432 runs (3.8/game). Wisconsin has hit 45 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.92. Kane County is hitting .258 as a team. They have scored 512 runs (4.5/game). The Cougars have hit 69 home runs this season. The Kane County pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.38.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 3-4 against the Cougars this season. 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 Cougars won game one 3-1. Wisconsin took game two 2-1. Kane County won the final two games of the series 4-2 and 6-4.

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.

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. Tyson Ross, a pitcher selected in the 2nd round, is currently on the disabled list. Infielder Jemile Weeks (1st), catcher Petey Paramore (3rd) and pitcher Anthony Capra (4th) are all on the active Kane County roster.

KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: RH Scott Hodsdon was the 6th round pick of the Athletics in the 2007 draft out of Azusa Pacific University. In his final season at APU, Hodsdon was 10-1 in 25 games (14 starts) with an ERA of 3.17 and struck out 116 with 25 walks in 108 innings. In his first professional season, Hodsdon went 7-1 with a 4.57ERA in 16 games (10 starts) for the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. He struck out 67 and walked 23 in 67 innings for Vancouver. In his appearance prior to this evening, Hodsdon got a no decision against Beloit on August 5 as he allowed no runs on two hits over two innings. Hodsdon has made 20 appearances (19 starts) this season and is 5-8 with an ERA of 3.34. In his two starts against the Timber Rattlers this season, Hodsdon is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA. He has allowed two runs (one earned) on 12 hits with 10 strikeouts over 13 innings. Hodsdon got the win over the Rattlers at Kane County on May 28 as he gave up one run on nine hits over 5-2/3 innings.