September 1 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The River Bandits beat the Timber Rattlers 11-10. The Rattlers were led offensively by Joe Dunigan (three hits and two RBI) and Alex Liddi (two hits and three RBI). The teams combined for 26 hits and nine errors in the game.

THE FIRST THREE: Wisconsin grabbed an early lead with two runs in the first inning on RBI hits by Dunigan and Liddi. Quad Cities rallied back in the bottom of the first on back-to-back homers by D’Marcus Ingram and Jon Edwards. The Bandits scored single runs in the second and third innings for a 4-2 lead.

THE SECOND THREE: Wisconsin tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Quad Cities scored a run in the bottom of the inning. After a scoreless fifth, the Rattlers scored five times in the top of the sixth. Daniel Carroll’s RBI single started the scoring. An error on a grounder by Maximo Mendez sent another run home. Dunigan singled home a run and Liddi singled home two more. The River Bandits did not score in the bottom of the sixth and Wisconsin led 9-5.

THE LAST THREE: Quad Cities retook the lead with five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Curt Smith knocked in the first run of the frame with a single. Later in the inning, Roberto Espinoza doubled with the bases loaded to tie the game. Nick Peoples followed with an RBI double to take the lead. The Rattlers tied the game 10-10 with an RBI grounder by Blake Ochoa in the top of the ninth. Quad Cities scored the winning run on a fielder’s choice in bottom of the ninth.

POST GAME CHANGE: Rattler first baseman Joe White had three hits last night; until a post game change on a play in the fourth inning. A single off the leg of first baseman Francisco Rivera was changed to an error after the game. That gave the River Bandits five errors in the game.

EIGHT THE HARD WAY: The Rattlers were charged with four errors last night. It was the second game in a row in which the Rattlers had been charged with four errors.

SINCE WE’VE BROUGHT IT UP BEFORE: Rattler hitters struck out just two times last night.

NOW THIS IS JUST WEIRD: Including last night, the Rattlers have scored 10 or more runs six times this season. The Rattlers are 3-3 in games in which they have scored at least 10 runs.

A CHANCE AT TEAM HISTORY: Michael Pineda is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers today. He enters the game with a 2.09 ERA. The Timber Rattler single season record for an ERA is currently held by TA Fulmer with a 2.58 ERA over 167-2/3 innings in 2003. Pineda has allowed 30 earned runs in 129-1/3 innings. Pineda also leads the Rattlers in strikeouts (114) and is tied for the team lead in wins (7).

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Quad Cities River Bandits are the Midwest League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They missed out on the playoffs in both halves of the season. Quad Cities is 68-65 overall and 35-34 in the second half. The River Bandits are 37-29 at home this season. In their most recent series, the River Bandits split a four game series at Burlington.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .243 as a team and have scored 522 runs (3.9/game). Wisconsin has hit 60 home runs this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.88. Quad Cities is hitting .242 as a team. They have scored 570 runs (4.3/game). The Bandits have hit 101 home runs this season. The Quad Cities pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.78.

2008 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers lead the season series 7-6. Wisconsin and Quad Cities split a four game series at Modern Woodmen Park to open the 2008 season. The Rattlers won the first two games of a series on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium that was scheduled for four games from June 5-8. The games on June 7 and 8 were rained out. The teams split the four game series in Grand Chute August 21-24.

QUAD CITIES STARTING PITCHER: RH Jameson Maj was selected by the Cardinals in the 45th round of the 2007 draft out of Abilene Christian University. Maj was 5-3 with 20 saves in 39 relief appearances with 72 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched in his final season at ACU. Maj made two relief appearances for a total of 1-1/3 innings for Batavia in the New York-Penn League for his professional debut last season. Maj started the 2008 season with Batavia and was 2-2 with a save in nine games (five starts), a 3.63ERA, 37 walks, and four walks over 39-2/3 innings pitched. He joined the River Bandits in early August and is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA. Maj lost his start prior to today as he allowed four earned runs on seven hits over 4-2/3 innings at Burlington on August 27. Maj has faced the Timber Rattlers one time. He made the start on August 22 in Grand Chute and picked up a no decision. Maj allowed two runs on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over five innings.