ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 3-2. An RBI triple by Adam Younger in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie. Three Kernels relievers kept the Rattlers off the board over the final three innings to put Wisconsin’s road record at 1-10 on the season.
PRE-GAME RULING: There was a doubleheader scheduled last night. But, before the game a decision was made to postpone game two to this evening.
THREE HITS: The Rattler offense had three hits in the game last night. All three belonged to Michael Marseco. The Wisconsin shortstop extended his hitting streak to five games. He is 10-for-19 during that streak and has raised his average from .159 to .228 over the last five games.
TOUGH WAY TO END A STREAK: Rattler catcher Corey Kemp was not in the starting lineup last night. He entered the game after Sean McCraw was ejected in the bottom of the fifth inning. He went 0-for-1 in his lone plate appearance and saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end.
WALKING AROUND: Brock Kjeldgaard drew three walks last night. He leads the Rattlers in walks this season with 19.
RUNNING AROUND: There were nine stolen base attempts last night. Wisconsin was 3-for-5 and Cedar Rapids was 3-for-4. The Kernels are tied for the Midwest League lead in the stolen base category with 50 and they have attempted 76 steals. Wisconsin is seventh in the league with 37 steals in 58 attempts.
OUCH! There were five hit batsmen last night. Kernel starter Ryan Chaffee hit two Rattler hitters. Rattler starter Efrain Nieves hit one Kernel and reliever Cody Scarpetta hit a pair of Kernels.
A FEW NOTES: Wisconsin has scored four runs or fewer in 19 games this season. They are 5-14 in those games. Wisconsin has allowed four or fewer runs in 15 games this season. They are 9-6 in those games.
A NOTE ABOUT PITCHERS: Wily Peralta is scheduled to start game one tonight. Evan Frederickson will follow him in relief. Trey Watten is scheduled to start game two.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They are managed by Bill Mosiello, who is in his first season as the manager of the Kernels. Mosiello managed the final 108 games of the 2004 season for the Battle Creek Yankees. The Kernels went 32-36 in the first half of the 2008 season, but they went 40-30 in the second half and made the playoffs as the second half Western Division Wild Card. Cedar Rapids won in the first round with a sweep of Clinton, but they were swept by the Burlington Bees in the Western Division Finals. The Kernels are 14-17 and in fifth place in the Western Division. In their most recent series, Cedar Rapids dropped two out of three games at Modern Woodmen Park against the Quad Cities River Bandits.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .239 as a team. They have scored 118 runs (3.9/game) and hit 16 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .248 as a team. They have scored 137 runs (4.4/game) and hit 15 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.55 while allowing a total of 166 runs (5.5/game). Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 4.11 while allowing 141 runs (4.5/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 45 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 41 errors. Wisconsin is 1-10 in road games this season. The Kernels are 10-4 at home this season.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER (GAME ONE): LHP Will Smith was a seventh round pick of the Angels in 2008 out of Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. He spent last season with the Orem Owlz in the Pioneer League and was 8-2 with a 3.06ERA over 16 games (14 starts). He struck out 76 and walked six in 73 innings for the Owlz. In his start prior to this evening, Smith lost at South Bend on May 7. He gave up seven runs on eight hits over three innings with a walk and five strikeouts. Tonight is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers, but he appeared twice against the Helena Brewers in 2008. In those two games, Smith was 1-0, allowed 12 hits and four runs with 12 strikeouts and no walks over 10 innings. Erik Komatsu and John Delaney hit homers off Smith in one of those games.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER (GAME TWO): RHP Jeremy Thorne was a 29th round pick of the Angels out of the University of Central Florida. He did not pitch as a senior at UCF, but made his professional debut with two relief appearances for the Arizona League affiliate of the Angels. He was quickly promoted to the Pioneer League and was 0-0 with eight saves over 20 relief appearances with an ERA of 0.80. In his last appearance for the Kernels, Thorne took the loss at Quad Cities on May 9. He allowed one run on two hits over 3.1 innings pitched. Thorne has never faced the Timber Rattlers and pitched one time – a scoreless inning on August 14, 2008 – against the Helena Brewers, Milwaukee’s Pioneer League affiliate. Tonight is Thorne’s first start as a professional.
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