5/16/2009

May 16, 2009: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers lost 5-2 at Cedar Rapids. Wisconsin banged out 12 hits, but stranded 12 runners in the loss. The Kernels took three out of four games in the series.

SITUATIONS: The Kernels scored four of their five runs without the benefit of a hit. In the second, Dwayne Bailey got a runner home from third with a sacrifice fly. In the third, Angel Castillo and Matt Crawford both knocked in runs with a groundout. In the fifth, Castillo made the score 4-0 with a sacrifice fly.

OUT AT THE PLATE: Rattler outfielder Michael Vass was thrown out at the plate by Castillo in the top of the second inning. He tried to score on a fly ball to medium right, but was caught at home for the final out of the frame. Vass was also thrown out at the plate in game one of the doubleheader on Thursday.

COULDN’T DIG OUT: The Kernels built a 5-0 lead. Wisconsin got single runs in the seventh and eighth innings on an RBI single by Michael Marseco and an RBI grounder by Erik Miller. The largest deficit the Rattlers have come back from this season is three.

NOT A WHOLE DAY OFF: Last night, Rattler second baseman Brett Lawrie was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season. He was called on to pinch hit in the top of the eighth inning with the Rattlers down 5-2 and runners at second and third. In his first pinch-hitting appearance as a professional, Lawrie drew a walk.

TOUGH ROAD TRIP: The Rattlers went 2-5 on their seven -game swing through South Bend and Cedar Rapids. The Rattlers are now 2-12 on the road.

SEASON LOW: The Rattlers are nine games under .500 for the first time this season.

MAKING MOVES: Earlier today, the Timber Rattlers made several roster moves. The following players have been transferred to the roster of the Helena Brewers, Milwaukee’s Pioneer League affiliate: Pitcher Kris Dabrowiecki, pitcher Garrett Sherrill, and outfielder Cutter Dykstra. Joining the Timber Rattlers are pitcher Michael Bowman, who will make the start tonight, pitcher Rigoberto Almonte and infielder Taylor Green.

MEET THE NEW GUYS: Bowman has been with the team since being moved to the Helena roster earlier this week. Almonte started the 2009 season at Brevard County in the Florida State League and was 0-1 in nine relief appearances. Green, the #8 prospect in the Brewers organization, had played for Brevard County in 2008 and was a mid-season and post-season all-star in the FSL. He joins the Timber Rattlers from extended spring training.

PROSPECTING: There are seven members of the active Timber Rattler roster who are rated as top 30 prospects in the Milwaukee system by Baseball America. Infielders Brett Lawrie (#3) and Taylor Green (#8) are both in the top 10. Pitchers Cody Scarpetta (#15), Wily Peralta (#22), Efrain Nieves (#23), Evan Frederickson (#24), and Cody Adams (#28) are also on the list.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Clinton LumberKings are the Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. This is the first season for Seattle to be the parent club of the LumberKings. They are off to a 20-13 and in second place in the Midwest League Western Division. In their most recent series, the LumberKings split a four game set with Beloit at home.

2009 SEASON SERIES: Clinton swept three games from the Timber Rattlers April 17-19 at Alliant Energy Field. The final game of the series was rained out on April 20.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .244 as a team. They have scored 127 runs (3.8/game) and hit 17 home runs. The LumberKings are hitting .252 as a team. They have scored 162 runs (4.9/game) and hit 27 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.54 while allowing a total of 178 runs (5.4/game). Clinton pitchers have a team ERA of 2.60 while allowing 121 runs (3.7/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 48 errors. The LumberKings defense has committed 54 errors. Wisconsin is 10-9 at home this season. Clinton is 8-5 on the road this season.

DIDN’T YOU USED TO BE? Seattle had been the affiliate of Appleton’s entry in the Midwest League from 1993-2008. This is the first time a Seattle team has been affiliated with Clinton since the Seattle Pilots were the parent club of the Clinton Pilots in 1969.

FAMILIAR FACES CONTINUED: There are 13 players on the active Clinton roster that played – at one time or another – for the Timber Rattlers: Pitchers Ruben Flores (’06), Cheyne Hahn (’08), Jose Jimenez (’08), Brett Lorin (’08), Ryan Moorer (’08), and Walter Suriel (’08); catchers Israel Nunez (’08) and Blake Ochoa (’08); infielders Luis Nunez (’07) and Terry Serrano (’08); and outfielders Denny Almonte (’08) and Maximo Mendez (’08).

PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed four members of the current LumberKing roster as a Top 30 prospect in the Seattle system. Infielder Mario Martinez (#7) is the highest rated on the list. Outfielder Denny Almonte (#22) is the only other Clinton position player on the list. Pitchers Aaron Pribanic (#27) and Brett Lorin (#28) are also on the list.

OUT OF THE DRAFT 2008: The Mariners have placed eight members of their 2008 draft class on the current LumberKings roster. Pitchers Kenn Kasparek (12th), Bobby LaFromboise (8th), Brett Lorin (5th), Blake Nation (22nd), and Aaron Pribanic (3rd); infielders Scott Savastano (28th), and Nate Tenbrink (7th); and outfielder Jake Shaffer (15th) were all selected by Seattle in 2008.

CLINTON STARTING PITCHER: Adam Harben was originally selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 2002 draft. He pitched in Quad Cities in 2003 and 2004, when that team was an affiliate of the Twins and was 14-13 with the Bandits/Swing. Seattle signed him after the Chicago Cubs organization released him this past spring. Harben picked up a no decision in his last start, a seven inning outing at West Michigan on May 10. Harben faced the Rattlers four times in his prior stopover in the Midwest League and was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA when Wisconsin was a Seattle affiliate.

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