May 17, 2009 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers beat the LumberKings 8-3. Michael Bowman pitched 6-2/3 shutout innings for his first Midwest League victory.

MAYBE IT EASY BEING GREEN: Third baseman Taylor Green had four hits, including a homer in his first at bat as a Timber Rattler, and drove in four runs for Wisconsin. Green went 4-for-5 in his Rattler debut.

HE WOULD BE THE THIRD: Green joins Chris Colton and Casey Craig as Timber Rattler batters who homered in their first at bat with the team. Colton homered on April 8, 2004 and Craig homered on April 6, 2006. Both of those homers came on Opening Night of the respective seasons.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES: On Friday night in Cedar Rapids the Timber Rattlers had 12 hits, but only scored two runs. In that game, they were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Last night, Wisconsin scored eight runs on 11 hits and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

THREE IN THE FIRST: The Rattlers scored three runs in the first inning to grab an early 3-0 lead. Green hit a two-run homer and Brock Kjeldgaard knocked in a run with a single. Last night matched the most productive first inning for the Rattler bats this season. They had scored three in the first inning two other times – both at Time Warner Cable Field. Once was on April 10 and the other was on April 29.

NEW LEADER: Kjeldgaard drove in a pair of runs last night to give him 23 on the season. He leads Brett Lawrie by one RBI.

IT GOES TO ELEVEN: Bowman has pushed his scoreless streak to 11 innings with his performance last night. In his start prior to last night, Bowman tossed four shutout innings against Burlington before leaving with a blister.

NEW BEST: Bowman also struck out nine LumberKings last night. That is a new professional high for strikeouts in a game for the right hander.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Clinton LumberKings are the Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Scott Steinmann, a former player, coach, and manager of the Timber Rattlers, is in his first season as the manager of the LumberKings. Pitching Coach Lance Painter was the pitcher coach of Wisconsin in 2006 and 2007. This is the first season for Seattle to be the parent club of the LumberKings. They are off to a 20-14 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 .246 as a team. They have scored 135 runs (4.0/game) and hit 18 home runs. The LumberKings are hitting .252 as a team. They have scored 165 runs (4.9/game) and hit 27 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.46 while allowing a total of 181 runs (5.3/game). Clinton pitchers have a team ERA of 2.73 while allowing 129 runs (3.8/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 49 errors. The LumberKings defense has committed 57 errors. Wisconsin is 11-9 at home this season. Clinton is 8-6 on the road this season.

CLINTON STARTING PITCHER GAME ONE: Kenn Kasparek was Seattle’s 12th round pick in the 2008 draft out of the University of Texas. Kasparek was 4-3 with a 3.76ERA in 15 starts for the Longhorns in 2008. He walked 27 and struck out 76 over 76.2IP. Kasparek split his first pro season between Pulaski and Everett in the Mariner system. He went 5-4 over 15 games (13 starts) and struck out 65 and walked 23 over 52 innings on those two stops. In his start prior to this afternoon, Kasparek lost to Beloit on May 12. He gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 5-2/3 innings. Kasparek has faced neither the Rattlers nor a Brewer affiliate in his career.

CLINTON STARTING PITCHER GAME TWO: Blake Nation was Seattle’s 22nd round pick in the 2008 draft out of Georgia Southern University. He was the closer for Pulaski in the Appalachian League in his first pro season and was 1-2 with 11 saves and a 2.74 ERA in 19 games. So far in 209, he is 0-1 in 10 games. Nation has made one start this season. It was on April 27 at Burlington. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over four innings for a no decision. He faced neither the Rattlers nor an affiliate of the Brewers in his pro career.