5/21/2009

May 21, 2009 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers defeated the Cougars 7-5. Wisconsin got three homers and five innings of shutout relief to earn their sixth win in a row.

BROCK! Rattler first baseman hit a pair of solo home runs last night. He is the first Timber Rattler this season to hit two homers in a game. Kjeldgaard’s sixth homer of the season was a one-out shot in the second inning. His team-leading seventh homer of the year was a lead-off homer in the fourth. Kjeldgaard also doubled in the game and scored three runs.

AND ONE MORE MAKES THREE: Corey Kemp was batting in the top of the fifth inning with the score tied 4-4 and a runner at second. Kemp lined a two-run homer to left to give the Rattlers a 6-4 lead. That homer was the third of the game for the Timber Rattlers. Wisconsin has hit three homers in a game twice this season.

DENNIS THE MENACE: Outfielder Chris Dennis went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, and a walk to reach base in all four plate appearances. Dennis also scored a run and drove in a run.

OHLMANN ON IN RELIEF: Rattler reliever Liam Ohlmann entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and pitched three scoreless innings. Ohlmann hit a batter, walked one and struck out two to earn his second win of the season.

GOING TO ELEVEN: Jim Henderson got the final two outs of the game to get his eleventh save of the season. He is now 11-for-11 in save opportunities and leads the Midwest League in saves.

JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE: The last time a Wisconsin team had a winning streak of more than six games was in 2003. That Rattler team had winning streaks of seven, eight, and nine games in the first half of the season.

IT HASN’T HAPPENED YET: Since becoming the Timber Rattlers in 1995, no Rattler player has hit three homers in a game.

BACK TO EVEN FOR THE MONTH: In the first 10 games of May, the Rattlers were 3-7. In the last 10 games, the Rattlers are 7-3.

ROAD TRIP! The Rattlers began a 12-game, 12-day, 4-city road trip last night. Wisconsin has a three game series with Kane County followed by three game sets in Beloit, Dayton, and West Michigan respectively. The Rattlers return home on June 2.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are 23-14 and in first place in the Midwest League Western Division. The Cougars have a 1-1/2 game lead over Peoria and Quad Cities.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .255 as a team. They have scored 173 runs (4.4/game) and hit 23 home runs. The Cougars are hitting .264 as a team. They have scored 216 runs (5.5/game) and hit 33 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.32 while allowing a total of 197 runs (5.1/game). Kane County pitchers have a team ERA of 3.31 while allowing 153 runs (3.9/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 56 errors. The Cougars defense has committed 48 errors. Wisconsin is 3-12 on the road this season. Kane County is 14-8 at home this season.

KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: Shawn Haviland was selected by Oakland in the 33rd round of the 2008 draft out of Harvard. He went 2-6 with two saves and an ERA of 5.46 in 13 games (8 starts) in his final year with the Crimson. Haviland was 2-3 with a 3.48ERA and 61 strikeouts in 54-1/3 innings over 18 innings (9 starts) for Vancouver in the Northwest League in 2008. In his start prior to this evening, Haviland allowed two runs on six hits over five innings, but got a no decision against Burlington on May 15. Tonight is Haviland’s first appearance against the Timber Rattlers and his first against an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

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