May 6, 2009 Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers ended their three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Burlington Bees. Michael Bowman, Daniel Meadows, and Jim Henderson combined on the three-hit shutout. Brett Lawrie had three hits and drove in both Timber Rattler runs.

LAWRIE LAUNCHES: The Rattler second baseman jumped on a 2-0 pitch from Burlington starting pitcher Manauris Baez with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. The ball one hopped the fence that protects the bike path well beyond the left field wall for Lawrie’s fourth home run of the season.

LAWRIE GETS THE JOB DONE: Lawrie stepped up with runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and blooped in an RBI single to right that sent Sean McCraw home with an insurance run. By going 3-for-4, Lawrie bumped his average to .326 and he leads the team in RBI with 19.

THE THREE AMIGOS: Bowman pitched the first four innings and allowed three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Bowman left after the fourth inning as a precautionary measure. Meadows allowed one walk, struck out four, and did not give up a hit over four innings of relief work. Henderson worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

MEADOW’S LAND: Daniel Meadows, a 49th round pick of the Brewers in 2008, picked up the win last night. He leads Wisconsin pitchers with three victories on the year.

JUST POINTING THIS OUT: Henderson is 7-for-7 in save opportunities this season. In 2008, there were two Timber Rattlers – Jeff Dunbar and Rob Harmon – who were co-leaders on the team in saves. Each had six saves. Since 2005, only two Timber Rattler relievers have converted 10 or more saves in a season. Eric O’Flaherty had 13 in 2005 and Andrew Barb had 10 in 2007.

FYI: The Timber Rattler record for saves in a season is held by John Thompson. He had 19 saves in 1995, the first season of Timber Rattler baseball.

FIRST OF THE SEASON: The combined shutout was the first of the season for Timber Rattler pitching.

MATCHING THE LOW: Last night was the third time in 2009 Wisconsin has held an opponent to three hits in a game.

IT ENDS AT NINE: Juan Sanchez was hitless in four at bats last night and his hitting streak ended at nine games. He was 18-for-39 (.462) during the streak.

A LITTLE REVENGE: Wisconsin went 4-12 against the Bees in 2008, including 1-11 over the last 14 games played between the teams in 2008.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .245 as a team. They have scored 99 runs (4.1/game) and hit 11 home runs. The Bees are hitting .200 as a team. They have scored 74 runs (3.1/game) and hit eight homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.58 while allowing a total of 127 runs (5.3/game). Burlington pitchers have a team ERA of 4.30 while allowing 115 runs (4.8/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 30 errors. The Bees defense has committed 23 errors. Wisconsin is 9-7 at Time Warner Cable Field this season. The Bees are 4-7 away from Community Field this season.

BURLINGTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Kelvin Herrera is making his 2009 debut tonight. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2006 by Kansas City. After one season in the Dominican Summer League, Herrera made his U.S. debut with the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League. Herrera was named the pitcher of the year for the Royals after going 2-2 with a 1.42 ERA in 11 games (eight starts). At that level he walked three and struck out 28 over 28-2/3 innings. Herrera was promoted to the Midwest League in mid-August and went 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in three games (one start) for the Bees. Herrera’s last appearance for Burlington was a start in Game One of the Western Division Finals of the 2008 MWL Playoffs. Herrera allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts for a no decision against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Tonight is Herrera’s first appearance against the Rattlers and an affiliate of the Brewers.