ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Brock Kjeldgaard hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie and give the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers a 7-4 win over the Kane County Cougars.
FIRST INNING FIREWORKS: The teams combined for five runs in the first inning. Kane County scored three on three hits off Rattler starting pitcher Dan Merklinger. Steve Kleen drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Grant Desme’s two-run homer with two outs put the Cougars up 3-0. Wisconsin scored a pair of runs on one hit in the bottom of the first. Cougars starting pitcher Anthony Capra walked four batters in the frame and the Rattlers got an RBI double from Corey Kemp and a sacrifice fly from Kjeldgaard.
TEN DEEP BREATHS: Merklinger regrouped after the first inning and allowed one run – a solo homer by Petey Paramore in the top of the fifth – and two hits over his next 5-2/3 innings. In
BRAND NEW GAME: Wisconsin tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on four consecutive hits against reliever Scott Deal. Kjeldgaard started the inning with a double and John Delaney followed with a single. Back-to-back RBI singles by Michael Vass and Jose Duran evened the score 4-4.
RITCHIE RICH: Rattler reliever Brandon Ritchie entered the game for Merklinger in the top of the seventh with a runner at second and two outs. Ritchie got out of inning and did not allow a run over the next two innings. He is tied with Jim Henderson for the most appearances (21) by a reliever this season and lowered his ERA to 1.80.
WOO HOO! In the bottom of the ninth, Juan Sanchez singled and was sacrificed to second by Michael Marseco. Kemp was walked intentionally by Jamie Richmond to set up the double play and was relieved by Justin Murray. Murray struck out Chris Dennis and got ahead of Kjeldgaard 1-2. Kjeldgaard lined the next pitch down the left field line for the game winning homer.
TEAM LEADER: Kjeldgaard’s homer was his team-leading ninth of the season. Last night was his first home run since May 26. It was also his first home run at home since May 7.
JUST OVER A YEAR: The last “walk-off” homer for the Timber Rattlers was on June 5, 2008. Gavin Dickey hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the tenth to beat Quad Cities 4-3.
HOMESTAND: The Rattlers are in the midst of a 12-game home stand. They are 4-5 in the first nine games. Wisconsin hosts Kane County tonight 10 through June 13 to wrap up the home schedule in the first half.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are 36-23 and in first place in the Midwest League Western Division. The Cougars have a one game lead over the Cedar Rapids Kernels and are four games up on Clinton for the Wild Card Spot. There are 11 games remaining in the first half. Kane County saw their three game winning streak end with the loss last night.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .246 as a team. They have scored 250 runs (4.2/game) and have hit 34 home runs. The Cougars are hitting .259 as a team. They have scored 314 runs (5.3/game) and hit 49 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a staff ERA of 4.17 and have allowed 281 runs (4.8/game). Kane County pitchers have an ERA of 3.63 and have allowed 246 runs (4.2/game). The Timber Rattlers defense has committed 74 errors. The Cougars defense has committed 69 errors. Wisconsin is 19-14 at home. Kane County is 15-13 on the road.
SEASON SERIES: The season series is tied 2-2 through four games. The Rattlers were 1-2 in a three game series at Elfstrom Stadium from May 20-22. The Rattlers won game one 7-5, but the Cougars won the final two games by scores of 7-6 and 6-3.
ALL-STARS: Kane County placed seven players on the Western Division squad for the upcoming Midwest League All-Star Game. Four Cougars will start for the West: First baseman Steve Kleen, shortstop Dusty Coleman, third baseman Jason Christian, and designated hitter Jeremy Barfield. Three Kane County pitchers also made the team: Starters Shawn Haviland and Kenny Smalley and reliever Jamie Richmond.
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 lost to Peoria at Elfstrom Stadium on June 6. He allowed six runs on seven hits over 4-1/3 innings. Haviland faced the Timber Rattlers back on May 21 at Elfstrom Stadium. He allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six over seven innings, but got a no decision.
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