ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers lost 8-6 at Burlington. The Rattlers rallied from a 3-2 deficit with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. But, the Bees scored five times in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. All five Burlington runs in the seventh inning were unearned.
CAT AND MOUSE (OR SNAKE AND BEE in this case): The Rattlers scored a run in the top of the first on a Corey Kemp double. The Bees tied the game with a runs on a single by Fernando Garcia in the bottom of the second. The Rattlers took the lead back with a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Juan Sanchez, but a Nick Van Stratten RBI single in the top of the fifth tied the game again.
BETTER START: Rattlers starting pitcher Efrain Nieves allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts over five innings. In his two starting assignments before last night, Nieves had given up 12 runs on 18 hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6-1/3 innings.
BEES BUZZ: The Bees scored a run off Rattlers reliever Cody Scarpetta in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab a 3-2 lead.
RATTLERS REBOUND: Michael Marseco had driven in the tying run with a single in the top of the seventh inning. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Burlington’s All-Star reliever Barry Bowden entered the game. He hit John Delaney to force in the go ahead run for the Rattlers. Chris Dennis followed with an RBI single and the final run of the inning scored on a Brock Kjeldgaard sacrifice fly.
OVER THE HILL: Kjeldgaard’s RBI gave him a team leading total of 41 on the season.
STUNG: Scarpetta retired the first two hitters via the strikeout in the bottom of the seventh. But, an error on a dropped throw to first kept the inning alive. A walk and three consecutive RBI singles would follow and tie the game 6-6.
THE CHASE IS ON: Rattlers reliever Brandon Ritchie relieved Scarpetta to face left-hand hitting Chase Fontaine with two on and two out in a tie game. Fontaine, who had drive in the run that put the Bees up 3-2 in the sixth inning, lined a two-run double to left and the Bees were up 8-6.
ERR-ING IT OUT: During the 12-game homestand from June 2 through June 13, the Timber Rattlers were 6-6 and committed five errors. In the four game series at Community Field, the Timber Rattlers were charged with seven errors. Burlington scored 24 runs in the four game set and nine of the runs were unearned.
HEATING UP: Marseco has matched his season high hitting streak with his night last night. He was 1-for-4 to extend his current streak to six games and he is 8-for-24 in those six games.
MY SACRIFICE: Marseco also dropped a sacrifice bunt to set up the first Wisconsin run of the night. He has nine sac bunts on the year. Kjeldgaard’s sacrifice fly gave him his team-leading sixth of the season.
GET THE JOB DONE: Delaney has had five plate appearances with the bases loaded this season. He has driven in five runs in those five plate appearances. Delaney drove in three with a double and also drew a walk before being hit by that pitch last night.
MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH: The Rattlers missed on an opportunity to get back to the .500 mark for the first time since they were 7-7 back on April 25. Wisconsin also lost when they were 7-8 and 31-32. The Rattlers are trying to reach .500 or better in a half for the first time since the second half 2005.
IT’S OVER…AT LEAST FOR THIS HALF: The Rattlers were eliminated from first half playoff contention on Wednesday night.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Wisconsin is closing out their first half schedule with an eight-game road trip. They are 2-2 after finishing the series in Burlington last night. There are four games at Kane County June 18-21 left to be played.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They currently hold the Western Division lead by one game with a record of 39-27. The Cougars are coming off a series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Cedar Rapids in which they split four games. Both Cedar Rapids and the Clinton LumberKings are one game back in the Western Division with four games remaining.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .249 as a team. They have scored 283 runs (4.3/game) and hit 35 home runs. The Cougars are hitting .257 as a team. They have scored 340 runs (5.2/game) and hit 55 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.03 while allowing a total of 311 runs (4.7/game). Kane County pitchers have a team ERA of 3.56 while allowing 273 runs (4.1/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 83 errors. The Cougars defense has committed 78 errors. Wisconsin is 11-19 in road games. The Cougars are 21-10 at Elfstrom Stadium this season.
SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers lead the season series 4-3. Wisconsin was 1-2 in a three game series at Elfstrom Stadium from May 20-22. The Rattlers took three out of four from the Cougars at Time Warner Cable Field June 10-13.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed two members of the current Kane County roster on their list of top 30 Oakland prospects. Shortstop Dusty Coleman is ranked at # 22 and outfielder Grant Desme checks in at #30.
OUT OF THE DRAFT 2008: The Athletics have placed 14 members of their 2008 draft class on the current Kane County roster. The picks from the top 10 rounds are: Catcher Petey Paramore (3rd), pitcher Anthony Capra (4th), infielder Jason Christian (5th), pitcher Brett Hunter (7th), and outfielder Jeremy Barfield (8th). Other current Cougars from the ’08 draft are: Pitchers Trey Barham (25th), Matt Fitts (16th), Mike Hart (19th), Shawn Haviland (33rd), Justin Murray (29th), Kenny Smalley (24th), and Mickey Storey (31st). Coleman (28th) and outfielder Chris Berroa (11th) were also ’08 draft picks.
RETURNING ALUMNI: There are 10 current Cougars who spent time in Kane County last season. Pitchers Capra, Scott Deal, Brett Hunter, and Jamie Richmond; catchers Paramore and Juan Nunez; and infielders Carlos Arrieche, Christian, Dusty Napoleon, and Matt Ray all wore a Cougar jersey in 2008.
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: RHP Kenny Smalley was the 24th round pick of the Athletics in the 2008 draft out of Delta State University. In his first pro season, Smalley was 5-1 with a save and a 3.07ERA in 20 relief appearances with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. Smalley is 6-2 with the Cougars this year. He has a 1.94 ERA in 15 games (seven starts) and leads the Midwest League in that category. In his start prior to tonight, Smalley had his five game winning streak snapped by the Rattlers on June 13. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over seven innings in a 3-1 Wisconsin win at Time Warner Cable Field.
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