6/27/2009

June 27, 2009: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers beat the Peoria Chiefs 3-2. Jose Duran drove in a pair of runs, including the game winner in the bottom of the ninth, for Wisconsin. Wily Peralta struck out 10 over six innings for a no decision.

NO-HIT BID: Peoria starting pitcher Chris Archer did not allow a hit over five innings last night. He struck out four in the game. But, he left the game with over 80 pitches through five innings. Archer walked five and there were three errors committed behind him.

BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE: Rattlers starting pitcher Wily Peralta retired the first nine batters he faced last night, but with one out and one on in the top of the fourth, Josh Vitters hit his fourteenth home run of the season to put the Chiefs up 2-0.

SETTLE DOWN: Peralta would work a total of six innings and match his career high for strikeouts with 10.

BREAKING IT UP: Juan Sanchez singled in the seventh off reliever Alberto Cabrera to end the combined no-hit bid by the Chiefs.

TYING IT UP: Sanchez tripled to drive in Brock Kjeldgaard in the eighth inning with the first Rattlers run of the game. Steve Braun knocked in Sanchez with the tying run with an infield single later in the frame.

5-6-4? In the top of the ninth inning, Nelson Perez was at first with no outs and Michael Brenly was called on to bunt. Both corner infielders charged on the pitch and Brenly bunted the ball right to Duran at third. Duran threw to second where shortstop Michael Marseco was covering for the force out. Marseco fired to second baseman Brett Lawrie at first for the 5-6-4 double play.

A VIEW TO A KILL: Duran stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and the bases loaded. He sent a hard grounder to a diving stop by Ryan Flaherty at second. Flaherty’s throw home was too late to prevent the winning run from scoring.

SENSING A PATTERN: Wisconsin is 6-0 against the Chiefs this season. They have trailed in five of the games. Wisconsin has four one-run wins and two “walk-off” wins against the Chiefs.

RITCHIE RICH: Brandon Ritchie was the beneficiary of the 5-6-4 double play and got the final out of the top of the ninth. When the Rattlers scored their run in the bottom of the ninth, Ritchie moved his record to 5-0. Another scoreless inning for the lefty lowered his ERA to 1.44 over 31-1/3 innings pitched.

MAKING MOVES: After last night’s game, pitcher Alex Periard was transferred to the Brevard County Manatees, the Florida State League affiliate of the Brewers. Outfielder Derrick McPhearson rejoins the Timber Rattlers from Helena to take Periard’s spot on the roster. The Rattlers roster stands at 23 active players.

GETTING CLOSER: The win last night moved the Timber Rattlers back to the .500 mark at 36-36. The Rattlers have not been above .500 since April 24 when they were 7-6 after a win over the Chiefs at Miller Park.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. First year manager Marty Pevey led his team to a first half record of 38-31. The Chiefs put on a late charge at a playoff spot, but fell just short.

SEASON SERIES: The Timber Rattlers swept a four game series from the Chiefs in April. The Rattlers won by scores of 3-2, 7-6, and 8-7 at Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin also won the Border Battle at Miller Park by a score of 5-3. Wisconsin is 6-0 against the Chiefs in 2009

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .247 as a team. They have scored 303 runs (4.2/game) and hit 35 home runs. The Chiefs are hitting .268 as a team. They have scored 320 runs (4.5/game) and hit 56 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 3.91 while allowing a total of 325 runs (4.5/game). Peoria pitchers have a team ERA of 3.74 while allowing 294 runs (4.1/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 83 errors. The Chief defense has committed 83 errors. Wisconsin is 23-15 at home this season. Peoria is 13-23 on the road in 2009.

PEORIA STARTING PITCHER: RHP Chris Carpenter was the third round pick of the Cubs in the 2008 draft out of Kent State. Carpenter was the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year as he went 6-2 with a 3.81ERA and a MAC leading 88 strikeouts. As a member of the Boise Hawks, Chicago’s Northwest League affiliate, Carpenter went 4-1 with a 4.22ERA in 10 games (six starts). In 2009, Carpenter is 4-3 with a 2.60ERA with 14 starts for the Chiefs. In his start prior to this evening, Carpenter beat Burlington on June 20 by allowing one run on five hits over six innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Carpenter faced the Rattlers on April 22 allowed one hit and struck out six over five shutout innings, but was not involved in the decision, a 3-2 Timber Rattlers win.

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