ABOUT WEDNESDAY: The Rattlers lost 4-1 to the Kernels. Cedar Rapids scored a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game and three more in the top of the eighth. Cedar Rapids has won 12 straight games.
EARLY LEAD: The Rattlers put together a two out rally in the bottom of the second inning. Corey Kemp singled and Michael Vass doubled to put runners at second and third. Sean McCraw followed with a single to left to score Kemp, but Vass was thrown out at home to end the inning.
MAKING IT STAND: Rattlers starting pitcher Trey Watten kept the Kernels off the scoreboard for his six innings in the game. Watten allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out eight. The eight strikeouts were a career high for Watten and he left with a 1-0.
SHUTDOWN MODE: Kernels starting pitcher Manaurys Correa pitched eight innings and only gave up one more hit to the Rattler offense after the second inning. He retired the final 11 batters he faced.
THE KERNEL WAY: Beau Brooks started the top of the seventh by drawing a walk against Rattler reliever Daniel Meadows. He was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Adam Younger and went to third on a wild pitch. A two-out infield single by Gabe Jacobo drove in Brooks with the tying run.
A HARD EIGHT: Meadows gave up a double and a single in the top of the eighth before departing in favor of Rigoberto Almonte. After a stolen base put runners at second and third, Almonte issued an intentional walk. A strikeout recorded the second out of the frame. But, a two-run single by Younger on a 3-2 pitch drove in a pair of runs. Then, a balk on Almonte allowed one more run to score for a 4-1 Kernels lead.
ROUGH MEADOWS: The loss was charged to Meadows. It was his first of the season and his record is now 8-1.
TYSON STAYS TOUGH TO HIT: Reliever Nick Tyson tossed a scoreless top of the ninth. He has not allowed a run in five outings (seven innings) with the Wisconsin.
THE NUMBERS: In six games against the Kernels this season, the Timber Rattlers have scored 12 runs and are hitting .210. Cedar Rapids has scored 20 runs and is hitting .222 in six games against Wisconsin.
ROSTER MOVES: The Timber Rattlers have placed outfielder Erik Miller on the disabled list. He has been replaced by outfielder Derrick McPhearson.
MEET THE NEW GUY: McPhearson was signed as a non-drafted free agent on January 29, 2009. He played football at the University of Illinois and at Hampton University. McPhearson did not play professional baseball last season. He was an All-Metro and an All-Conference selection as a high school baseball player for DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland.
HOME AGAIN: The Rattlers began a 12-game homestand on Tuesday. Cedar Rapids is here for a four game series. Beloit will follow for a series from June 6 through June 9. Kane County wraps up the homestand with a set of games from June 10 through June 13. Wisconsin is 0-2 so far.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Kernels are currently are on a 12-game winning streak that started on May 22. In their most recent series, Cedar Rapids swept three games from Dayton at Fifth Third Field. The Kernels are currently 32-20 and hold the Western Division Wild Card by four games over Peoria. They trail first place Kane County by one game.
SEASON SERIES: The Kernels took three of four from the Timber Rattlers at Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids May 12 through 15. They are 5-1 against the Rattlers in 2009.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .250 as a team. They have scored 226 runs (4.4/game) and hit 30 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .256 as a team. They have scored 235 runs (4.6/game) and hit 22 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.18 while allowing a total of 250 runs (4.9/game). Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.51 while allowing 195 runs (3.8/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 71 errors. The Kernel defense has committed 55 errors. Wisconsin is 15-10 at Time Warner Cable Field this season. Cedar Rapids is 14-14 on the road in 2009.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Ryan Chaffee was a third round pick of the Angels in the 2008 draft out of Chipola (FL) Junior College. Chaffee turned down a scholarship to LSU to sign with the Angels, but he did not pitch as a professional in 2008. Chaffee broke his foot early in the Junior College season, but came back and helped pitch Chipola to the Junior College World Series. But, he broke the foot again at the JCWS. So far in 2009, he is 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA in seven starts. Chaffee has won four consecutive starts. In his last outing, Chaffee allowed one run on five hits in 6-1/3 innings at Dayton on May 29. Chaffee beat the Rattlers at Cedar Rapids on May 13 for his first pro victory. In that game, Chaffee allowed two runs on two hits over six innings with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
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