June 5, 2009: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 8-0. Cedar Rapids has won 13 straight games. Four Kernels pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout with Starting pitcher Ryan Chaffee gave up one hit over six innings for his fifth consecutive win. Matt Crawford led the 12-hit attack for the Kernels with a 4-for-4 night and two RBI. Adam Younger hit a two-run homer in the game for Cedar Rapids.

THAT WAS ODD: The game was delayed 21 minutes due to an injury to Kernels clubhouse manager Ron ‘Roady’ Plein. He broke his ankle after colliding with the Timber Rattler batboy while both were attempting to retrieve a loose ball behind home plate in the top of the third inning.

SOMETHING IN THE AIR? Home plate umpire Brandon Henson was hit twice in the mask with a foul ball within three pitches late in the game. He is being held out of tonight’s game. Jeff Gould will be the base umpire tonight. Allen Alvarez is the plate umpire for tonight’s contest.

POCKET PAIR: Wisconsin second baseman Brett Lawrie had a single in the fourth. The other hit by a Rattler was in the eighth inning. Brock Kjeldgaard singled to lead off the frame.

GOING FORTH: The Kernels broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Rattler starting pitcher Wily Peralta hit the first batter, walked the second batter, and the third batter of the inning reached on a bunt single. Crawford doubled in two runs and a sacrifice fly by Angel Castillo made it 3-0.

DOUBLING UP: The Kernels scored three more runs off Peralta in the top of the fifth inning. Gabe Jacobo doubled in the first run and scored on the homer by Younger.

TWIN KILLINGS: The Kernels turned three double plays against the Timber Rattlers last night.

TOUGH SERIES FOR THE HOME TEAM: Here is the linescore for the first three games of this series

....R..H..E
CR.13.24..0
WI..1..9..1

The Kernels have won all three games in the set.

THE NUMBERS: In seven games against the Kernels this season, the Timber Rattlers have scored 12 runs and are hitting .193. Cedar Rapids has scored 28 runs and is hitting .240 in seven games against Wisconsin.

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 0-3 so far.

HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Rattler pitchers Jim Henderson, Daniel Meadows, and Wily Peralta along with catcher Corey Kemp and second baseman Brett Lawrie were named to the Midwest League Western Division All-Star team today.

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 13-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 33-20 and are tied with the Kane County Cougars for first place in the Midwest League’s Western Division.

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 6-1 against the Rattlers in 2009.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .246 as a team. They have scored 226 runs (4.3/game) and hit 30 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .256 as a team. They have scored 247 runs (4.7/game) and hit 23 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.25 while allowing a total of 258 runs (4.9/game). Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.40 while allowing 195 runs (3.7/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 72 errors. The Kernel defense has committed 54 errors. Wisconsin is 15-12 at Time Warner Cable Field this season. Cedar Rapids is 16-14 on the road in 2009.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Will Smith was a seventh round pick of the Angels in 2008 out of Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. He spent last season with the Orem Owlz in the Pioneer League and was 8-2 with a 3.06ERA over 16 games (14 starts). He struck out 76 and walked six in 73 innings for the Owlz. In his start prior to this evening, Smith allowed two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings at Dayton. But, he was not involved in the decision. Smith pitched against the Rattlers on May 14 in the first game of a doubleheader. He was not involved in the decision, a 3-2 win by the Rattlers. Smith gave up two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts over six innings.