July 16, 2009: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Loons beat the Timber Rattlers 11-1. Wisconsin committed four errors and six of the 11 runs for the Loons were unearned.

EARLY IN THE EVENING: The Rattlers took a 1-0 lead against Nathan Eovaldi. Peter Fatse and Lorenzo Cain had back-to-back one out doubles to plate their only run of the night.

CAIN: Cain’s double was his first extra base hit as a Rattler. It was also his first RBI hit with Wisconsin. His prior RBI was on a bases loaded walk.

STORMING BACK: Great Lakes scored twice in the bottom of the second to take a lead they would never give up. Matt Wallach singled with two outs and runners at second and third in the frame. Both runners scored.

IT CAN HAPPEN: Fatse picked up a pair of outfield assists in the second inning. The first came after the leftfielder missed a flyball with a runner at first. Fatse threw to second for the force out. After the single by Wallach Fatse’s throw to the plate was cutoff and Wallach was out at second base.

TAKING CONTROL: The Loons added four more two-out runs in the third inning. Kyle Russell doubled in the first run on a 1-2 pitch from Rattlers starting pitcher Trey Watten. An error by John Delaney on a grounder to third allowed two more runs to score. Anthony Hatch ended the scoring with an RBI double for a 6-1 Great Lakes lead.

ERR: The Rattlers also committed an error in the two run fifth inning and two more in a three run sixth to give them four errors in the game. That marks the fourth time this season Wisconsin has committed four errors in a game.

DOUBLE DIGITS: Last night was the second time this month and eighth time this season Wisconsin has allowed an opponent to score 10 or more runs in a game.

TAG TEAM: Eovaldi tossed five innings and allowed one run. Ethan Martin followed with four scoreless innings and seven strikeouts for his first professional save.

WITH A FLOURISH: Martin struck out the final six batters of the game. He would retire Michael Marseco, Juan Sanchez, and Peter Fatse in order on strikes in the eighth. Martin K’ed Cain, Brett Lawrie, and Corey Kemp in order in the ninth.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Great Lakes Loons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They just missed the playoffs in the first half of the season with a 40-30 record. So far in the second half, the Loons are 8-11. They hold the second half wild card spot in the Eastern Division by a game over Dayton. Great Lakes trails South Bend for the top playoff spot in the second half by a game.

SEASON SERIES: The series is tied 2-2. Wisconsin won two out of three games from Great Lakes April 29 through May 1 at Time Warner Cable Field. The Rattlers won game one 6-3. The Loons won game two 9-6. Wisconsin won the final game of the series 6-4.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .241 as a team. They have scored 363 runs (4.1/game) and hit 43 home runs. The Loons are hitting .258 as a team. They have scored 443 runs (5.0/game) and hit 64 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 3.87 while allowing a total of 404 runs (4.5/game). Great Lakes pitchers have a team ERA of 3.87 while allowing 397 runs (4.5/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 106 errors. The Loons defense has committed 108 errors. Wisconsin is 17-23 on the road this season. Great Lakes is 23-17 at Dow Diamond this season.

LEAGUE LEADER: Great Lakes outfielder Kyle Russell leads the Midwest League in homers with 21. He hit one homer against the Timber Rattlers in the series at Time Warner Cable Field with a two-run homer off Cody Adams on April 29.

LEAGUE LEADER (PT II): Russell also leads the Midwest League in RBI. He added to his league leading total with two RBI last night and now has 68.

LEAGUE LEADER (PT III): Loons shortstop Dee Gordon has the most stolen bases in the Midwest League. Gordon stole a base last night and is at 47 on the season.

LEAGUE LEADER (PT IV): Gordon also leads the league in hits. He had two hits last night to run his season total to 106.

LEAGUE LEADERS GALORE: Russell also leads the Midwest League in slugging percentage (.576) and extra base hits (51). Gordon also leads the league in runs scored (66) and triples (9).

APPLETON TIES: Gordon is the son of Tom Gordon. Tom Gordon pitched for the Appleton Foxes in 1988 when the Appleton pro baseball team played at Goodland Field and was affiliated with the Kansas City Royals. The elder Gordon is on the 60-Day DL of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

GREAT LAKES STARTING PITCHER: RHP JonMichael Redding was the fifth round pick of the Dodgers in the 2008 draft out of Florida Community College. So far in 2009, Redding is 10-3 with a 4.68ERA. In his start prior to this evening, Redding won at Peoria on July 10 despite allowed six runs on eight hits over five innings. Redding did strike out eight Chiefs batters and walked only one in a 7-6 Great Lakes victory. Tonight is the first time Redding will face the Timber Rattlers. It is also the first time he will face an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Redding is rated as the #18 prospect in the Dodgers organization by Baseball America.