ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers lost 4-2 to the TinCaps. Blake Tekotte had three hits – including a home run, scored two runs, and drove in two for the Fort Wayne offense. Simon Castro struck out nine over five innings without allowing a run and got the win.
IN THE HOLE EARLY: Tekotte hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning on the second pitch of the game from Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Wily Peralta.
KEEPING THEM DOWN: Castro allowed two base runners in five innings. He gave up a two out triple to Jose Duran in the top of the second and hit Brett Lawrie with one out in the fourth. Castro’s nine strikeouts ran his Midwest League leading total to 119 for the 2009 season.
WILD AND OUTSIDE: Peralta allowed one run on two hits over four innings. But, he walked six in the game. Rattler reliever Evan Frederickson walked five over 2-2/3 innings. The 11 walks issued by the Timber Rattlers tied the most they have given out in a game this season.
SWING AND A MISS: The Rattlers hitters struck out 15 times. That was the most times Wisconsin hitters have struck out in a nine inning game this season. The only time Wisconsin has struck out more times in a game was on June 27 when they were K-ed 16 times in a 14 inning game against the Peoria Chiefs.
INSURANCE: Tekotte reached on an infield single in the seventh and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. He stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
A TALE OF TWO HALF INNINGS: Wisconsin put two on with two outs in the top of the eighth, but did not score. Fort Wayne put two on with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and scored both runners for a 4-0 lead.
BREAKTHROUGH: Erik Komatsu and Brett Lawrie both singled to start the top of the ninth against Brad Brach. Corey Kemp followed with a two-run double to make the score 4-2, but Brach got the final three outs and stranded Kemp at second.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: In four games against the TinCaps this season, Wisconsin is hitting .130 (16-for-123) and has scored five runs. The TinCaps are hitting .203 (25-for-123) against the Rattlers and have scored 15 runs.
A ROUGH STRETCH: The Rattlers are 2-11 in their last 13 games. Including in that time frame are ten road games and the Rattlers are 1-9 in those games away from Time Warner Cable Field.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Fort Wayne TinCaps are the Midwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres. They won the first half Eastern Division title with a record of 45-25. They have continued their outstanding record through to the second half as they are 25-6. Fort Wayne is 21-5 in July, but lost the last two games of a just completed series at Burlington. The TinCaps are in their first season at new Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne after playing at Memorial Coliseum from 1993 through 2008. The TinCaps entered the Midwest League in 1993 after moving from Kenosha, Wisconsin. They are managed by former major league outfielder Doug Dascenzo.
SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin is 0-4 against Fort Wayne this season. The Rattlers were swept in a three game series by the TinCaps April 13-15 at Time Warner Cable Field. For Wayne won game one 2-1 in ten innings by scoring a run in the top of the ninth to tie the game and a run in the tenth for the win. The TinCaps won game two of the series 3-2. Fort Wayne got the sweep with a 6-0. That three game sweep was part of the TinCaps going 10-0 to start the season.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .239 as a team. They have scored 403 runs (4.0/game) and hit 49 home runs. The TinCaps are hitting .267 as a team. They have scored 547 runs (5.4/game) and hit 74 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.24 while allowing a total of 491 runs (4.9/game). Fort Wayne pitchers have a team ERA of 3.23 while allowing 388 runs (3.8/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 118 errors. The TinCaps defense has committed 101 errors. Wisconsin is 16-31 in road games this season. Fort Wayne is 36-14 at home this season.
FORT WAYNE STARTING PITCHER: RH Stiven Osuna was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2006. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before making his debut with the Arizona League of the Padres in 2008. He was 7-3 with a 2.18ERA in 14 starts in the Arizona League last season. Osuna struck out 57 and walked 11 in 70-1/3 innings. In 2009, Osuna is 8-6 with a save in 21 games (15 starts). In his start prior to this morning, Osuna won his sixth consecutive start with a win at Kane County on July 24. He allowed an unearned run on three hits over 5-2/3 innings. In the second half of the season is 6-0 with a 0.84ERA with a 30 strikeouts over 32-1/3 innings. Osuna faced the Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field on April 14. He allowed two unearned runs on four hits and struck out four over four innings for a no decision.
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