ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers beat the LumberKings 4-3. Brock Kjeldgaard homered, doubled, and drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense. Dan Merklinger pitched 6-2/3 innings for the win and Nick Tyson got his third save of the season by getting the final four outs of the game.
SLOW START: The LumberKings scored twice in the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Scott Savastano and Denny Almonte.
STRONG FOURTH: Brett Lawrie reached on an infield single with one out in the fourth inning. Corey Kemp, Kjeldgaard, and Michael Vass had three consecutive RBI hits to put the Rattlers in front.
WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY: Kjeldgaard’s twelfth homer of the season came in the bottom of the sixth inning and pushed Wisconsin’s lead to 4-2. Kjeldgaard has hit those 12 homers in 250 at bats over 74 games. Last year at Helena, Kjeldgaard hit 14 homers in 306 at bats over 75 games.
A LITTLE HELP HERE: Merklinger matched his career high for innings pitched by going 6-2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. A single by Luis Nunez in the top of the seventh inning put runners at the corners with two outs. So, Brandon Ritchie came on to get the final out of the frame.
NICK TYSON’S PUNCH OUT: Tyson is now 3-for-3 in save opportunities this season. He got the final out of the eighth inning and retired the first two hitters of the ninth. He let the next two LumberKings reach on a walk and a single, but a fly ball to right ended the game.
CLOSE GAME? NO PROBLEM: The Timber Rattlers are 5-2 in the second half. Four of Wisconsin’s five wins have been by one run. On the season, Wisconsin is 13-7 in games decided by one run.
MAKING MOVES: Earlier today Lorenzo Cain, the #6 prospect in the Milwaukee organization was activated off the Huntsville disabled list and transferred to the Wisconsin roster. He is in the lineup tonight for the Rattlers.
ANOTHER STEP FORWARD: Thursday’s win moved the Timber Rattlers back above the .500 mark to 39-38.
FRESH START: The Rattlers begin the second half with an eight-game homestand against two teams that just missed the playoffs in the first half. Wisconsin was 3-1 against the Peoria Chiefs. There is one game remaining in this series with the Clinton LumberKings.
ON THE ROAD: Wisconsin heads out for a four game series at Burlington July 4 through July 7. Wisconsin went 2-2 in a four game set at Community Field late in the first half.
HOME AGAIN? The Rattlers will host the West Michigan Whitecaps and the South Bend Silver Hawks in a six-game homestand from July 8 through July 13.
PROSPECTING: There are seven members of the active Timber Rattler roster who are rated as top 30 prospects in the Milwaukee system by Baseball America. Infielder Brett Lawrie (#3) and outfielder Lorenzo Cain (#6) are in the top 10. Pitchers Cody Scarpetta (#15), Wily Peralta (#22), Efrain Nieves (#23), Evan Frederickson (#24), and Cody Adams (#28) are also on the list.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Clinton LumberKings are the Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Scott Steinmann, a former player, coach, and manager of the Timber Rattlers, is in his first season as the manager of the LumberKings. Pitching Coach Lance Painter was the pitching coach of Wisconsin in 2006 and 2007. This is the first season for Seattle to be the parent club of the LumberKings. They were 40-30 in the first half and missed a playoff spot. The LumberKings are off to a 3-4 start for the second half. In their series to kick off the second half of the schedule, the LumberKings split a four game set with Beloit at home.
2009 SEASON SERIES: The Timber Rattlers lead the season series 7-4. Clinton swept three games from the Timber Rattlers April 17-19 at Alliant Energy Field. The final game of the series was rained out on April 20. Wisconsin swept a five game series from the LumberKings at Time Warner Cable Field from May 16-19. Tonight is the final meeting of the regular season between the Rattlers and the LumberKings.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .245 as a team. They have scored 321 runs (4.2/game) and hit 37 home runs. The LumberKings are hitting .253 as a team. They have scored 371 runs (4.8/game) and hit 50 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 3.91 while allowing a total of 351 runs (4.6/game). Clinton pitchers have a team ERA of 3.08 while allowing 304 runs (4.0/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 91 errors. The LumberKings defense has committed 115 errors. Wisconsin is 26-17 at home this season. Clinton is 20-19 on the road this season.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed three members of the current LumberKings roster as a Top 30 prospect in the Seattle system. Pitcher Maikel Cleto (#16) is the highest rated player on the list. Outfielder Denny Almonte (#22) is the only other Clinton position player on the list. Pitcher Aaron Pribanic (#27) is also on the list.
CLINTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Alfredo Venegas was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Ecuador in 2003. Venegas spent most of the 2008 season with the High Desert Mavericks, the California League affiliate of the Mariners. He was 6-5 with a 4.97ERA, walked 32 and struck out 87 in 112-1/3 innings in 26 games (16 starts) for the Mavericks. Venegas also made a start for Tacoma, the Pacific Coast League affiliate of the M’s. He took the loss and gave up four runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 2-2/3 innings. Venegas is 2-3 with a 3.69ERA in eight starts with the LumberKings this season. He lost his last start, the first game of a doubleheader against Beloit on June 28, by giving up five runs (two earned) on six hits over 2-1/3 innings. Tonight is the first Time Venegas will face the Timber Rattlers.
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