ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers lost 4-2 to the Bees. Tim Melville struck out seven and allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings for the win. The seven strikeouts matched a professional career high for Melville. Eric Hosmer homered and drove in a pair of runs for the Bees.
LIFT OFF: Hosmer hit a homer with two outs in the bottom of the first inning to give the Bees a 1-0 lead. The home run was Hosmer’s fourth of the season and first since May 31 at Fort Wayne. The homer was hit off Rattlers starter Wily Peralta. That was just the third home run hit against Peralta in 67-1/3 innings.
TAKING THE LEAD: The Rattlers scored an unearned run after an error by shortstop Juan Rivera put runners at first and third in the second inning. Martin Maldonado’s sacrifice fly tied the game. In the third, Peter Fatse hit his first professional homer to put the Rattlers up 2-1.
NOT SO FAST: The Bees tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a David Wood RBI single.
PERALTA’S NIGHT: Peralta pitched four innings, allowed two runs, and struck out three for a no decision last night. Peralta entered last night’s game tied with Simon Castro for the Midwest League lead in strikeouts with 83. Castro struck out eight batters last night and now leads Peralta 91-86.
FOUR STRAIGHT: Rigoberto Almonte relieved Peralta to start the bottom of the fifth inning. He gave up four consecutive singles. The third single was an RBI single for Hosmer that put the Bees up 3-2.
ABOUT THAT LAST ONE: Nick Francis completed the string of singles with a base hit to right. But, Juan Sanchez threw out Nick Van Stratten at the plate to keep the deficit at one run. Sanchez, who started the season as a utility infielder, now leads the Timber Rattlers in outfield assists with eight.
PICKING THEM OFF: Three different Wisconsin Timber Rattlers were picked off first base last night. Melville picked off a runner in the fourth. Reliever Blaine Hardy picked runners off first base in the eighth and ninth innings.
INSURANCE: The Bees got a run in the eighth inning off reliever Evan Frederickson. Burlington loaded the bases with no outs and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Bonilla.
AAAAAAYYYYYY! Fatse now has a hit in all seven games he has played with the Timber Rattlers. He was 1-for-3 with a walk last night. The 24th round pick of the Brewers in the 2009 draft is 8-for-26 (.308) on the season.
CAIN WATCH: The Milwaukee Brewers sent outfielder Lorenzo Cain to the Rattlers to work his way back from injury. Last night, Cain was 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He is 3-for-9 with four walks and a run scored in two games with the Rattlers.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Burlington Bees are the Midwest League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are the defending Midwest League Champions. The Bees went 29-41 and finished seventh in the eight team Western Division. Burlington is off to a 5-6 start in the second half. It’s early, but they are tied with Clinton for the wildcard spot. Both teams are two games behind the 7-4 Timber Rattlers.
SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Bees have each won five games out of the ten contests between the teams this season. Burlington took two out of three from the Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field May 5-7. The teams split a four game series at Community Field June 14-17. Wisconsin comes back to Burlington August 24 through 27. The Bees do play at Time Warner Cable Field in the second half of the season.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .245 as a team. They have scored 342 runs (4.2/game) and hit 40 home runs. The Bees are hitting .245 as a team. They have scored 351 runs (4.3/game) and hit 31 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 3.95 while allowing a total of 364 runs (4.5/game). Burlington pitchers have a team ERA of 4.05 while allowing 398 runs (4.9/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 97 errors. The Bees defense has committed 100 errors. Wisconsin is 15-22 on the road this season. Burlington is 14-28 at home this season.
BURLINGTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Mike Lehmann was a 20th round pick of the Royals in the 2007 draft out of Pearl River High School in Carriere, Mississippi where he was a two time all-state selection. Lehmann spent his first season of pro ball in the Arizona League and went 5-1 with a save and a 2.61ERA in 14 games (one start). Last year, Lehmann pitched for the Burlington (NC) Royals of the Appalachian League and was 4-4 with a 3.43ERA in 13 games (nine starts). In 2009, Lehmann joined the Bees in mid-May and is 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in nine games (seven starts). In his start prior to this evening, Lehmann beat Quad Cities on July 2. He pitched six scoreless innings and gave up three hits without a walk or a strikeout. Lehmann faced the Timber Rattlers, on June 17. He was not involved in the decision, but allowed two runs on four hits over five innings. Lehmann walked one and struck out four in the game, an 8-6 Burlington win.
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