August 12, 2009: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers lost 3-2 to the Kernels. Tyler Chatwood pitched six scoreless innings and struck out six for the win.

THAT WAS INTERESTING: The Kernels scored two runs in the second inning and the ball didn’t leave the infield. There were two bunt singles, two hit batsmen, an infield single and a 6-4-3 double play that accounted for the Cedar Rapids runs.

DIDN’T SEEM LIKE MUCH AT THE TIME: The Kernels scored a run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Roberto Lopez singled and stole second. Beau Brooks, who had three hits in the game, followed with an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN LINN COUNTY: In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rattlers pitcher Liam Ohlmann got Jon Townsend to foul of a 1-2 pitch. As the ball went out of play, a bank of lights providing illumination to the home plate area went dark. Play was halted for 1:19 until play resumed. Nick Tyson relieved Ohlmann after the long layoff and struck out Townsend.

TURN IT ON: The Rattlers offense got going in the top of the seventh inning against reliever Reyes Dorado. Erik Miller doubled with one out, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored Wisconsin’s first run of the game on a throwing error. After a walk to Kyle Dhanani, Jose Duran doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. Sean McCraw grounded out to first and Dhanani scored from third.

TURN IT OFF: After Dorado got the final out of the seventh, Andrew Taylor pitched two scoreless innings out of the Kernels bullpen to end the game and pick up his fifth save.

CLOSER: Last night was the fourth game decided by one run in the last six for the Timber Rattlers. Wisconsin is 1-3 in those games. In 2009, the Timber Rattlers are 17-12 in one-run games.

MAKING MOVES: The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that right-handed pitcher Corey Frerichs has been promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He had been on a rehab assignment in the Arizona League. Frerichs was a 30th round pick of the Brewers in the 2007 draft out of Temple Junior College in Texas. He pitched for the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League last year and was 6-9 with 10 saves and an ERA of 2.82 in 40 relief appearances.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels at the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Cedar Rapids is in the Midwest League Playoffs as the first half wild card in the Western Division. They finished the first half with a record of 40-30. In the second half, the Kernels are 25-20. The Kernels entered the series with the Timber Rattlers off a five-game series with the Beloit Snappers in Cedar Rapids. The Kernels went 2-3 as Beloit won the final three games of the set.

SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 2-7 in nine games against the Kernels this season. The Rattlers went 1-3 against Cedar Rapids at Perfect Game Field May 12-15. Wisconsin was 1-3 against the Kernels at Time Warner Cable Field June 2-5.

GET FAMILIAR WITH THESE GUYS: Beginning yesterday, the Timber Rattlers and Kernels will play 11 games over the final 27 games of the season.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .237 as a team. They have scored 445 runs (3.9/game) and hit 53 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .252 as a team. They have scored 540 runs (4.7/game) and hit 51 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.32 while allowing a total of 566 runs (4.9/game). Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.71 while allowing 478 runs (4.2/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 129 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 108 errors. Wisconsin is 17-37 on the road this season. Cedar Rapids is 35-22 at Perfect Game Field in 2009.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Manaurys Correa was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. Last season, Correa pitched for the Arizona League affiliate of the Angels and the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. He was 7-1 in 15 games (12 starts) overall in 2008. He struck out 67 batters in 57-2/3 innings for the Mesa Angels. Correa is 6-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 22 starts for the Kernels this season. He has lost his last two decisions. In his start before tonight, Correa allowed six runs on 12 hits over six innings at Beloit on August 7 and got a no decision. Correa has made one start against the Timber Rattlers in 2009. On June 3 at Time Warner Cable Field, Correa allowed one run on four hits over eight innings and got the win. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. Correa has pitched two complete games and has tossed a 9-inning shutout this season. He leads the Midwest League in innings pitched with 129. Correa has also allowed 16 home runs this season, the most given up by a Midwest League pitcher this season.