ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers were trailing the Burlington Bees 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning. That’s when it began raining too hard for the game to continue. There was a one hour delay before the game was called. There will not be a make up date because last night was the final scheduled meeting of the season between the Rattlers and the Bees.
WHEW: Daniel Meadows was the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers and he allowed four runs on seven hits with a pair of walks. Because of the rainout, those stats are wiped out.
WHEW #2: Burlington’s starting pitcher, Ivor Hodgson, had faced the minimum through 3-2/3 innings without allowing a hit. He had walked a batter to start the second inning, but an inning-ending double play ended the frame.
FIRST ONE: Last night was the first time the Rattlers have lost a game to the weather this season. Wisconsin had been on pace to play all 140 games on the schedule this season.
THAT’S A WRAP: The Bees won the season series from the Timber Rattlers. Wisconsin was 5-9 against Burlington this season, including 4-7 at Community Field.
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING: In other Midwest League Western Division action last night, Clinton’s doubleheader at Cedar Rapids was rained out; Peoria beat Quad Cities; and Beloit beat Kane County. Peoria’s win combined with Clinton’s rain out clinched a playoff spot for the Chiefs. The current Western Division Wild Card standings after last night:
CLUB..W...L...PCT..GB
BUR..30..29...508..--
CLN..25..32...439..4.0
QC...25..34...424..5.0
BEL..25..35...417..5.5
WIS..23..36...390..7.0
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Kane County is in the Midwest League playoffs as the first half champions of the Midwest League’s Western Division. The Cougars won the first half with a record of 41-29, one game ahead of Cedar Rapids and Clinton. They are 28-32 in the second half to give them an overall record of 69-61. Kane County is coming into this series after winning three of four from the Beloit Snappers in a home series.
SEASON SERIES: The Timber Rattlers are 6-9 against Kane County in 2009. Wisconsin is 3-4 against the Cougars at Elfstrom Stadium.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .238 as a team. They have scored 516 runs (4.0/game) and hit 59 home runs. The Cougars are hitting .243 as a team. They have scored 556 runs (4.3/game) and hit 78 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.30 while allowing a total of 635 runs (4.9/game). Kane County pitchers have a team ERA of 3.71 while allowing 554 runs (4.3/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 152 errors. The Cougars defense has committed 161 errors. Wisconsin is 20-41 on the road this season. Kane County is 36-27 at home this season.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed no current members of the Kane County roster on its list of top 30 prospects in the Oakland organization before the 2009 season.
OUT OF THE DRAFT 2009: The Cougars have six members of the 2009 Oakland draft class on their current roster. Infielder Steve Parker (5th) is the highest pick with Kane County. Others include: infielders Mike Spina (11th) and Connor Crumbliss (28th) and pitchers Murphy Smith (13th), Paul Smyth (35th), and AJ Huttenlocker (44th).
ALL-STARS: Kane County had seven players make the Western Division squad for the 2009 Midwest League All-Star game and five of those players were in the starting lineup. Steve Kleen (1B), Jason Christian (3B), Dusty Coleman (SS), Jeremy Barfield (DH), and Kenny Smalley (SP) made up a half of the starters for the West. Pitchers Shawn Haviland and Jamie Richmond were also 2009 MWL All-Stars. Of those seven players, only Barfield, Haviland, and Smalley are still on the active Kane County roster.
KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: LHP Anvioris Ramirez was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic by the Athletics in 2005. Before joining the Cougars this season, Ramirez pitched in six games (three starts) for the Arizona League affiliate of the Athletics. He was 1-1 with a 4.56ERA. Since joining Kane County in late July, Ramirez has gone 4-2 with a 2.98ERA in six starts, including wins in his last three starts. In his outing before tonight, Ramirez tossed six scoreless innings and allowed six hits at Beloit on August 23. He walked one and struck out three in that game. Tonight is the first time Ramirez will face the Timber Rattlers. It is also the first time he will face an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
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