ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Clinton defeated the Timber Rattlers 4-2 at Time Warner Cable Field. The LumberKings scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to grab a 3-2 lead. They would add a run in the top of the seventh.
MAVERICK! Rattlers starting pitcher Maverick Lasker allowed a first inning run on a pair of two-out hits. Lasker pitched four more innings without allowing a run and only giving up one more hit.
A BOLT OF LIGHTNING: Timber Rattlers right fielder Franklin Romero, Jr. hit a two-run homer that put the Rattlers up 2-1. Up to that point, the Rattlers had just two hits off Clinton starting pitcher Jimmy Gillheeney. Wisconsin has homered in two straight games.
GIVE IT AWAY NOW: The Timber Rattlers defense committed four errors in the top of the sixth inning to allow the LumberKings to retake the lead. Wisconsin reliever Kyle Heckathorn was charged with a pair of errors. Second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Chris Dennis committed the other two miscues.
SCOOTER’S START: Gennett extended his season opening hitting streak to six games with a third inning single. Gennett, who went 1-for-4 on Monday, is 9-for-23 (.391) during the season opening hit streak.
SCOOTER’S EARLY EXIT: Gennett was ejected by home plate umpire Asa Gaddy in the bottom of the eighth inning after disagreeing with a called third strike.
A WORD ABOUT THE DEFENSE: The Timber Rattlers committed four errors in the sixth inning on Tuesday. In the first six games, Wisconsin has been charged with 15 errors. In their three wins this season, Wisconsin has committed three errors. In their three losses, the Rattlers have been charged with 12 defensive miscues.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Burlington Bees are the Midwest League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are off to a 1-5 start this season. The Bees have lost four straight games, including being swept in the three game series at Kane County in their most recent series. In 2009, the Bees went 29-41 in the first half, but qualified for the playoffs with a 35-34 second half record to win the wild card. Burlington advanced to the Midwest League Championship Series, but lost in three games to Fort Wayne. The Bees have won two straight Western Division titles. They were the Midwest League Champions in 2008.
2009 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 5-9 against the Bees in 2009. The Rattlers were 4-7 in 11 games at Community Field last season. Burlington won the final five games of the ’09 season played between the teams.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .251 as a team. They have scored 28 runs (4.7/game) and hit 2 home runs. The Bees are hitting .208 as a team. They have scored 20 runs (3.3/game) and hit 3 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 3.24 while allowing a total of 28 runs (4.7/game) last season. Burlington pitchers have a team ERA of 4.36 while allowing 33 runs (5.5/game). The Timber Rattler defense committed 15 errors. The LumberKings defense has committed 12 errors. Wisconsin is playing its first road game of the season tonight. Burlington is 1-2 at Community Field this season.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed six members of the active Burlington roster as Top 30 Prospects in the Kansas City Royals organization. Pitcher John Lamb is the highest ranked at #7. Pitchers Tyler Sample (#14) and Kelvin Herrera (#18) are in the top 20. Catcher Jose Bonilla (#21), pitcher Matt Mitchell (#28), and outfielder Hilton Richardson (#30) round out BA’s list of Royals prospects.
BURLINGTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Kelvin Herrera was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. Herrera made just one appearance for the Bees in 2009 before an injury shut him down for the remainder of the season. His only appearance in ’09 was against the Timber Rattlers on May 6. In that game, Herrera pitched five shutout innings, allowed three hits, struck out one, and picked up the win. Herrera’s outing prior to this evening’s game was on April 9 at Community Field against the Quad Cities River Bandits. He allowed a run on three hits, walked four, and struck out six. Herrera was not involved in the decision in the game against the River Bandits. Herrera is rated as the #18 prospect in the Kansas City minor league system by Baseball America.
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