LAST ACTION: The Timber Rattlers beat the Beloit Snappers 3-1 on Sunday. Scooter Gennett drove in the go-ahead run as part of a three run Wisconsin rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. Maverick Lasker got the win with two innings of scoreless relief.
SMALL SETBACK: A throwing error in the top of the fourth inning allowed the Snappers to score an unearned run off Wisconsin starting pitcher Kyle Heckathorn. Heckathorn pitched six innings, allowed five hits, struck out three, and allowed that one unearned run in the game.
GOT HIM! D’Vontrey Richardson threw out Eric Liddle at the plate to end the top of the fourth. Liddle attempted to score on a flyball to center, but Richardson’s throw to the plate beat Liddle by a lot. Richardson leads all Midwest League outfielders in assists with six.
TIP OF THE CAP: Beloit starting pitcher Michael Tonkin pitched seven shutout innings. He kept the Rattlers hitless until Michael Marseco singled with one out in the sixth inning. Tonkin struck out six and did not walk a batter.
ANATOMY OF A RALLY: Marseco tripled with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning against Beloit reliever Ben Tootle. Erik Miller was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners. Richardson grounded into fielder’s choice that forced Miller at second to score Marseco with the tying run. Cutter Dykstra singled. Then, Gennett singled to drive in Richardson. A wild pitch let Dykstra score the final run of the frame.
SAVING THE DAY: Andre Lamontagne pitched a scoreless ninth, by pitching around a single and an error, for his third save of the season.
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: Dykstra made the start at third base on Sunday, the first time he has started at third as a professional. Dykstra handled two back-to-back grounders in the second inning; made a leaping grab of a line drive to save a run in the eighth inning, and started the game-ending 5-4-3 double play in the ninth.
HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT: Monday was the only scheduled off day for the Rattlers in May. Wisconsin does not have another off day on the schedule until June 7.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are 22-16 and in third place in the Western Division. The Chiefs are just a ½ game behind Quad Cities and Beloit, the teams tied for first place in the Western Division. In their most recent series, Peoria took three out of four games from the Burlington Bees at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa. Last year, the Chiefs went 81-57. They qualified for the playoffs as the second half Western Division Champions when they finished the second half at 43-26. Peoria was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round courtesy of a sweep at the hands of the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
FAMILIAR FACE: The Chiefs are managed by Casey Kopitzke. Kopitzke was a 27th round pick of the Cubs in the 1999 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Kopitzke, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin played in the Cubs organization from 1999-2006 and made it as high as Triple-A Iowa. Kopitzke played against the Timber Ratters when he was a member of the Lansing Lugnuts in 2000.
2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 0-3 against the Chiefs this season. Peoria swept a three game series from the Rattlers at O’Brien Field. The Chiefs beat the Rattlers 5-4, 4-2, and 8-7 April 27 through April 29.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .255 as a team. They have scored 169 runs (4.6/game) and hit 16 home runs. The Chiefs are hitting .252 as a team. They have scored 164 runs (4.3/game) and hit 10 home runs. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.57 while allowing a total of 190 runs (5.1/game) this season. Peoria pitchers have a team ERA of 4.04 while allowing 176 runs (4.6/game). The Rattlers defense has committed 62 errors. The Chiefs defense has committed 48 errors. Wisconsin is 8-14 in home games this season. Peoria is 8-11 on the road this season.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook placed four members of the current Peoria roster on their list of Top 30 Prospects in the Chicago Cubs organization before the 2010 season. Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee (#6) and second baseman Logan Watkins (#7) are both in the top ten. Pitchers Trey McNutt (#16) and Jeff Antigua (#19) are both on the list.
PEORIA STARTING PITCHER: RHP Rob Whitenack was an eighth round pick of the Cubs in the 2009 draft out of SUNY-Old Westbury. He was the first ever player drafted out of that State University of New York school. In 2009, he pitched for the Boise Hawks in the Northwest League and was 0-4 with a 4.80ERA in 15 games (12 starts). Whitenack’s start prior to this evening was a loss to Clinton on May 11 at O’Brien Field. He allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 12 hits over 4-2/3 innings pitched. Whitenack made a start against the Timber Rattlers on April 29 at O’Brien Field. He allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Whitenack was not involved in the decision as the Chiefs won 8-7.
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