5/20/2010

May 20, 2010: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Chiefs beat the Timber Rattlers 11-7. Peoria had a 6-1 lead after the top of the third inning. Wisconsin rallied to within 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth. But, the Chiefs pulled away with three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth.

REHABBING: Milwaukee Brewers’ outfielder Carlos Gomez went 1-for-3 in his rehabilitation start for the Rattlers yesterday. Gomez batted leadoff and played center for five innings. He singled in his first at bat and also stole second in the first inning. In his other two at bats, Gomez lined out to left and grounded out to third.

IT TOOK A MAJOR LEAGUER: Yesterday was the first time this season D’Vontrey Richardson did not lead off and play center for the Rattlers. He moved back to centerfield for the top of the sixth after Gomez left the game.

DENNIS WAS A MENACE AGAIN: Rattlers first baseman Chris Dennis went 3-for-5 with a homer, a stolen base, and four RBI last night. It was the second four RBI game for Dennis and his fifth homer of the season.

MIDDLE INFIELD STAYS HOT: Rattlers shortstop Michael Marseco and second baseman Scooter Gennett continued their hitting streaks yesterday. Marseco went 2-for-4 and is 9-for-20 during a six game hitting streak. Gennett went 1-for-5 with a double and has matched his season long hitting streak at eight games. Gennett is 12-for-35 during the current streak.

YEOMAN’S WORK: Rattlers reliever Jon Pokorny entered Wednesday’s game with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the third inning with the Rattlers trailing 5-1. Pokorny got a strikeout, a sacrifice fly, and a strikeout to minimize the damage. He would pitch three innings and strikeout four total to allow the Rattlers to make their comeback attempt. Pokorny has inherited 10 runners this season and has allowed just one to score.

OUCH! Designated hitter Pete Fatse was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. It was the fourth time this season he has been hit by a pitch. Fatse leads the Rattlers in that category. Only eight players in the Midwest League have been plunked more this season.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are 23-17 and in second place in the Western Division. The Chiefs are one game behind first place Beloit and just a ½ game ahead third place Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids. 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 with a 43-26 record. Peoria was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round courtesy of a sweep at the hands of the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 1-4 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. Today is the final meeting of the first half between these teams. The next time they face each other will be July 28-30 at O’Brien Field.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .258 as a team. They have scored 190 runs (4.9/game) and hit 17 home runs. The Chiefs are hitting .250 as a team. They have scored 176 runs (4.4/game) and hit 10 home runs. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.54 while allowing a total of 202 runs (5.2/game) this season. Peoria pitchers have a team ERA of 4.26 while allowing 197 runs (4.9/game). The Rattlers defense has committed 65 errors. The Chiefs defense has committed 52 errors. Wisconsin is 9-15 in home games this season. Peoria is 9-12 on the road this season.

PEORIA STARTING PITCHER: RHP Trey McNutt was a 32nd round pick of the Cubs in the 2009 draft out of Shelton State Community College in Alabama. He split time between the Arizona League Cubs and the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League. In his two stops in the Cubs’ system, McNutt went 3-1 with a .98 ERA over 13 games (six starts). He walked 15 and struck out 28 over 27-2/3 innings pitched. McNutt pitched six shutout innings with seven strikeouts for a win at Burlington on May 13 in his last start. McNutt faced the Rattlers at O’Brien Field on April 27 and allowed a run on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts over five innings for a no decision.

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