ABOUT SUNDAY: The Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 5-4. Wisconsin had a 4-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning. But, the Kernels scored one in the fourth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh. The loss was the fourth straight for the Rattlers.
BIG JAKE: Wisconsin starter Jake Odorizzi allowed two runs on five hits and struck out eight over six innings. Odorizzi has 60 strikeouts in 46-2/3 innings this season. He is tied for second in the Midwest League in strikeouts with Trevor Feeney of West Michigan.
DENNIS GOES DEEP: Chris Dennis hit a three run homer in the top of the fourth. It was his team-leading sixth homer of the season. He also took over the team lead in RBI with 29.
KERNELS: Wisconsin had a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Then, the first three Cedar Rapids hitters walked to load the bases. An error allowed one run to score. Mike Trout followed with a two-run single to put the Kernels in front 5-4.
NEMESIS: Mike Trout doubled singled, and drove in two runs. He is 17-for-4 (.425) with five RBI in nine games against the Rattlers this season.
NEMESIS PART II: The Kernels have beaten Wisconsin six straight times and are 7-2 against the Rattlers. They have edged the Rattlers by one run four times. Wisconsin has had the lead in the game five times in the seven losses to the Kernels. Four of those times Wisconsin had lead the Kernels in the in the seventh inning or later.
SCOOTING ALONG: Rattlers second baseman Scooter Gennett went 3-for-5 yesterday. Yesterday was his twentieth multi-hit game this season. Gennett is hitting .347 and is third in the Midwest League in the batting race.
SPEED: The Kernels did not attempt a stolen base yesterday. In nine games against the Rattlers this season, Cedar Rapids is 27-for-30 in stolen base attempts.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2009, the Kernels went 72-66 and made the playoffs. Cedar Rapids was 40-30 in the first half and won the Western Division Wild Card. They swept Peoria in the first round of the playoffs, but lost in three games in the Western Division Championship Series to Burlington. The Kernels are 32-18 and in first place in the Western Division in 2010. They lead second place Quad Cities by two games. In their most recent series, Cedar Rapids took two out of three games at Peoria. The Kernels are 12-1 in their last 13 games.
2009 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 5-10 against the Kernels in 2009. The Rattlers were 4-4 against the Kernels on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium last season.
2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 2-7 against the Kernels this season. Wisconsin beat Cedar Rapids two out of three times in a series at Time Warner Cable Field April 20-22. The Kernels swept a three-game series May 7-9 from the Rattlers. The May 7 game was played at Miller Park. The final two games of the series were at Time Warner Cable Field.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .252 as a team. They have scored 239 runs (4.8/game) and hit 23 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .255 as a team. They have scored 269 runs (5.4/game) and hit 30 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.47 while allowing a total of 255 runs (5.1/game) this season. Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.51 while allowing 205 runs (4.1/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 85 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 54 errors. Wisconsin is 6-15 in road games this season. Cedar Rapids is 17-4 on Perfect Game Field this season.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Garrett Richards was selected out of Oklahoma as a junior with the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 draft. Richards was 9-4 with a 6.00ERA and struck out 85 over 75 innings. In his first pro season, Richards was 3-1 with a 1.53ERA and 30 strikeouts in 35-1/3 innings over eight starts with Orem. In his start prior to today, Richards beat Peoria at O’Brien Field. He allowed one unearned run on two hits over six innings. On May 9, at Time Warner Cable Field, Richards pitched a 9-inning complete game against the Rattlers. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out 10 with three walks. Richards is rated as the #5 prospect in the Angels organization by Baseball America.
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