ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers started the second half with 9-3 win over the Burlington Bees. Khris Davis homered, doubled, and drove in a pair of runs to pace Wisconsin’s 12-hit attack. Kyle Heckathorn pitched six innings, allowed three runs, and scattered eight hits for the win.
FIRST STRIKE: Davis, who won the Midwest League Home Run Derby on June 21, homered in his first at bat in the second half. Davis drove a 3-1 pitch to the Home Run Porch in right field to start the Rattlers half of the second inning. The home run was the ninth of the season for Davis. Wisconsin tacked on another run in the inning on the first Burlington error.
HICCUP: All three of the runs that Heckathorn allowed happened with two outs in the top of the third inning. Wil Myers drove in a run with a single. Joey Lewis followed with a two-run single and the Bees were up 3-2.
BACK IN FRONT: Burlington committed four errors in the top of the fourth inning to allow the Rattlers to retake the lead by scoring two runs for a 4-3 lead. The Rattlers added four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Marseco doubled in a pair of runs in the sixth. D’Vontrey Richardson and Davis also knocked in runs in the frame.
MR. CONSISTENCY: Heckathorn has made a quality start (6IP, with three or fewer earned runs) in his last eight starts. He is 5-1 with an ERA of 1.56 in those eight starts.
JUST ABOUT READY: Rattlers reliever Jeremy Jeffress tossed two more scoreless, hitless innings last night. He added four more strikeouts. In his four outings with the Rattlers, Jeffress has pitched six innings, walked two, and struck out 12 without allowing a hit or a run.
REVERSING A TREND: The Timber Rattlers won their second straight second half opener with the victory last night. Prior winning last season’s second half opener, the Rattlers had lost every second half opening game from 2003-2008.
2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers lead the season series with the Bees 5-3. Burlington won two out of three from the Timber Rattlers at Community Field April 14-16. Burlington won 8-6 and 11-4 in the first two games of the series. Wisconsin won 9-0 in the series finale. The Rattlers went 3-1 against the Bees in a four game series at Time Warner Cable Field from May 21-24.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .248 as a team. They have scored 324 runs (4.7/game) and hit 32 home runs. The Bees are hitting .237 as a team. They have scored 294 runs (4.2/game) and hit 35 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.34 while allowing a total of 337 runs (4.9/game) this season. Burlington pitchers have a team ERA of 5.21 while allowing 416 runs (5.9/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 108 errors. The Bees defense has committed 98 errors. Wisconsin is 14-22 at home this season. Burlington is 12-24 away from home this season.
BURLINGTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Keaton Hayenga was selected in the 31st round of the 2007 draft out of Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington. Hayenga did not pitch professionally until 2009 due to a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder during his senior season. He turned down a basketball scholarship to Washington State to play baseball. Hayenga made his professional debut in 2009 with the Burlington (NC) Royals of the Appalachian League. He went 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 13 starts. In his start prior to this evening, Hayenga lost at Cedar Rapids on June 19. He faced seven batters and did not retire any of them. Hayenga allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits and three walks. The Rattlers beat Hayenga on May 23 at Time Warner Cable Field. They got to him for seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and three walks over 4-1/3 innings. Hayenga, Baseball America’s #23 rated prospect in the Kansas City organization, struck out four in that game. Hayenga has lost five straight decisions.
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