7/25/2010

July 25, 2010: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Saturday’s game between the Timber Rattlers and the South Bend Silver Hawks was postponed by wet grounds. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Monday evening.

LAST ACTION: The Timber Rattlers split a pair of games at West Michigan on July 23. Wisconsin won the conclusion of a suspended game from July 22 by a final of 3-2. West Michigan took the regularly scheduled game by a score of 14-8.

GAME ONE RECAP: The Rattlers had a 2-0 lead back on Thursday when the Whitecaps loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Then, rain and severe weather halted the game until Friday. When the game resumed, Santo Manzanillo allowed just one run to score. Chris Dennis homered in the top of the sixth and the Whitecaps got another run in the bottom of the sixth. Manzanillo, Caleb Thielbar, and Jon Pokorny worked the final three innings to preserve the win.

GAME TWO RECAP: The Whitecaps scored a pair of runs in the second inning. In the bottom of the third, the first nine men reached base and seven of them scored as West Michigan took a 9-0 lead. The Rattlers would get a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, but the Whitecaps scored twice in the fourth and three more times in the fifth to take a 14-2 lead.

WELCOME BACK: Joey Paciorek went 4-for-8 with a pair of RBI in the final two games of the series at West Michigan. Those were his first two starts as a Rattler since April 28, just before he went on the disabled list.

FINISH THEM: Pokorny struck out three and walked one in the ninth inning of the suspended game for his ninth save of the season.

ONE RUN: The 3-2 victory for the Timber Rattlers was moved the Rattlers to 3-12 in road games decided by one run. Wisconsin is 7-24 in one run games overall this season.

TEN RUNS: The 14-8 loss was the twelfth time the Rattlers have allowed ten or more runs in a game this season.

THE ROAD EAST: The Rattlers continue their stretch of twelve straight games against the Eastern Division with these three games in South Bend. The Rattlers are 8-13 against the Eastern Division this season: 3-9 at home and 5-4 on the road.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The South Bend Silver Hawks are the Midwest League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They enter this series with a 40-54 record. They are 10-16 in the second half of the season. The Silver Hawks missed out on an Eastern Division playoff spot in the first half.

2009 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Silver Hawks played six games in 2009. The teams split the six games. Wisconsin went 1-2 at Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium in a three game series from May 8-10. The Rattlers took two out of three games at Time Warner Cable Field from July 11-13.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .255 as a team. They have scored 455 runs (4.8/game) and hit 53 home runs. The Silver Hawks are hitting .243 as a team. They have scored 349 runs (3.7/game) and hit 46 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.51 while allowing a total of 482 runs (5.1/game) this season. South Bend pitchers have a team ERA of 4.20 while allowing a total of 463 runs (4.9/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 135 errors. The Silver Hawks defense has committed 109 errors. Wisconsin is 17-28 in road games this season. South Bend is 22-23 at home in 2010.

PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook placed six players on the current South Bend roster on their list of Top 30 prospects in the Arizona system before the 2010 season. Infielder Bobby Borchering, the 16th overall pick in the 2009 draft, is the highest rated player on the list at #2. Picher Mike Belfiore (#6) and infielder Matt Davidson (#10) are also in the top 10. Outfielder Keon Broxton (#17), infielder David Nick (#19), and infielder Matt Helm (#20) are on the list. Infielder Chris Owings is #5 on the list, but is currently on the Silver Hawks disabled list.

SOUTH BEND STARTING PITCHER: RHP Adam Worthington was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 15th round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Illinois-Chicago. Worthington went 4-5 with a 3.48ERA in 15 games (13 starts) for the Flames and was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year. In his first professional season, Worthington made 19 appearances (all in relief) for the Missoula Osprey, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Diamondbacks. He went 5-4 with a pair of saves and a 1.82ERA for the Osprey. In 2010, Worthington has made 11 appearances (all in relief) for the Silver Hawks. He is 3-1 with a 1.17ERA. Today’s start against the Timber Rattlers is both the first time Worthington is facing Wisconsin and his first start as professional. Worthington picked up a win with three scoreless and hitless innings of relief work at Clinton on July 19. Worthington faced Helena, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, four times in 2010. He went 0-2 with a 2.57ERA in those four games. Worthington allowed six runs (two earned) on six hits over seven innings with three walks and nine strikeouts. Cameron Garfield hit a home run off Worthington on July 28.

No comments:

Site Meter