July 5, 2010: Game Notes

For the majority of the notes on last night, I will direct you to last night's post. A lot of that still holds. Same goes for the starting lineup...except where noted in the post below (See: GROUND RULES).

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The game between the Timber Rattlers and the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Kernels were at the plate with runners at second and third with one out when a sudden rain squall hit the stadium. The tarp could not be placed entirely over the field and the game was eventually suspended after a rain delay of over an hour.

THE ACTION SO FAR: The Timber Rattlers scored three runs on five hits off Garrett Richards in the first inning. Hunter Morris drove in a pair with a double. Later in the inning, Chris Dennis knocked in a run with a double. But, the Kernels came back against Rattlers starting pitcher Maverick Lasker. Matt Long homered in the bottom of the third. Cedar Rapids scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth off Lasker on a hit batsman, a triple, a sacrifice fly, a double, a walk, and an RBI single.

A RARITY: The home run by Long off Lasker was the first given up by the Rattlers right-hander in 67 innings this season.

GROUND RULES: The game from last night will be picked up where it left off at the suspension of play. The Kernels will have runners at second and third with one out. Jean Segura will be at the plate with a 1-1 count. Efrain Nieves is going to come on in relief for Lasker on the restart. The Kernels have not named their reliever yet, but it is believed that Tyler Skaggs will be on to pitch the top of the fifth.

STILL SCOOTING: Scooter Gennett had a double in the first inning of the suspended game. The stats from the suspended game will not be official until the game is final, but that was double number 27 on the season for Gennett and would make him the leader in the Midwest League in that Category. That double also – when the game is official – will extends Gennett’s current hitting streak to 10 games. This will be his second hitting streak to reach double digits. He had a 13-game hitting streak earlier this season.

HALF CENTURY: Also not official yet, the RBI double by Dennis in the first inning gave him 50 RBI. He leads the team in that category.

HABIT FORMING: Last night was the third time a Timber Rattlers game has been suspended this season. A May 4 game against Quad Cities and a June 5 game at Lake County were also suspended.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER (GAME TWO): LHP Tyler Kehrer was a supplemental first round pick (48th overall) in the 2009 draft out of Eastern Illinois University. He went 3-3 with a 4.75ERA and 57 strikeouts over 55 innings in 14 starts for the Orem Owlz in 2009. In his appearance prior to this evening, Kehrer pitched three scoreless innings of relief at Beloit on June 30. In his last start prior to this evening, Kehrer took the loss at Peoria on June 25. He allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings to the Chiefs. Kehrer has made three appearances (one start) against Wisconsin this season. He is 1-1 with a save in those three games versus the Rattlers. Kehrer has allowed nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits with ten walks and eight strikeouts over 12-2/3 innings pitched against Wisconsin in 2010.