ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Timber Rattlers won the conclusion of the game that was suspended on Sunday by a 6-5 score. The Kernels won the regularly scheduled game 13-5 in seven innings.
GAME ONE RECAP: Chris Dennis went 4-for-4, homered, and drove in three runs to pace the Rattlers come from behind victory. Efrain Nieves pitched 4-2/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Jon Pokorny allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but escaped for his fifth save in five opportunities.
GAME TWO RECAP: The Kernels scored in every inning except the sixth on the way to the win. They were up 8-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning. The Rattlers scored four times in the fifth, but Cedar Rapids put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the fifth.
DENNIS THE MENACE: Dennis became the first Timber Rattler other than Khris Davis to collect four hits in a game this season. Dennis doubled twice, hit his tenth home run of the season, and now has 52 RBI on the season. He is second in the league in RBI.
COMEBACK: The Rattlers trailed 4-3 after the suspension on Sunday. Dennis’ homer in the sixth inning tied the game. He would double in the go-ahead run and score an insurance run in the top of the eighth. This marks just the second time in 27 games that the Rattlers have won a game when trailing heading to the ninth inning.
STILL SCOOTING: Scooter Gennett is on an 11-game hitting streak. He had double on Sunday and a pair of hits in the regularly scheduled game. Gennett had a 13-game hitting streak earlier this season.
DRIVE FOR FIVE: Casey Haerther of Cedar Rapids leads the MWL in RBI with 53. He drove in five of the 13 Cedar Rapids runs in their win yesterday.
PRIZE TROUT: Kernels outfielder Mike Trout went 4-for-8 in the first two games of this series. He is 23-for-52 (.442) in 12 games against the Rattlers in 2010. He has also been successful in 12 of 13 stolen base attempts against Wisconsin.
MAKE A NOTE: When the Rattlers beat the Kernels 6-5, it was their fourth win in a game decided by a single run. Wisconsin is 4-22 in 26 one-run games this season.
MAKE ANOTHER NOTE: Caleb Thielbar is the only member of the Timber Rattlers bullpen who did NOT pitch yesterday.
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. In 2010, the Kernels won the first half Western Division with a record of 43-25. They are off to a 6-5 start in the second half.
2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers are 3-9 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. The Kernels swept a four game series from the Rattlers at Perfect Game Field from May 28-31. The teams will meet again August 14-16 at Time Warner Cable Field and August 21-24 at Perfect game Field.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .250 as a team. They have scored 379 runs (4.8/game) and hit 44 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .270 as a team. They have scored 436 runs (5.5/game) and hit 41 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.46 while allowing a total of 399 runs (5.1/game) this season. Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.68 while allowing runs (4.2/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 116 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 84 errors. Wisconsin is 14-24 in road games this season. Cedar Rapids is 28-20 at Perfect Game Field in 2010.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Stephen Locke was a 22nd round pick of the Angels in the 2009 draft. He pitched college baseball for Florida and was 5-2 with a 4.32ERA in 12 starts for the Gators in his senior season. He pitched in 15 games for Orem, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Angels, after signing as a professional. Locke was 6-4 with a 4.02ERA in 14 starts. Locke walked 11 and struck out 46 in 69-1/3 innings with the Owlz. In his start prior to this evening, Locke lost to Clinton on July 1. He allowed five runs on nine hits, walked three, and struck out three over 6-1/3 innings. Locke faced the Timber Rattlers at Perfect Game Field on May 30 and had a no decision. In that game, Wisconsin got to him for four runs on 10 hits over six innings. Locke struck out four and walked none in what would be a 5-4 Cedar Rapids victory.
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