8/15/2010

August 15, 2010: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers beat Cedar Rapids 6-5 in 11 innings. Hunter Morris drove in two runs with a two out double in the bottom of the eleventh inning to send the Rattlers to the victory. Wisconsin has won three straight games and five of their last six.

NIGHT OF THE HUNTER: Before the game-winning hit, Morris was 1-for-5 with four strikeouts.

EARLY ACTION: Wisconsin trailed 3-0 when they scored three times in the fifth and once in the sixth. The Kernels tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the eighth inning.

DEFLATING: The Kernels scored the go ahead run on a wild pitch as Adrian Rosario tried to intentionally walk Matt Long with runners at second and third with one out in the top of the eleventh.

ADDIDING TO THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: There were two out and none on in the bottom of the eleventh. Then, the Rattlers started their game winning rally. Kentrail Davis singled. Khris Davis fouled of a pair of 3-2 pitches from David Carpenter before drawing a walk. Morris fell behind 0-2 in the count before driving the next pitch to the gap in right-center.

NO NEED TO NOTE IT ANYMORE: The victory last night was the first extra innings win for the Rattlers in 2010. They had been 0-10, including 0-2 against the Kernels and 0-7 at Time Warner Cable Field, before the win last night. Wisconsin lost their last three extra-innings games of 2009 to make their losing streak in overtime 13 games. The previous Rattlers win in extra innings was on July 24 when they beat Dayton 5-4 in 11 innings.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: Rattlers third baseman Cutter Dykstra went 3-for-6 with three doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Two of the three outs made by Dykstra were on diving catches by Long in center and Randal Grichuk in right. Grichuk also made a sliding catch in foul territory to retire Dykstra. Dykstra was the leadoff batter in six innings last night.

A NOTE ABOUT ATTENDANCE: There were 5,457 fans at the game last night. Dating back to the last homestand, the Rattlers have drawn three straight crowds of over 5,000 to Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin has pulled in 5,000 or more in five of their last eight home games.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They finished the first half with a record of 43-25 and won the first half Western Division. The Kernels are currently 27-20 in the second half of the season to give them an overall record of 70-45.

2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Kernels have played 14 games this season. The Rattlers are 4-10 against Cedar Rapids. The Rattlers are 3-4 at home against the Kernels, including 0-1 in a game at Miller Park. 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 in Wisconsin. 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. Wisconsin went 1-2 in a three game set at Cedar Rapids July 4-6

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .253 as a team. They have scored 538 runs (4.6/game) and hit 66 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .277 as a team. They have scored 632 runs (5.5/game) and hit 72 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.50 while allowing a total of 587 runs (5.1/game) this season. Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.75 while allowing a total of 485 runs (4.2/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 158 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 114 errors. Wisconsin is 26-32 at home this season. Cedar Rapids is 31-27 on the road in 2010.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Ariel Pena was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Angels in 2007. Last season, he was 5-4 in 14 games (six starts) for the Arizona League Angels. Pena had an ERA of 3.83 and struck out 47 while walking 15 over 49-1/3 innings pitched. He joined the Kernels after making three appearances for Rancho Cucamonga, the Angels California League affiliate, to start the season. Pena was 0-1 with an 8.71 ERA for the Quakes. Pena is 6-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 14 starts for the Kernels. In his last start he beat Beloit on August 10 by allowing one run on five hits over seven innings with four walks and three strikeouts. Pena made his Midwest League debut against the Rattlers on May 28 in Cedar Rapids. He allowed a run on two hits with three walks, a hit batsman, and five strikeouts over six innings. Pena was not involved in the decision in that game.

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