ABOUT SUNDAY: The Rattlers beat the Kernels 10-7. Hunter Morris hit a pair of homers and drove in five runs for Wisconsin. Jon Pokorny struck out the side in the top of the ninth to nail down the Rattlers fourth straight win and pick up his fifteenth save of the season.
QUICK ANSWER: The Kernels scored a run in the first. Cutter Dykstra led off the bottom of the first with a walk and a stolen base. Kentrail Davis followed with an RBI single to tie the game. One out later, Morris hit his first home run of the game and the Rattlers were up 3-1.
RBI IN STOCK: Catcher Austin Stockfisch had an RBI double in the second and an RBI single in the third to get Wisconsin a 5-1 lead.
NEVER EASY: Cedar Rapids had two out and none on in the top of the fifth and proceeded to score three runs on three hits and two walks to pull to within 5-4.
TRADE YA: The Rattlers scored a run in the bottom of the fifth and the Kernels got a run in the top of the sixth to make the score 6-5 Wisconsin.
FAMILIAR CREW: Dykstra started the bottom of the sixth with a double. Davis followed with a triple. Khris Davis was hit by a pitch. Then, Morris drilled a 3-0 pitch to the Rattlers bullpen for a three-run homer and a 10-5 lead.
MULTI-HOMERS: Morris is the second Rattlers player to have a two-homer game this season. Khris Davis was the other Wisconsin hitter with a multi-homer game this season.
STREAKS: Dykstra extended his season-high hitting streak to nine games with a sixth inning double. Kentrail Davis made his season-high hitting streak eight games with his first inning single. Dykstra has another streak going, too. He has scored at least one run in five consecutive games.
HE BETTER BE IN THE DISCUSSION: Jon Pokorny should be a serious candidate for Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. The Rattlers closer saved four games last week. He pitched five innings without allowing a hit or a run and he struck out eight in those four games. Pokorny is 15-for-16 in save opportunities this season.
A NOTE ABOUT ATTENDANCE: There were 5,429 fans at the game yesterday. Dating back to the last homestand, the Rattlers have drawn four straight crowds of over 5,000 to Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin has pulled in 5,000 or more in six of their last nine 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 27-21 in the second half of the season to give them an overall record of 70-46.
2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Kernels have played 15 games this season. The Rattlers are 5-10 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. Today is the last game of this series. Wisconsin is at Cedar Rapids for a four game series August 21 through 24.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .253 as a team. They have scored 548 runs (4.7/game) and hit 68 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .278 as a team. They have scored 639 runs (5.5/game) and hit 72 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.52 while allowing a total of 594 runs (5.1/game) this season. Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 3.80 while allowing a total of 495 runs (4.3/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 158 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 115 errors. Wisconsin is 27-32 at home this season. Cedar Rapids is 31-28 on the road in 2010.
CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: LHP Max Russell was the fourth round pick of the Angels in the 2010 draft out of Florida Southern. In his final season with the Moccasins, Russell went 11-2 in 15 starts with a 4.15ERA and 109 strikeouts in 95-1/3 innings pitched. Russell started his professional career with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League and went 4-0 in seven games (six starts). He struck out 31 in 31-2/3 innings with the Owlz before joining the Kernels to start August. Russell is 1-2 in three starts with Cedar Rapids. In his start prior to this afternoon, Russell took the loss against Kane County on August 11 as he gave up two runs on seven hits over four innings. Today is Russell’s first appearance against the Timber Rattlers. He did make a start against Helena, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Brewers, on July 26. Russell got the win at home and allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts over five innings.
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