8/20/2010

August 20, 2010: Game Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Rattlers lost 5-3 to the Beloit Snappers. Beloit scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to erase a 3-2 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers lead. An RBI single by Danny Rams tied the game. A two-run double by Lance Ray snapped the 3-3 tie.

SNAPPERS IN FRONT: Beloit took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. James Beresford doubled with two outs to drive in two runs off Rattlers starter Hiram Burgos.

SHUTDOWN MODE: Burgos did not allow another runner past first base over the rest of his outing. Burgos went a total of eight innings, allowed five runs, walked none, and struck out nine.

AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT BURGOS: He picked Aaron Hicks off first base in the first inning. Burgos has picked two runners off since returning to the Rattlers. Those are the most pickoffs by a right-hander on the Wisconsin pitching staff.

GARFIELD! Rattlers catcher Cameron Garfield drove in a three runs last night to put the Rattlers up 3-2. He knocked in his first run in the bottom of the fourth inning. He singled after Chris Dennis started the inning with a triple. In the seventh, Garfield went back to the plate with runners on second and third with two outs. He singled to send both runners home and the Rattlers were in front.

THAT WAS UNEXPECTED: Wisconsin closer Jon Pokorny allowed three runs on a walk and three straight hits in the top of the ninth to be charged with his third blown save of the season. Pokorny has blown to straight save opportunities.

@!#?@! The Rattlers were 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position last night. Wisconsin stranded at least one runner in scoring position in the first six innings and one more in the eighth. The only time the Rattlers were retired in order last night was in the bottom of the ninth.

IT MAY BE CLOSE: Rattlers shortstop Michael Marseco dropped a sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning last night. He leads the Midwest League in that category. The Midwest League record for sacrifice bunts is held by Richard Perez, who had 29 sacrifice bunts for the Peoria Chiefs in 1993.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Beloit Snappers are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Beloit missed the playoffs in the first half. They are 25-23 in the second half. Overall the Snappers have a 62-55 record. The Snappers are coming into the series with the Rattlers after dropping two out of three games at home to the Clinton LumberKings. The Snappers ended a two game losing streak last night and are 5-5 in their last ten games.

2010 SEASON SERIES: The Rattlers and Snappers have played 16 times this season. Wisconsin is 4-12 against Beloit. The Rattlers are 2-7 versus the Snappers at Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin dropped two games to the Snappers April 23-24 at home. Beloit took three out of four at Pohlman Field May 1-3. The Rattlers were 2-3 against the Snappers in five games in Grand Chute May 13-16. The Snappers took two of three from Wisconsin in Beloit July 7-9.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .255 as a team. They have scored 568 runs (4.7/game) and hit 69 home runs. The Snappers are hitting .250 as a team. They have scored 554 runs (4.7/game) and hit 68 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.65 while allowing a total of 623 runs (5.2/game) this season. Beloit pitchers have a team ERA of 4.07 while allowing a total of 555 runs (4.7/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 160 errors. The Snappers defense has committed 143 errors. Wisconsin is 27-35 at home this season. Beloit is 30-28 on the road in 2010.

BELOIT STARTING PITCHER: LHP Martire Garcia was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Twins in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic. In his minor league career heading into the 2010 season, Garcia had appeared in 38 games (36 starts) between the Dominican Summer League, the Gulf Coast League, and the Appalachian League. He was 14-7 with a 3.14 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 189-1/3 innings at those three levels in the Minnesota system. Last season, Garcia went 5-3 with a 4.42ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for the Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League. Garcia started his 2010 season with Elizabethton and he went 6-0 in eight starts with a 1.75ERA and 63 strikeouts in 46-1/3 innings. Since joining the Snappers, Garcia is 1-0 in two starts. In his start prior to this evening, Garcia picked up a win over Clinton. He allowed a run on six hits and struck out eight while walking three over 5-1/3 innings at Pohlman Field. Tonight is the first time Garcia is facing the Timber Rattlers. It is also the first time he is facing an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

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