August 22, 2010: Today's Starting Pitcher (UPDATED)

The original post had the Nick Bucci information for today's start.  HOWEVER, Bucci was scratched last night and we just got the word about that fact 10 minutes ago.

Efrain Nieves is starting today for the Rattlers.

LHP EFRAIN NIEVES: Selected by Milwaukee in the 7th round of the 2007 draft out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

LAST SEASON: Nieves spent all of 2009 with the Timber Rattlers. He went 5-7 with a 5.70ERA in 27 appearances. Nieves made 11 starts for Wisconsin in 2009.

LAST START: Nieves made the start on August 15 against Cedar Rapids at Time Warner Cable Field.  He allowed four runs on six hits over 4-2/3 innings.  Nieves allowed one run through the first four innings and got the first two outs of the fifth.  However, he allowed the next five batters to reach base and could not get out of the inning to qualify for the win.  He walked two, hit a batter, struck out five, and was not involved in the decision.  The Rattlers would win the game 10-7.

WORLD CUP: Nieves pitched for Puerto Rico in the World Cup of Baseball after the 2009 regular season. He made three starts and was 1-1 with a 2.51 ERA. In 14.1 innings pitched, Nieves walked six and struck out 17.

VS. CUBA: Nieves got the call to be the starting pitcher against Cuba on September 18 during the World Cup. He allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts over 4-2/3 innings. Nieves was not involved in the decision, but Puerto Rico would win the game 5-2.

A PRODUCTIVE WINTER: Nieves pitched for Arecibo in the Puerto Rican Winter League after the World Cup. Nieves also went on to pitch for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series.

BREWERS CAREER: Nieves was 14-14 with a 5.08 ERA in his first three seasons as a pitcher in the Milwaukee minor league system. He has made 58 appearances (29 starts) since 2007 and has pitched.

INTO THE PAST: Nieves was the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week for his performance July 7-13, 2008 while pitching for Helena.

VS. CEDAR RAPIDS: Nieves has made five appearances (one start) against the Kernels in 2010. He is 2-0 with a 4.12 ERA versus Cedar Rapids. In 19-2/3 innings, he has allowed ten runs (nine earned) on 20 hits. Nieves has walked six and struck out 14 Kernels over those 19-2/3 innings.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:

INNINGS PITCHED: 8.0 (8/25/08 at Great Falls)

STRIKEOUTS: 9 (8/25/08 at Great Falls)

............2010 DAY-BY-DAY
DATE..OPP....DEC..IP..H R ER BB K ERA

4/10..KC*....Loss 3.2 2 5 2...4 1 4.91

4/15..@BUR*..Loss 3.0 8 8 6...3 3 10.80

4/21..CR.....Win..4.0 2 0 0...2 2 6.75

4/28..@PEO*.......5.0 3 0 0...3 5 4.60

5/3...@BEL........4.0 4 2 2...2 0 4.58

5/8...CR..........3.1 5 2 2...0 2 4.70

5/14+ BEL....Loss 1.0 2 1 1...1 1 4.88

5/20..PEO.........3.0 3 0 0...0 4 4.33

5/29..@CR.........3.0 6 4 3...1 3 4.80

6/3...@FW.........0.1 0 0 0...1 0 4.75

6/5...@LC.........4.0 6 3 3...4 2 4.98

6/12..DAY.........1.1 3 3 3...1 1 5.55

6/27..BUR.........2.0 1 1 1...1 0 5.50

6/30..QC.....Save 2.0 0 0 0...3 2 5.22

7/4...@CR....Win..4.2 1 0 0...1 3 4.67

7/10..BUR....Win..4.2 2 0 0...2 5 4.22

8/4...PEO.........1.0 1 0 0...0 2 4.14

8/7...@CLN........3.0 3 2 2...3 3 4.25

8/11..@QC.........2.1 3 1 1...2 4 4.23
8/15..CR*.........4.2 6 4 4...2 4 4.50

*-Start