Here is how the Rattlers have fared on May 5…since 2000
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 7-5 at Community Field. I was not at this game because the Green Bay Gamblers were hosting the Junior ‘A’ National Championships.
2001: The Rattlers lost 1-0 to Peoria at home. Chris Narveson outpitched Kevin Olore. Tim Lemon homered in the fifth inning for the Chiefs, that was one of three hits off Olore in his eight innings.
2002: Clinton won their third straight over the Rattlers with a 5-2 win. Renee Cortez allowed five runs (two earned) and took the loss. Greg Dobbs and Jason Rainey had the RBI for the Rattlers.
2003: The Rattlers lost 10-6 at Lansing. Felix Pie scored twice in the game for the Lugnuts. Matt Hagen had a three run homer for the Rattlers that tied the game 3-3 briefly. Very briefly.
2004: The Rattlers lost 9-8 to Beloit at home. Wisconsin led 5-4 heading to the seventh. Beloit scored three times in that inning and twice more in the eighth. The Rattlers did get the tying run to third base in the bottom of the ninth, but left him there.
2005: The Rattlers lost 6-3 at Southwest Michigan. The Devil Rays won their third straight over Wisconsin. The Rattlers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth and scored a run to get to within three. But, Jose de la Cruz got Josh Womack for the final out.
2006: The Rattlers won 8-6 at Cedar Rapids. Wisconsin scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth. Jairo Hernandez doubled in a run to break the tie. Edgar Guaramato worked a scoreless ninth for the save.
2007: The Rattlers won 3-2 at South Bend. Two near brawls in the top of the ninth marked this one. Gavin Dickey plowed into catcher Richard Mercado on a wild pitch, but was out, to get the tensions going. Greg Halman got hit by a pitch. Then, Carlos Triunfel got hit by another pitch. Andrew Barb gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth, but held on for the save.
A 3-5 record and some tough losses make May 5 a crummy day.
5/05/2008
Midwest League Action (Games of 5/4)
May 4 scoreboard.
@Great Lakes 4, Wisconsin 2: Home team. Road team.
@South Bend 2, Peoria 0: Shutout power!
@Dayton 2, Burlington 0: Pitching and a homer for the Dragons.
Cedar Rapids 4, @Fort Wayne 1: Wizards fizzle.
Clinton 11, @Kane County 4: Frustration.
@Lansing 4, Beloit 1: Home team. Road team.
@Great Lakes 4, Wisconsin 2: Home team. Road team.
@South Bend 2, Peoria 0: Shutout power!
@Dayton 2, Burlington 0: Pitching and a homer for the Dragons.
Cedar Rapids 4, @Fort Wayne 1: Wizards fizzle.
Clinton 11, @Kane County 4: Frustration.
After Clinton leadoff hitter Engel Beltre clubbed the third of four LumberKings’ home runs, Cougars reliever Chad Kerfoot hit Renny Osuna with a pitch and immediately was thrown out of the game. Cougars manager Aaron Nieckula stormed from the dugout to plead his pitcher’s case, but home plate umpire Philip Henry quickly sent him to the clubhouse, as well, where he waited out the final inning of an 11-4 loss.@West Michigan 4, Quad Cities 0: Home team. Road team.
@Lansing 4, Beloit 1: Home team. Road team.
Mariner System Report (Games of 5/4)
SEATTLE (MAJ: 13-18 T-3rd American League West): The Mariners lost 8-2 to the Yankees. Carlos Silva gave up eight runs on eleven hits in three innings as the Yankees erased an early 2-0 Seattle lead.
TACOMA (AAA: 15-14, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers beat Oklahoma 10-4. Bryan LaHair (’04) had three hits, two RBI, and a home run for Tacoma. Sean White (’07) gave up four runs (three earned) on ten hits over five innings for the win.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 20-10, T-1st Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx were off on Sunday.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 15-16, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 13-11 at Lake Elsinore. Carlos Triunfel (’07) had four hits – three doubles -- and an RBI for the Mavs. High Desert had an 11-5 lead, but the Storm scored two in the seventh and six in the eighth for the comeback win.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Texas (Kevin Millwood 2-2) at Seattle Jarrod Washburn (1-4) 9:10pm CDT
Oklahoma (Robinson Tejada 0-1) at Tacoma (Ryan Feierabend 3-1) 1:30pm CDT
Mississippi at West Tennessee 7:05pm CDT
High Desert – OFF DAY
TACOMA (AAA: 15-14, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers beat Oklahoma 10-4. Bryan LaHair (’04) had three hits, two RBI, and a home run for Tacoma. Sean White (’07) gave up four runs (three earned) on ten hits over five innings for the win.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 20-10, T-1st Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx were off on Sunday.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 15-16, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 13-11 at Lake Elsinore. Carlos Triunfel (’07) had four hits – three doubles -- and an RBI for the Mavs. High Desert had an 11-5 lead, but the Storm scored two in the seventh and six in the eighth for the comeback win.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Texas (Kevin Millwood 2-2) at Seattle Jarrod Washburn (1-4) 9:10pm CDT
Oklahoma (Robinson Tejada 0-1) at Tacoma (Ryan Feierabend 3-1) 1:30pm CDT
Mississippi at West Tennessee 7:05pm CDT
High Desert – OFF DAY
5/04/2008
Transaction
This one just came down today.
Gavin Dickey is off the disabled list and in the starting lineup today.
Michael Pineda has been transferred to the Everett Roster.
Gavin Dickey is off the disabled list and in the starting lineup today.
Michael Pineda has been transferred to the Everett Roster.
Today's Rattler Starter (5/4)
RH JUAN RAMIREZ: Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Nicaragua by Seattle in July 2005.
DOWN IN VENEZUELA: Ramirez made his professional debut pitching for the Aguirre in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2006. He went 5-1 with a 1.66ERA in 14 games (13 starts)
ON TO EVERETT: Ramirez made 15 starts for Seattle’s Northwest League affiliate in 2007. He was 3-7 with a 4.30 ERA for the AquaSox.
BREAKING A STREAK IN STYLE: Ramirez lost five straight decisions from July 16 through August 17 of last season. But, he won his next two starts with wins on August 22 and 27.
STINGY: Ramirez allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 of those fifteen starts.
LAST START: Ramirez pitched a career high seven innings and struck out a career high nine batters in a game against the West Michigan Whitecaps on April 28 on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. He also walked two and allowed five hits. Ramirez gave up three runs and left after the Rattlers tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. West Michigan beat the Rattlers 4-3.
LAST WIN: Ramirez won at Salem-Keizer for the Everett AquaSox on August 27, 2007. He gave up two runs on four hits over six innings with a walk and four strikeouts.
VS. GREAT LAKES: Ramirez has never faced the Loons.
VS. DODGERS: Ramirez has never faced an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHS
INNINGS PITCHED: 7.0 (4/28 vs. West Michigan)
STRIKEOUTS: 9 (4/28 vs. West Michigan)
DOWN IN VENEZUELA: Ramirez made his professional debut pitching for the Aguirre in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2006. He went 5-1 with a 1.66ERA in 14 games (13 starts)
ON TO EVERETT: Ramirez made 15 starts for Seattle’s Northwest League affiliate in 2007. He was 3-7 with a 4.30 ERA for the AquaSox.
BREAKING A STREAK IN STYLE: Ramirez lost five straight decisions from July 16 through August 17 of last season. But, he won his next two starts with wins on August 22 and 27.
STINGY: Ramirez allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 of those fifteen starts.
LAST START: Ramirez pitched a career high seven innings and struck out a career high nine batters in a game against the West Michigan Whitecaps on April 28 on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. He also walked two and allowed five hits. Ramirez gave up three runs and left after the Rattlers tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. West Michigan beat the Rattlers 4-3.
LAST WIN: Ramirez won at Salem-Keizer for the Everett AquaSox on August 27, 2007. He gave up two runs on four hits over six innings with a walk and four strikeouts.
VS. GREAT LAKES: Ramirez has never faced the Loons.
VS. DODGERS: Ramirez has never faced an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHS
INNINGS PITCHED: 7.0 (4/28 vs. West Michigan)
STRIKEOUTS: 9 (4/28 vs. West Michigan)
May 4 Game Notes
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Lansing Lugnuts 5-2. Michael Pineda pitched 5-1/3 scoreless innings and struck out a career high seven batters to pick up his third win of the season. The Rattlers scored three times in the fourth on an infield groundout by Ron Garth and a two-run double by Eddy Hernandez. Scott Robinson hit a two-run homer in the fifth to put the Rattlers up 5-0. Lansing did not score their runs until the bottom of the ninth inning.
THREE’S COMPANY: Pineda joins Donnie Hume as the second pitcher to go 3-0 this season. Hume is 3-0 as a starter. Pineda went 2-0 as a reliever. Yesterday was his first win as a starter with the Timber Rattlers.
WITH THE BENEFIT OF ONE HIT: The Rattlers scored three runs in the fourth inning on just one hit. Wisconsin loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batsman. Garth’s RBI grounder knocked in the first run. Hernandez followed with his double to left to plate two more runs and the Rattlers had a lead they would never give up.
POWER SURGE: Robinson’s homer in the fifth inning was a two-run shot that gave Wisconsin a 5-0 lead. The Rattlers hit a home run in each of the three games in the series at Lansing and now have six home runs in the season.
BAKER’S DOZEN: Edilio Colina doubled in the first inning last night. Colina now has a 13 game hitting streak (18-for-50, .360). This is the third longest active streak in the Midwest League. The two streaks in the league longer than Colina’s 13-gamer belong to Evan Frey of South Bend and Adrian Ortiz of Burlington. Frey’s hitting streak has reached 21 games (32-for-92, .348). Ortiz is at 15 games (25-for-64, .398) on his hitting streak.
TWO BAKER’S DOZENS: Maximo Mendez is 0-for-26 with a four walks since his last base hit. That hit was a single in the first inning against Beloit in the first game of a doubleheader on April 26.
*IT’S BEEN A WHILE: Records going back to the 2000 season, show that the Timber Rattlers had not won a series in Lansing before taking two out of three in the just completed series.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Great Lakes Loons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, the Loons were 57-82 in their inaugural Midwest League season. Great Lakes did not make the playoffs in 2007. Manager Juan Bustabad is in his first season at the helm of the Loons.
LOONS IN 2008: Great Lakes is 12-16 so far this season. In their most recent series, the Loons dropped two out of three games to the Beloit Snappers at Dow Diamond. When Great Lakes won the second game of the series with Beloit, they snapped a seven game losing streak. Great Lakes is in fifth place, 4.5 games behind the division leading West Michigan Whitecaps. The Loons are 4-8 at Dow Diamond this season.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .234 as a team and have scored 80 runs (3.2/game). Wisconsin has hit six homers this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.86. Great Lakes are hitting .213 and have scored 85 runs (3.0/game). The Loons have hit 16 home runs this season. Great Lakes’ pitching staff has an ERA of 4.02.
2007 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 4-4 in eight games against the Loons in 2007. The teams split a four game series at Down Diamond May 8-11. The teams also split a four game set on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium July 26-29.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook places six members of the current Great Lakes roster on their list of the top 30 prospects in the Dodger organization. Third baseman Pedro Baez (#10) is the highest rated player on the list. Pitcher Bryan Morris (#12) and outfielder Andrew Lambo (#14) are in the top 15. Pitcher Justin Miller (#22), infielder Preston Mattingly (#28), and pitcher Geison Aguasviva (#30) are also on the list.
OUT OF THE DRAFT: The Loons have six members of the 2007 Dodger draft class on their current roster. Pitchers Bobby Blevins (13th) and Justin Miller (6th); catcher Alex Garabedian (8th); infielders Parker Dalton (24th); and outfielders Erik Kanaby (10th) and Andrew Lambo (4th) are all Loons.
VETERANS: There are eight players on the current Great Lakes roster who spent at least part of the 2007 season with the Loons.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Preston Mattingly is the son of former New York Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly. Scott Van Slyke is the son of former major league outfielder Andy Van Slyke.
GREAT LAKES STARTING PITCHER: Kyle Smit was a fifth round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2006 draft out of Spanish Springs High School in Nevada. He split time between the Loons and the Gulf Coast League Dodgers during the 2007 season. Smit began his 2007 season in the Gulf Coast League. He went 4-0 in eight games (six starts) with a 2.82 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 38.1 innings pitched. Smit was promoted to Great Lakes in August. He went 0-5 with an 8.34ERA in five starts for the Loons at the end of last season. He walked 12 and struck out 26 over 22.2 innings pitched. Today is his first appearance against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. In his last start, Smit took the loss at Clinton on April 28. He gave up seven runs on nine hits over 4-1/3 innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
*Staind on a Sunday? You bet.
THREE’S COMPANY: Pineda joins Donnie Hume as the second pitcher to go 3-0 this season. Hume is 3-0 as a starter. Pineda went 2-0 as a reliever. Yesterday was his first win as a starter with the Timber Rattlers.
WITH THE BENEFIT OF ONE HIT: The Rattlers scored three runs in the fourth inning on just one hit. Wisconsin loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batsman. Garth’s RBI grounder knocked in the first run. Hernandez followed with his double to left to plate two more runs and the Rattlers had a lead they would never give up.
POWER SURGE: Robinson’s homer in the fifth inning was a two-run shot that gave Wisconsin a 5-0 lead. The Rattlers hit a home run in each of the three games in the series at Lansing and now have six home runs in the season.
BAKER’S DOZEN: Edilio Colina doubled in the first inning last night. Colina now has a 13 game hitting streak (18-for-50, .360). This is the third longest active streak in the Midwest League. The two streaks in the league longer than Colina’s 13-gamer belong to Evan Frey of South Bend and Adrian Ortiz of Burlington. Frey’s hitting streak has reached 21 games (32-for-92, .348). Ortiz is at 15 games (25-for-64, .398) on his hitting streak.
TWO BAKER’S DOZENS: Maximo Mendez is 0-for-26 with a four walks since his last base hit. That hit was a single in the first inning against Beloit in the first game of a doubleheader on April 26.
*IT’S BEEN A WHILE: Records going back to the 2000 season, show that the Timber Rattlers had not won a series in Lansing before taking two out of three in the just completed series.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Great Lakes Loons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, the Loons were 57-82 in their inaugural Midwest League season. Great Lakes did not make the playoffs in 2007. Manager Juan Bustabad is in his first season at the helm of the Loons.
LOONS IN 2008: Great Lakes is 12-16 so far this season. In their most recent series, the Loons dropped two out of three games to the Beloit Snappers at Dow Diamond. When Great Lakes won the second game of the series with Beloit, they snapped a seven game losing streak. Great Lakes is in fifth place, 4.5 games behind the division leading West Michigan Whitecaps. The Loons are 4-8 at Dow Diamond this season.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .234 as a team and have scored 80 runs (3.2/game). Wisconsin has hit six homers this season. The Timber Rattler pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.86. Great Lakes are hitting .213 and have scored 85 runs (3.0/game). The Loons have hit 16 home runs this season. Great Lakes’ pitching staff has an ERA of 4.02.
2007 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 4-4 in eight games against the Loons in 2007. The teams split a four game series at Down Diamond May 8-11. The teams also split a four game set on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium July 26-29.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook places six members of the current Great Lakes roster on their list of the top 30 prospects in the Dodger organization. Third baseman Pedro Baez (#10) is the highest rated player on the list. Pitcher Bryan Morris (#12) and outfielder Andrew Lambo (#14) are in the top 15. Pitcher Justin Miller (#22), infielder Preston Mattingly (#28), and pitcher Geison Aguasviva (#30) are also on the list.
OUT OF THE DRAFT: The Loons have six members of the 2007 Dodger draft class on their current roster. Pitchers Bobby Blevins (13th) and Justin Miller (6th); catcher Alex Garabedian (8th); infielders Parker Dalton (24th); and outfielders Erik Kanaby (10th) and Andrew Lambo (4th) are all Loons.
VETERANS: There are eight players on the current Great Lakes roster who spent at least part of the 2007 season with the Loons.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Preston Mattingly is the son of former New York Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly. Scott Van Slyke is the son of former major league outfielder Andy Van Slyke.
GREAT LAKES STARTING PITCHER: Kyle Smit was a fifth round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2006 draft out of Spanish Springs High School in Nevada. He split time between the Loons and the Gulf Coast League Dodgers during the 2007 season. Smit began his 2007 season in the Gulf Coast League. He went 4-0 in eight games (six starts) with a 2.82 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 38.1 innings pitched. Smit was promoted to Great Lakes in August. He went 0-5 with an 8.34ERA in five starts for the Loons at the end of last season. He walked 12 and struck out 26 over 22.2 innings pitched. Today is his first appearance against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. In his last start, Smit took the loss at Clinton on April 28. He gave up seven runs on nine hits over 4-1/3 innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
*Staind on a Sunday? You bet.
Rattler History...Since 2000
Here is how the Rattlers have fared on May 4…since 2000
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 7-6 at home. I was not at this game because the Green Bay Gamblers were hosting the Junior ‘A’ National Championships.
2001: The Rattlers swept a doubleheader from Clinton at home. Wisconsin won game one 1-0 and game two 2-0.
GAME ONE: Rett Johnson beat Luke Lockwood with a complete game shutout. Johnson struck out six and allowed four hits. Lockwood pitched 6-2/3 innings and gave up three hits. Here is how the winning run scored. There were two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Pedro Liriano was on first base. Shortstop Jose Docen booted a grounder off the bat of Mark Carroll. Joe Dusan drew a walk to load the bases. Antonio Garris relieved Lockwood and his 1-1 pitch to Bill Martinez was a strike. But, for some reason, catcher Drew McMillan tried to pick off Dusan at first base. He threw the ball away and Liriano scored.
GAME TWO: Clint Nageotte and Chad Wiles combined on a three-hit shutout. Nageotte struck out seven over six innings. An error allowed a run to score in the third and Jamie Bubela knocked in the other run in the fifth.
2002: Clinton beat the Rattlers 9-5 in Iowa. Phil Cullen gave up six runs in 4+ innings of work for the loss. Shin-soo Choo hit a three-run homer in the game for Wisconsin.
2003: The Rattlers won 6-2 at Dayton. TJ Bohn homered and Chris Phillips had two RBI. Bobby Livingston, the winning pitcher, nearly started a riot. He hit Brad Correll in the first inning and picked him off. In the third, BOBBY! Hit Correll again and almost picked him off again. BOBBY! was animated about it. It is kind of odd that he is in the Reds organization now.
2004: The Rattlers beat Beloit 8-2 at home. Three runs in the first and three runs in the second were more than enough for Ryan Feierabend. Evel Bastida-Martinez knocked in three runs for the offense. Feierabend went seven innings and allowed two runs for his fourth win of the season.
2005: The Rattlers lost 4-3 at Southwest Michigan. The Devil Rays scored three runs off Mark Lowe in the second and one more in the fourth. Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits, including a single in the ninth to get aboard with the tying run, but that was as close as the Rattlers would get.
2006: The Rattlers lost 6-2 at Cedar Rapids. The Kernels scored five runs off Justin Thomas. Eddy Hernandez and Ron Garth drove in the only runs for Wisconsin.
2007: The Rattlers lost 9-1 at South Bend. Chris Tillman allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits in one inning and the Silver Hawks never looked back.
A 5-4 record, a doublheader shutout, and one of my all-time favorite Bobby Livingston stories make this a pretty good day in Timber Rattler history....since 2000.
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 7-6 at home. I was not at this game because the Green Bay Gamblers were hosting the Junior ‘A’ National Championships.
2001: The Rattlers swept a doubleheader from Clinton at home. Wisconsin won game one 1-0 and game two 2-0.
GAME ONE: Rett Johnson beat Luke Lockwood with a complete game shutout. Johnson struck out six and allowed four hits. Lockwood pitched 6-2/3 innings and gave up three hits. Here is how the winning run scored. There were two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Pedro Liriano was on first base. Shortstop Jose Docen booted a grounder off the bat of Mark Carroll. Joe Dusan drew a walk to load the bases. Antonio Garris relieved Lockwood and his 1-1 pitch to Bill Martinez was a strike. But, for some reason, catcher Drew McMillan tried to pick off Dusan at first base. He threw the ball away and Liriano scored.
GAME TWO: Clint Nageotte and Chad Wiles combined on a three-hit shutout. Nageotte struck out seven over six innings. An error allowed a run to score in the third and Jamie Bubela knocked in the other run in the fifth.
2002: Clinton beat the Rattlers 9-5 in Iowa. Phil Cullen gave up six runs in 4+ innings of work for the loss. Shin-soo Choo hit a three-run homer in the game for Wisconsin.
2003: The Rattlers won 6-2 at Dayton. TJ Bohn homered and Chris Phillips had two RBI. Bobby Livingston, the winning pitcher, nearly started a riot. He hit Brad Correll in the first inning and picked him off. In the third, BOBBY! Hit Correll again and almost picked him off again. BOBBY! was animated about it. It is kind of odd that he is in the Reds organization now.
2004: The Rattlers beat Beloit 8-2 at home. Three runs in the first and three runs in the second were more than enough for Ryan Feierabend. Evel Bastida-Martinez knocked in three runs for the offense. Feierabend went seven innings and allowed two runs for his fourth win of the season.
2005: The Rattlers lost 4-3 at Southwest Michigan. The Devil Rays scored three runs off Mark Lowe in the second and one more in the fourth. Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits, including a single in the ninth to get aboard with the tying run, but that was as close as the Rattlers would get.
2006: The Rattlers lost 6-2 at Cedar Rapids. The Kernels scored five runs off Justin Thomas. Eddy Hernandez and Ron Garth drove in the only runs for Wisconsin.
2007: The Rattlers lost 9-1 at South Bend. Chris Tillman allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits in one inning and the Silver Hawks never looked back.
A 5-4 record, a doublheader shutout, and one of my all-time favorite Bobby Livingston stories make this a pretty good day in Timber Rattler history....since 2000.
Midwest League Action (Games of 5/3)
May 3 scoreboard.
Wisconsin 5, @ Lansing 2: Series win for Wisconsin.
Peoria 4, @South Bend 3: Tough loss for Augenstein.
Quad Cities 5, @ West Michigan 3: West Michigan lost at home? How can this be?
@Fort Wayne 10, Cedar Rapids 9: Never Give Up! Never Surrender!
@Kane County 6, Clinton 4: Great, a new Cougar contributes.
Burlington 10, @Dayton 7: Fifth Third Field SLUGFEST!
Beloit 8, @Great Lakes 2: Snappers!
Wisconsin 5, @ Lansing 2: Series win for Wisconsin.
Peoria 4, @South Bend 3: Tough loss for Augenstein.
Quad Cities 5, @ West Michigan 3: West Michigan lost at home? How can this be?
@Fort Wayne 10, Cedar Rapids 9: Never Give Up! Never Surrender!
@Kane County 6, Clinton 4: Great, a new Cougar contributes.
Burlington 10, @Dayton 7: Fifth Third Field SLUGFEST!
Beloit 8, @Great Lakes 2: Snappers!
Mariner System Report (Games of 5/3)
SEATTLE (MAJ: 13-18 3rd American League West): The Mariners lost 6-1 at New York. Felix Hernandez (’03) allowed six runs on 12 hits and took the loss.
TACOMA (AAA: 14-14, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers lost 6-3 to Oklahoma. The RedHawks broke a 3-3 tie with three runs – all on bases loaded walks – in the top of the ninth.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 20-10, 1st Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 10-9. Michael Saunders (’06) and Marshall Hubbard (’05) each had homers and four RBI for West Tennessee. Ryan Ketchner (’02) got the win despite six walks over 6-2/3 innings.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 15-15, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks beat Lake Elsinore 3-1. Chris Minaker (’05) homered for High Desert.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Carlos Silva 3-0) at New York (Darrell Rasner) 12:05pm CDT
Oklahoma (Eric Hurley 1-1) at Tacoma (Sean White 1-1) 3:30pm CDT
West Tennessee – OFF DAY
High Desert at Lake Elsinore 4:08pm CDT
TACOMA (AAA: 14-14, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers lost 6-3 to Oklahoma. The RedHawks broke a 3-3 tie with three runs – all on bases loaded walks – in the top of the ninth.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 20-10, 1st Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 10-9. Michael Saunders (’06) and Marshall Hubbard (’05) each had homers and four RBI for West Tennessee. Ryan Ketchner (’02) got the win despite six walks over 6-2/3 innings.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 15-15, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks beat Lake Elsinore 3-1. Chris Minaker (’05) homered for High Desert.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Carlos Silva 3-0) at New York (Darrell Rasner) 12:05pm CDT
Oklahoma (Eric Hurley 1-1) at Tacoma (Sean White 1-1) 3:30pm CDT
West Tennessee – OFF DAY
High Desert at Lake Elsinore 4:08pm CDT
5/03/2008
Rain Delay Theater
The official start time has been pushed back to 6:35pm CDT. Until then, why don't you enjoy the Willie Mays section of Ken Burns' Baseball
Included is 'The Catch' to put a little perspective on the catch in West Michigan last night.
Included is 'The Catch' to put a little perspective on the catch in West Michigan last night.
Tonight's Rattler Starting Pitcher (5/3)
RHP MICHAEL PINEDA was signed as a non drafted free by the Mariners out of the Dominican Republic on December 12, 2005.
SUMMERTIME: In his first professional season, Pineda pitched for Seattle’s team in the Dominican Summer League. He was 2-1 in eight games (three starts) with a 0.44 ERA during the 2006 season.
DR REDUX: Pineda repeated the DSL in 2007 and went 6-1 with a 2.29ERA over 15 games (12 starts). Pineda struck out 48 and walked 11 over 59 innings pitched last year.
MVP: Seattle named Pineda the Most Valuable Pitcher of their Dominican Summer League affiliate for his performance last season.
SIX IN A ROW: Pineda won six consecutive decisions from June 19 through August 4 last season.
LAST START: Pineda made his first start as a Timber Rattler on April 27 against Beloit. He pitched five innings and gave up four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Pineda left the game with the Rattlers leading 2-0, but Beloit rallied against the Rattler bullpen for a 5-3 win and he got a no decision.
LAST WIN: Pineda pitched two scoreless innings in relief on April 16 against the Fort Wayne Wizards. He struck out three as the Rattlers broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the eighth inning.
VS. LASING: Today is Pineda’s first appearance against the Lugnuts and against an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
2008 SO FAR: Pineda won his first two appearances for the Rattlers. He picked up a win in relief in the first game of a doubleheader at Quad Cities on April 5 and another win with two innings of scoreless relief against Fort Wayne on April 16.
PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 6.0 (vs. DSL A’s 2 7/9/07)
STRIKEOUTS: 6 (vs. DSL A’s 2 7/30/07)
SUMMERTIME: In his first professional season, Pineda pitched for Seattle’s team in the Dominican Summer League. He was 2-1 in eight games (three starts) with a 0.44 ERA during the 2006 season.
DR REDUX: Pineda repeated the DSL in 2007 and went 6-1 with a 2.29ERA over 15 games (12 starts). Pineda struck out 48 and walked 11 over 59 innings pitched last year.
MVP: Seattle named Pineda the Most Valuable Pitcher of their Dominican Summer League affiliate for his performance last season.
SIX IN A ROW: Pineda won six consecutive decisions from June 19 through August 4 last season.
LAST START: Pineda made his first start as a Timber Rattler on April 27 against Beloit. He pitched five innings and gave up four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Pineda left the game with the Rattlers leading 2-0, but Beloit rallied against the Rattler bullpen for a 5-3 win and he got a no decision.
LAST WIN: Pineda pitched two scoreless innings in relief on April 16 against the Fort Wayne Wizards. He struck out three as the Rattlers broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the eighth inning.
VS. LASING: Today is Pineda’s first appearance against the Lugnuts and against an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
2008 SO FAR: Pineda won his first two appearances for the Rattlers. He picked up a win in relief in the first game of a doubleheader at Quad Cities on April 5 and another win with two innings of scoreless relief against Fort Wayne on April 16.
PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 6.0 (vs. DSL A’s 2 7/9/07)
STRIKEOUTS: 6 (vs. DSL A’s 2 7/30/07)
May 3 Game Notes
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Lansing Lugnuts 5-2 Friday at Oldsmobile Park. Joe Dunigan homered, doubled twice, and drove in two runs for the Rattlers. Donnie Hume allowed two runs over 5-1/3 innings and got the win. Phillippe Aumont pitched three scoreless frames for his first professional save.
END OF THE AFFAIR: Wisconsin’s win ended an eight-game losing streak against the Lugnuts.
THE VERY GOOD NIGHT OF JOE DUNIGAN: The Rattler outfielder homered for the second game in a row. His two doubles gave him eight total bases on the night. Also, Dunigan did not strikeout and recorded an outfield assist.
TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONS: Hume and Aumont teamed for the fourth time this season. Hume pitched a career high 5-1/3 innings and added a career-high 8 strikeouts as he earned his third win of the season. Aumont walked two and struck out two in his three innings of work last night. Aumont has not allowed an earned run in 14-2/3 innings this season.
LEST WE FORGET: Rattler reliever Travis Mortimore got the final two outs of the bottom of the sixth inning.
FORTUNATE BOUNCE: Mortimore entered the game protecting a 4-2 lead with runners at first and third with one out. He threw a wild pitch and the runner from third broke for the plate. However, the ball hit off a door in the net behind home plate and caromed to catcher Korey Feiner near home plate. Feiner turned and tagged out the runner before he could score.
EVEN DOZEN: Edilio Colina doubled twice last night. His first double knocked in a run in the third inning. Colina now has a 12 game hitting streak (17-for-47, .362). This is the third longest active streak in the Midwest League.
WELCOME BACK: Last night, Rattler designated hitter Joe White made his first appearance of the season. He was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
CANNON: Lansing rightfielder Moises Sierra threw out Juan Diaz twice on the bases last night. Diaz was out trying to stretch a single to a double in the fourth and again trying to score from third on a flyball to right. Sierra is tied for second in the league in outfield assists with five. Jeremy Moore of Cedar Rapids leads the league with six.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 15-12 and is in third place in the Eastern Division. They are 1.5 games behind first place West Michigan. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 8-3 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .238 as a team and have scored 75 runs (3.1/game). Wisconsin has hit five homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 3.95. The Lugnuts are hitting .284 as a team and have scored 134 runs (5.0/game). Lansing has hit 13 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.48.
2007 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 1-7 against the Lugnuts last season. The Rattlers won the first meeting between the teams last season and dropped the next seven, including a sweep at the hands of the Lugnuts July 12-15 at Oldsmobile Park.
NEXT TIME THEY MEET: Wisconsin hosts the Lugnuts in Grand Chute, July 29-31.
LANSING STARTING PITCHER: Brad Mills was the fourth round pick of the Blue Jays out of the University of Arizona in the 2007 draft. Mills was 9-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) with 89 strikeouts and 30 walks in 87.2 innings pitched in his final season with the Wildcats. His first professional stop was with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. He appeared in six games (two starts) and was 2-0 with a 2.00ERA. In 18 innings, he allowed nine hits, four runs, six walks, and struck out 21. Tonight is his first appearance against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. In his last start for the Lugnuts, Mills went 4-2/3 innings against Quad Cities on April 28. In the game, Mills gave up two runs on four hits with three walks and eleven strikeouts, but got a no decision in the game.
I loved that show!
END OF THE AFFAIR: Wisconsin’s win ended an eight-game losing streak against the Lugnuts.
THE VERY GOOD NIGHT OF JOE DUNIGAN: The Rattler outfielder homered for the second game in a row. His two doubles gave him eight total bases on the night. Also, Dunigan did not strikeout and recorded an outfield assist.
TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONS: Hume and Aumont teamed for the fourth time this season. Hume pitched a career high 5-1/3 innings and added a career-high 8 strikeouts as he earned his third win of the season. Aumont walked two and struck out two in his three innings of work last night. Aumont has not allowed an earned run in 14-2/3 innings this season.
LEST WE FORGET: Rattler reliever Travis Mortimore got the final two outs of the bottom of the sixth inning.
FORTUNATE BOUNCE: Mortimore entered the game protecting a 4-2 lead with runners at first and third with one out. He threw a wild pitch and the runner from third broke for the plate. However, the ball hit off a door in the net behind home plate and caromed to catcher Korey Feiner near home plate. Feiner turned and tagged out the runner before he could score.
EVEN DOZEN: Edilio Colina doubled twice last night. His first double knocked in a run in the third inning. Colina now has a 12 game hitting streak (17-for-47, .362). This is the third longest active streak in the Midwest League.
WELCOME BACK: Last night, Rattler designated hitter Joe White made his first appearance of the season. He was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
CANNON: Lansing rightfielder Moises Sierra threw out Juan Diaz twice on the bases last night. Diaz was out trying to stretch a single to a double in the fourth and again trying to score from third on a flyball to right. Sierra is tied for second in the league in outfield assists with five. Jeremy Moore of Cedar Rapids leads the league with six.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 15-12 and is in third place in the Eastern Division. They are 1.5 games behind first place West Michigan. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 8-3 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .238 as a team and have scored 75 runs (3.1/game). Wisconsin has hit five homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 3.95. The Lugnuts are hitting .284 as a team and have scored 134 runs (5.0/game). Lansing has hit 13 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.48.
2007 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 1-7 against the Lugnuts last season. The Rattlers won the first meeting between the teams last season and dropped the next seven, including a sweep at the hands of the Lugnuts July 12-15 at Oldsmobile Park.
NEXT TIME THEY MEET: Wisconsin hosts the Lugnuts in Grand Chute, July 29-31.
LANSING STARTING PITCHER: Brad Mills was the fourth round pick of the Blue Jays out of the University of Arizona in the 2007 draft. Mills was 9-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) with 89 strikeouts and 30 walks in 87.2 innings pitched in his final season with the Wildcats. His first professional stop was with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. He appeared in six games (two starts) and was 2-0 with a 2.00ERA. In 18 innings, he allowed nine hits, four runs, six walks, and struck out 21. Tonight is his first appearance against an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. In his last start for the Lugnuts, Mills went 4-2/3 innings against Quad Cities on April 28. In the game, Mills gave up two runs on four hits with three walks and eleven strikeouts, but got a no decision in the game.
I loved that show!
From the Press Box -- Lansing
It's tough to work on an angle for the whole game, but you get...Yeah, I wasn't holding the camera straight when I took this picture and tried to blame it on a tilted press box.
Good one, Mehring.
Rattler Alumni Report
Jay has the latest Rattler Alumni Report over at the main site.
Some independent league news like:
Which is right across the street from:
And in the same city as:
Also, there is a reader mailbag with Jay and HOT 'N COLD.
He went a with a lighter shade of blue this time. Not sure how I feel about that.
Photos from my post season trip with Cal Ripken, Sr.
Some independent league news like:
This is where he will play:
Can-Am League
Ottawa Rapidz signed RHP Cibney Bello ('05)
Bello, now 25, will try to establish himself with the expansion Rapidz after going 6-10 the past two seasons in the California League.
Which is right across the street from:
And in the same city as:
Also, there is a reader mailbag with Jay and HOT 'N COLD.
He went a with a lighter shade of blue this time. Not sure how I feel about that.
Photos from my post season trip with Cal Ripken, Sr.
Catching up with...
Brad Holman.
Brad was the pitching coach for the Timber Rattlers from 2002-2005. He is currently the pitching coach of the Altoona Curve, the Eastern League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This article from the Altoona Mirror is a month old, but it is all-Brad.
Off to a flying start
Holman goes from fixing planes to fixing pitchers
The Curve are currently 7th in the Eastern League in ERA at 4.56.
Brad was the pitching coach for the Timber Rattlers from 2002-2005. He is currently the pitching coach of the Altoona Curve, the Eastern League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This article from the Altoona Mirror is a month old, but it is all-Brad.
Off to a flying start
Holman goes from fixing planes to fixing pitchers
Don't go in too deep, Tim. You'll wind up singing harmony on Aime by Pure Prairie League. But, I kid, Brad.
Brad Holman made it up to the big leagues with the Mariners in 1993, and while pitching in the minor leagues he spent his offseasons working in construction and framing houses. He retired from the game in 1996 and landed an impressive job as an aircraft mechanic for Boeing.
‘‘I put the skins on the ground section of the 737 cab and [did] a lot of drilling, countersinking, riveting,’’ Holman said. ‘‘It’s an aerodynamic part of the plane.
‘‘My credentials were basically I was always working in the construction industry, and I had a comfort with tools. But the most enticing thing for them was the baseball and teamwork skills that I had through baseball. At Boeing, they have shops that are compiled for 15-20 people, so it operates as a team.’’
...
Holman spent the past six seasons working in the Mariners’ system, including the past two in Double-A. The Pirates hired him in the offseason, and he’s replacing Ray Searage, who spent the past two seasons with the Curve before moving to Triple-A Indianapolis this year.
Altoona manager Tim Leiper said he was ‘‘probably a little bit standoffish’’ with his new pitching coach early on in spring training as the two men were feeling each other out.
‘‘He’s got some big shoes to fill,’’ Leiper said. ‘‘Coming in to replace Ray — and I’m great friends with Ray to this second and he’s a tough guy to replace — but Brad is awesome.
‘‘Our communication during the game is fantastic. What I like about him is he’s a strong personality, and he’s not afraid to say stuff. I had to tell him to shut up a couple times [Friday night], so maybe he’s a little bit too strong. But I like him. I like him as a person, I like the way he’s thinking.’’
The Curve are currently 7th in the Eastern League in ERA at 4.56.
They won't be playing here
The Peoria Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars will be playing at the full-sized Wrigley Field. The owner of the Chiefs was recently at the opening of Little Cubs Field in Freeport, IL.
That's Pete Vonachen wearing the Peoria gear in the center. Dutchie Caray, the widow of Harry Caray, is to his left at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Click on the Little Cubs Field link to see pictures of the replica.
That's Pete Vonachen wearing the Peoria gear in the center. Dutchie Caray, the widow of Harry Caray, is to his left at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Click on the Little Cubs Field link to see pictures of the replica.
He's a catcher. He's a blogger.
He's a catcher and a blogger.
Chris Rosenbaum is a catcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels and he has a blog, Looking through the mask and The Independent, a paper in Hillsdale, New York.
He posted on May 1st about an off day in Cedar Rapids.
Chris Rosenbaum is a catcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels and he has a blog, Looking through the mask and The Independent, a paper in Hillsdale, New York.
He posted on May 1st about an off day in Cedar Rapids.
WE HAVE our third day off of the season today. Since we only get twelve of them for the season, they are very well appreciated when they come around. I have not done much on my off days as of yet, and have primarily used them to catch up on sleep, laundry, and emails. We have yet to have nice weather for an off day; it has been either rainy or overcast. I know that a lot of the pitchers, and a position player or two, use the off days for big golf outings, and they have not let the weather deter them. All of the players and coaches get a free golf membership to one of the local courses, although I would be better off selling mine since I do not golf. I have gone a few times, but since I try to do the same things swinging the club as I do a bat, I never have success. I know that when my golf swing starts to improve, it will most likely be time to stop playing baseball. I am hoping to see the baseball field used in the movie Field of Dreams on one of the off days, since it is not very far from Cedar Rapids.Wait until the corn gets in, Chris.
Rattler History...Since 2000
Here is how the Rattlers have fared on May 3…since 2000
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 7-0 at home. Aquilino Lopez tossed a complete game three-hit shutout with six strikeouts. Chris Snelling had a homer and three RBI for the offense.
2001: The Rattlers home game with Clinton was rained out.
2002: The Rattlers lost 10-7 at Clinton. This was the first time Clinton beat the Rattlers since the 2000 season. Wisconsin had swept the season series from the LumberKings in 2001. The Rattlers had a 4-1 lead after the top of the second, but Ryan Rowland-Smith allowed six runs and Dan Head gave up four more. Corey Freeman, Luis Oliveros, and Miguel Villilo each had two RBI for the Rattlers.
2003: The Rattlers lost 4-3 at Dayton. Gary Harris tied the game 3-3 with an RBI single in the top of the ninth. Dominique Lewis won the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
2004: The Rattlers beat Beloit 7-5 at home. A six run second inning with back-to-back RBI doubles by Josh Womack and Michael Cox was just enough for the Rattlers to hang on for the win.
2005: The Rattlers lost 4-3 at Southwest Michigan. This one hurt. Yung Chi Chen doubled in a run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning for a 3-1 lead. But, in the bottom of the ninth, Eric O’Flaherty walked the first two batters and – after a sacrifice bunt – gave up three consecutive RBI singles for a blown save.
2006: The Rattlers were off.
2007: The Rattlers lost 5-2 to Dayton at home. A quick start had Wisconsin up 2-1, but the Dragons scored twice in the sixth and twice in the ninth.
A 2-4 record, with being walked off in Dayton and Battle Creek...This day stinks.
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 7-0 at home. Aquilino Lopez tossed a complete game three-hit shutout with six strikeouts. Chris Snelling had a homer and three RBI for the offense.
2001: The Rattlers home game with Clinton was rained out.
2002: The Rattlers lost 10-7 at Clinton. This was the first time Clinton beat the Rattlers since the 2000 season. Wisconsin had swept the season series from the LumberKings in 2001. The Rattlers had a 4-1 lead after the top of the second, but Ryan Rowland-Smith allowed six runs and Dan Head gave up four more. Corey Freeman, Luis Oliveros, and Miguel Villilo each had two RBI for the Rattlers.
2003: The Rattlers lost 4-3 at Dayton. Gary Harris tied the game 3-3 with an RBI single in the top of the ninth. Dominique Lewis won the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
2004: The Rattlers beat Beloit 7-5 at home. A six run second inning with back-to-back RBI doubles by Josh Womack and Michael Cox was just enough for the Rattlers to hang on for the win.
2005: The Rattlers lost 4-3 at Southwest Michigan. This one hurt. Yung Chi Chen doubled in a run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning for a 3-1 lead. But, in the bottom of the ninth, Eric O’Flaherty walked the first two batters and – after a sacrifice bunt – gave up three consecutive RBI singles for a blown save.
2006: The Rattlers were off.
2007: The Rattlers lost 5-2 to Dayton at home. A quick start had Wisconsin up 2-1, but the Dragons scored twice in the sixth and twice in the ninth.
A 2-4 record, with being walked off in Dayton and Battle Creek...This day stinks.
Midwest League Action (Games of 5/2)
May 2 scoreboard.
Wisconsin 5, @ Lansing 2: Dunigan!
@Fort Wayne 7, Cedar Rapids 5: Isn't it a little early to be breaking out 'finally' in a headline?
@South Bend 8, Peoria 5: Now, 'outlast', that seems accurate in this headline.
@West Michigan 16, Quad Cities 3: Most runs since 2004 for the Caps. Plus, Kyle Peter made a great catch for West Michigan.
@Dayton 3, Burlington 1: Not a Klinker for Dragon pitcher.
@Great Lakes 2, Beloit 1: The seven game slide ends for the Loooooooons.
Clinton 6, @Kane County 2 (10 innings): You'll have to scroll a bit, but back-to-back homers in the 10th, including Ian Gac's 10th, sealed it for the L-Kings.
Wisconsin 5, @ Lansing 2: Dunigan!
@Fort Wayne 7, Cedar Rapids 5: Isn't it a little early to be breaking out 'finally' in a headline?
@South Bend 8, Peoria 5: Now, 'outlast', that seems accurate in this headline.
@West Michigan 16, Quad Cities 3: Most runs since 2004 for the Caps. Plus, Kyle Peter made a great catch for West Michigan.
@Dayton 3, Burlington 1: Not a Klinker for Dragon pitcher.
@Great Lakes 2, Beloit 1: The seven game slide ends for the Loooooooons.
Clinton 6, @Kane County 2 (10 innings): You'll have to scroll a bit, but back-to-back homers in the 10th, including Ian Gac's 10th, sealed it for the L-Kings.
Mariner System Report (Games of 5/2)
SEATTLE (MAJ: 13-17 3rd American League West): The Mariners lost 5-1 at New York. Raul Ibanez (Foxes, ’94) drove in the only Mariner run as Seattle committed four errors in the game.
TACOMA (AAA: 14-13, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers lost 6-0 to Oklahoma. Tacoma had four hits in the game. Yung Chi Chen (’05) and Bryan LaHair (’04) each had one hit for the Rainiers.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 19-10, 2nd Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 5-1. Mike Wilson (’05) had a pair of home runs and four RBI for West Tennessee.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 14-15, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 2-1 at Lake Elsinore. Travis Scott (’06) knocked in the only run for High Desert.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Felix Hernandez 2-1) at New York (Mike Mussina 3-3) 12:05pm CDT
Oklahoma (Elizardo Ramirez 4-2) at Tacoma (Robert Rohrbaugh 3-1) 9:00pm CDT
West Tennessee (Ryan Ketchner 1-0) at Carolina (Brett Sinkbeil 1-2) 5:15pm CDT
High Desert at Lake Elsinore 9:08pm CDT
TACOMA (AAA: 14-13, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers lost 6-0 to Oklahoma. Tacoma had four hits in the game. Yung Chi Chen (’05) and Bryan LaHair (’04) each had one hit for the Rainiers.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 19-10, 2nd Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 5-1. Mike Wilson (’05) had a pair of home runs and four RBI for West Tennessee.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 14-15, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 2-1 at Lake Elsinore. Travis Scott (’06) knocked in the only run for High Desert.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Felix Hernandez 2-1) at New York (Mike Mussina 3-3) 12:05pm CDT
Oklahoma (Elizardo Ramirez 4-2) at Tacoma (Robert Rohrbaugh 3-1) 9:00pm CDT
West Tennessee (Ryan Ketchner 1-0) at Carolina (Brett Sinkbeil 1-2) 5:15pm CDT
High Desert at Lake Elsinore 9:08pm CDT
5/02/2008
Tonight's Rattler Starting Pitcher (5/2)
LHP DONNIE HUME: Selected by the Mariners in the 8th round of San Diego State University.
AZTEC: Hume was 4-2 with a 3.07ERA in seven starts in his final season at SDSU. That season ended after surgery to remove a small bone spur in his pitching elbow on May 7.
PRE-AZTEC: Pitched two seasons at Long Beach State before transferring to SDSU. Was 1-1 with a 2.37ERA as a freshman and 3-3 with a 3.59ERA as a sophomore.
FAMOUS ALUM: Hume played for Vacaville High School and earned All-Monticello Empire League honors as a senior. Major leaguer Jermaine Dye also went to Vacaville High School.
ON THE CAPE: Hume was a member of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2006. Was 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA for the Sox.
FIRST PRO START: Hume is made his professional debut as the starting pitcher in the second game of the doubleheader against the Quad Cities River Bandits on April 5, 2008. He pitched five shutout innings for the victory in the 2-0 Rattler win. The only hit he allowed was a one out double in the bottom of the fifth. He struck out five and walked a pair for the win.
LAST START: Hume pitched four scoreless innings against the Beloit Snappers in game two of a doubleheader on April 26. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out two.
LAST WIN: Hume beat the Beloit Snappers in Beloit on April 20. He allowed three runs on five hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Wisconsin scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead and Hume picked up the win as the bullpen held that lead to the end.
VS. LANSING: This is Hume’s first appearance against the Lugnuts.
VS. BLUE JAYS: This Hume’s first appearance against an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHS
INNINGS PITCHED: 5.0 (3x – Last: 4/20 @BEL)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (4/20 @BEL)
AZTEC: Hume was 4-2 with a 3.07ERA in seven starts in his final season at SDSU. That season ended after surgery to remove a small bone spur in his pitching elbow on May 7.
PRE-AZTEC: Pitched two seasons at Long Beach State before transferring to SDSU. Was 1-1 with a 2.37ERA as a freshman and 3-3 with a 3.59ERA as a sophomore.
FAMOUS ALUM: Hume played for Vacaville High School and earned All-Monticello Empire League honors as a senior. Major leaguer Jermaine Dye also went to Vacaville High School.
ON THE CAPE: Hume was a member of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2006. Was 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA for the Sox.
FIRST PRO START: Hume is made his professional debut as the starting pitcher in the second game of the doubleheader against the Quad Cities River Bandits on April 5, 2008. He pitched five shutout innings for the victory in the 2-0 Rattler win. The only hit he allowed was a one out double in the bottom of the fifth. He struck out five and walked a pair for the win.
LAST START: Hume pitched four scoreless innings against the Beloit Snappers in game two of a doubleheader on April 26. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out two.
LAST WIN: Hume beat the Beloit Snappers in Beloit on April 20. He allowed three runs on five hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Wisconsin scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead and Hume picked up the win as the bullpen held that lead to the end.
VS. LANSING: This is Hume’s first appearance against the Lugnuts.
VS. BLUE JAYS: This Hume’s first appearance against an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHS
INNINGS PITCHED: 5.0 (3x – Last: 4/20 @BEL)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (4/20 @BEL)
May 2 Game Notes
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Lansing Lugnuts beat the Timber Rattlers 6-2. Darin Mastroianni hit a three run homer in the bottom of the first inning. The Rattlers got two runs in the top of the second with a two-run homer by Joe Dunigan. But, the Lugnuts scored twice in the bottom of the second. Kyle Ginley pitched six innings for the Lugnuts and earned the win. Mastroianni drove in four runs and Kevin Ahrens had three hits (two triples), drove in a run, and scored two for Lansing.
*FIVE-0: Ginley is the Midwest League leader in wins with five after the victory last night. He has not lost in six starts this year.
DUNIGAN GOES DEEP: The Rattler outfielder hit his first home run of the season last night. His dinger went to left field in the top of the second inning and pulled the Rattlers to within 3-2.
NEW GUY: Chris Robinson made the start as the first baseman for the Rattlers last night after joining the team from extended spring training. He went 1-for-4 in the game.
OUTFIELD ROBBERY: Calvin Beamon sent a line drive to left-center field in the top of the third inning. What might have been a sure RBI double turned into an out after Mastroianni dove with full extension to snag the liner and record the out.
#THE MAESTRO: Mastroianni, the third batter in the Lansing batting order, followed singles by Justin Jackson and Kevin Ahrens with his second homer of the season for the 3-0 lead.
AHRENS RUNS THE BASES: Ahrens had two triples, a single, and three runs scored last night.
EARLY MISSTEPS: Last night was the fifth time in the last 13 games the Rattlers have given up at least one run within the first three batters opponents have sent to the plate in the first inning.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: The Rattler left ten runners on base last night. Wisconsin went down in order only two times and had the lead-off batter on base in three innings. The Rattler runs scored after two outs and none on in the second. Ron Garth singled and Dunigan followed with the home run.
**TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT: Donnie Hume is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers tonight. Phillippe Aumont is scheduled to come on in relief in this game. Aumont is 1-1 and has not allowed an earned run in four appearances (one start) this season. He has struck out 13 and walked four in 11-2/3 innings pitched.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 15-11 and is in second place in the Eastern Division. They are a half game behind first place West Michigan. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 7-2 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
##COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .234 as a team and have scored 70 runs (3.0/game). Wisconsin has hit four homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 4.05. The Lugnuts are hitting .286 as a team and have scored 132 runs (5.1/game). Lansing has hit 13 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.41.
LANSING STARTING PITCHER: Nate Starner was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent out of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. He spent all of 2007 with the Lugnuts. He was 12-9 in 28 starts with a 4.43ERA. He struck out 143 batters and walked 40 in 140-1/3 innings. He faced the Timber Rattlers twice last season and went 2-0. On May 18 in Grand Chute, he pitched five scoreless innings and did not give up a hit. He struck out eight and walked two in that win. On July 12 at Oldsmobile Park, Starner allowed one run on eight hits with nine strikeouts over six innings. In his last start this season, Starner got a no decision at Clinton on April 27. He pitched seven shutout innings and gave up four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
*-The one you think
**-Not the one you think
#-Could not find video of The Maestro from Seinfeld
##-These links are to Midwest League Team Hitting and Team Pitching stats
*FIVE-0: Ginley is the Midwest League leader in wins with five after the victory last night. He has not lost in six starts this year.
DUNIGAN GOES DEEP: The Rattler outfielder hit his first home run of the season last night. His dinger went to left field in the top of the second inning and pulled the Rattlers to within 3-2.
NEW GUY: Chris Robinson made the start as the first baseman for the Rattlers last night after joining the team from extended spring training. He went 1-for-4 in the game.
OUTFIELD ROBBERY: Calvin Beamon sent a line drive to left-center field in the top of the third inning. What might have been a sure RBI double turned into an out after Mastroianni dove with full extension to snag the liner and record the out.
#THE MAESTRO: Mastroianni, the third batter in the Lansing batting order, followed singles by Justin Jackson and Kevin Ahrens with his second homer of the season for the 3-0 lead.
AHRENS RUNS THE BASES: Ahrens had two triples, a single, and three runs scored last night.
EARLY MISSTEPS: Last night was the fifth time in the last 13 games the Rattlers have given up at least one run within the first three batters opponents have sent to the plate in the first inning.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: The Rattler left ten runners on base last night. Wisconsin went down in order only two times and had the lead-off batter on base in three innings. The Rattler runs scored after two outs and none on in the second. Ron Garth singled and Dunigan followed with the home run.
**TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT: Donnie Hume is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers tonight. Phillippe Aumont is scheduled to come on in relief in this game. Aumont is 1-1 and has not allowed an earned run in four appearances (one start) this season. He has struck out 13 and walked four in 11-2/3 innings pitched.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 15-11 and is in second place in the Eastern Division. They are a half game behind first place West Michigan. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 7-2 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
##COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .234 as a team and have scored 70 runs (3.0/game). Wisconsin has hit four homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 4.05. The Lugnuts are hitting .286 as a team and have scored 132 runs (5.1/game). Lansing has hit 13 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.41.
LANSING STARTING PITCHER: Nate Starner was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent out of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. He spent all of 2007 with the Lugnuts. He was 12-9 in 28 starts with a 4.43ERA. He struck out 143 batters and walked 40 in 140-1/3 innings. He faced the Timber Rattlers twice last season and went 2-0. On May 18 in Grand Chute, he pitched five scoreless innings and did not give up a hit. He struck out eight and walked two in that win. On July 12 at Oldsmobile Park, Starner allowed one run on eight hits with nine strikeouts over six innings. In his last start this season, Starner got a no decision at Clinton on April 27. He pitched seven shutout innings and gave up four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
*-The one you think
**-Not the one you think
#-Could not find video of The Maestro from Seinfeld
##-These links are to Midwest League Team Hitting and Team Pitching stats
Pitching Matchups (Great Lakes series 5/4-6)
SUN: RHP Juan Ramirez (0-1, 3.68) vs. RHP Kyle Smit (0-2, 6.95)
MON: LHP Edward Paredes (1-2, 7.13) vs. RHP Steven Johnson (2-1, 2.55)
TUE: RHP Nathan Adcock (0-2, 3.32) vs. RHP Daigoro Rondon (2-2, 6.45)
Game times in Great Lakes:
SUN: 3:05pm EDT/2:05pm CDT
MON: 7:05pm EDT/6:05pm CDT
TUE: 10:35am EDT/9:35am CDT
MON: LHP Edward Paredes (1-2, 7.13) vs. RHP Steven Johnson (2-1, 2.55)
TUE: RHP Nathan Adcock (0-2, 3.32) vs. RHP Daigoro Rondon (2-2, 6.45)
Game times in Great Lakes:
SUN: 3:05pm EDT/2:05pm CDT
MON: 7:05pm EDT/6:05pm CDT
TUE: 10:35am EDT/9:35am CDT
All-Decade pitchers (1958-1967)
Jay has the latest post in his series of All-Decade Teams. This one is the 1958-1967 pitchers.
You'll have to click the link for the story about those pitchers, but here are the names for you:
Lee Stange
Dean Chance
Dave McNally
Eddie Watt
Jim Ray (who has the best major league uni of any of these guys)
Sparky Lyle
The Manager of the all-decade team for 1958-1967. Earl Weaver.
This week's special mention is Fred Rath of the 1966 Fox Cities Foxes. Why, Fred Rath?
You'll have to click the link for the story about those pitchers, but here are the names for you:
Lee Stange
Dean Chance
Dave McNally
Eddie Watt
Jim Ray (who has the best major league uni of any of these guys)
Sparky Lyle
The Manager of the all-decade team for 1958-1967. Earl Weaver.
This week's special mention is Fred Rath of the 1966 Fox Cities Foxes. Why, Fred Rath?
Rath, a 4th round draft choice of the White Sox in 1965, only pitched 23 innings in the Majors, but had a memorable season with the Fox Cities Foxes in 1966. Not only did he go 17-3 on the mound in leading the Foxes to the Midwest League Championship, he also met Joan Koenig, the 1966 Miss Fox Cities Foxes, whom he married the following year.That's why Fred Rath.
Promotions
Not for the team on the field; for the team in the Rattler front office.
In his third season with the Rattlers, Aaron Hahn has been named the Assistant General Manager.I really don't have anything to add to what the boss says. Except maybe, Congratulations to all three.
...
Angie Ceranski has been named the Vice President of Marketing. This season is Ceranski's ninth with the team.
...
Nikki Becker has been named the Vice President of Communications. Becker joined the game day staff in '99, became a full-time staff member in '00
...
President Rob Zerjav stated, "All three are vital members of our front office team and are deserving of these promotions. We are very lucky to have such a terrific and dedicated front office staff and it continues to be a pleasure to work with each of them day in and day out."
What are you doing for Mother's Day?
The Timber Rattlers have an idea.
That link takes you to a PDF of a flyer to promote a Mother's Day brunch before the Rattlers take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Sunday, May 11.
Seating begins at 10:45am and serving starts at 11:00am. Adults: $15; Children 10 and under: $11. The price includes a reserved seat ticket to the game. Mimosas are involved...whatever those are.
The Rattlers will also be wearing pink jerseys for the American Cancer Society on Mother's Day. There will be a silent auction for the jerseys that day, too.
Click on the link up top for full details.
That link takes you to a PDF of a flyer to promote a Mother's Day brunch before the Rattlers take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Sunday, May 11.
Seating begins at 10:45am and serving starts at 11:00am. Adults: $15; Children 10 and under: $11. The price includes a reserved seat ticket to the game. Mimosas are involved...whatever those are.
The Rattlers will also be wearing pink jerseys for the American Cancer Society on Mother's Day. There will be a silent auction for the jerseys that day, too.
Click on the link up top for full details.
SURPRISE!
See what you miss by calling or ordering tickets for events at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium?
Tickets for the first Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Game went on sale Thursday morning, and fans got quite a surprise at the box office. Driver himself was at the ticket window.This is weird. That story is from WBAY-TV. This link to the video of Driver at the stadium is at The Post-Crescent.
The Packers wide receiver posed for photos, signed autographs, and helped answer the phones.
The celebrity softball game pitting the Packers offense against the defense is June 15th at Fox Cities Stadium.
No Journey today
A more traditional Chinese restaurant today. Well, it Charlie Kang's II bills itself as traditional Korean-Mongolian Restaurant. But at least there was threat of hearing Faithfully. Also a very zen* Koi Pond without Koi included.
Consolidate rather than expand business projects in the near future.
Lucky #s:
11: Bryan Harris
14:
24: Gavin Dickey
25: Ryan Moorer
30: Keith Meyer
41:
*Is using the Japanese word for a Chinese concept Zen?
Consolidate rather than expand business projects in the near future.
Lucky #s:
11: Bryan Harris
14:
24: Gavin Dickey
25: Ryan Moorer
30: Keith Meyer
41:
*Is using the Japanese word for a Chinese concept Zen?
The View from my hotel window -- Lansing
Under the spreading chestnut tree,I sold you and you sold me...
Wait! Do you see that. Here is a better view....
I see a sock, a beer bottle, and various other purchases from the nearby liquor store. An empty pack of Marlboro Gold is not in the picture. None of these are my brands.
The Big News Today
Sandberg's Chiefs to host Cougars at Wrigley
Chiefs anticipate taste of Chicago
That's from the Sun-Times. Here is the Peoria Journal-Star reaction:Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg, manager of the Class A Peoria Chiefs, will play host to what is believed to be the first minor-league game in the 94-year history of Wrigley Field when the Kane County Cougars visit July 29.
Tickets go on sale Friday morning and if more than 10,000 fans attend, it will count as one of the 30 night games on the Cubs’ 2008 schedule.
‘‘We wanted to use one of our night games,’’ Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said today. ‘‘We guard those preciously, but we want to make this a big celebration with Ryne coming home.’’
Chiefs anticipate taste of Chicago
An idea planted in January, sprouted on Thursday and will be in full bloom on July 29.The Peoria Chiefs along with their parent organization Chicago Cubs announced Thursday that the Chiefs will play the Kane County Cougars at 7 p.m., July 29 at Wrigley Field in a game billed as the "Road to Wrigley."
"This is something we've always wanted to do to get more exposure for our kids and more exposure for the Midwest League," former Chiefs owner Pete Vonachen said. "This is like a dream come true."
Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen first brought up the idea to Cubs vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita at the Cubs Convention in January. Fleita kicked it up to his boss, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who took it chairman Crain Kenney.
And now the game will happen. Much more at the link.
It will be the first minor league baseball game played at Wrigley Field, Cougars general manager Jeff Sedivy said after a news conference Thursday at Wrigley Field.
Sedivy said the idea has long been in the works, initiated by Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen.
“My first response was ‘Sure, that’d be great – What’s in it for us? ‘” Sedivy said. “After we both got done laughing, we both said that’d be a great opportunity.”
Rattler History...Since 2000
Here is how the Rattlers have fared on May 2…since 2000
2000: The Rattlers lost 6-5 in 11 innings to Burlington at home. The Bees tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth inning off Danny Delgado. JR Mounts had an RBI triple in the eleventh for the winning run. Chris Snelling had four hits and a pair of RBI for the Rattlers.
2001: The Rattlers beat Clinton 7-5 at home. Chuck Lopez had three hits, including a two-run homer. There was a rain delay of nearly an hour just before the start of the Rattler half of the second inning. John Butler got the win in relief.
2002: The Rattlers beat Clinton 9-1 on the road. Chris Collins had three RBI and Juan Doñe pitched seven strong innings for the win.
2003: The Rattlers lost 8-1 at Dayton. Beau Hintz and Rich Dorman got lit up in the sixth and seventh innings. The Dragons scored three runs in each frame to break open a 1-1 tie.
2004: The Rattlers lost both games of a doubleheader at Fort Wayne. The Wizards won game one 7-1. They took game two 6-4.
GAME ONE: Chris Colton homered in the top of the second inning. But, Tom Oldham allowed a homer to Fernando Valenzuela in the second, a three-run homer to Skip Adams in the fourth, and a solo homer to Jordan Pickens in the fifth. For good measure, Mike Hrynio gave up a two-run homer to Colt Morton in the sixth.
GAME TWO: Michael Cox and Jeremy Dutton both homered for the Rattlers, but Fort Wayne broke a 4-4 tie with two run in the bottom of the sixth off Juan Ovalles for the sweep.
2005: The Rattlers won 8-5 at Southwest Michigan. Brandon Green, Josh Womack, and Rob Johnson all homered for the Rattlers. Eric O’Flaherty got the final two outs for the save. Casey Abrams outpitched Andy Sonnanstine for the win.
2006: The Rattlers lost 10-2 to West Michigan at home. The Whitecaps scored six in the fifth inning. Justin Justice hit a grand slam to cap the inning.
2007: The Rattlers lost 10-1 to Dayton at home. Juan Beltran hit a homer in the bottom of the eighth. But, the Dragons had scored seven runs in the sixth inning to go up 9-0.
A 3-6 record with some big losses and being swept in a doubleheader...pretty crummy day in Rattler history.
2000: The Rattlers lost 6-5 in 11 innings to Burlington at home. The Bees tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth inning off Danny Delgado. JR Mounts had an RBI triple in the eleventh for the winning run. Chris Snelling had four hits and a pair of RBI for the Rattlers.
2001: The Rattlers beat Clinton 7-5 at home. Chuck Lopez had three hits, including a two-run homer. There was a rain delay of nearly an hour just before the start of the Rattler half of the second inning. John Butler got the win in relief.
2002: The Rattlers beat Clinton 9-1 on the road. Chris Collins had three RBI and Juan Doñe pitched seven strong innings for the win.
2003: The Rattlers lost 8-1 at Dayton. Beau Hintz and Rich Dorman got lit up in the sixth and seventh innings. The Dragons scored three runs in each frame to break open a 1-1 tie.
2004: The Rattlers lost both games of a doubleheader at Fort Wayne. The Wizards won game one 7-1. They took game two 6-4.
GAME ONE: Chris Colton homered in the top of the second inning. But, Tom Oldham allowed a homer to Fernando Valenzuela in the second, a three-run homer to Skip Adams in the fourth, and a solo homer to Jordan Pickens in the fifth. For good measure, Mike Hrynio gave up a two-run homer to Colt Morton in the sixth.
GAME TWO: Michael Cox and Jeremy Dutton both homered for the Rattlers, but Fort Wayne broke a 4-4 tie with two run in the bottom of the sixth off Juan Ovalles for the sweep.
2005: The Rattlers won 8-5 at Southwest Michigan. Brandon Green, Josh Womack, and Rob Johnson all homered for the Rattlers. Eric O’Flaherty got the final two outs for the save. Casey Abrams outpitched Andy Sonnanstine for the win.
2006: The Rattlers lost 10-2 to West Michigan at home. The Whitecaps scored six in the fifth inning. Justin Justice hit a grand slam to cap the inning.
2007: The Rattlers lost 10-1 to Dayton at home. Juan Beltran hit a homer in the bottom of the eighth. But, the Dragons had scored seven runs in the sixth inning to go up 9-0.
A 3-6 record with some big losses and being swept in a doubleheader...pretty crummy day in Rattler history.
Midwest League Action (Games of 5/1)
May 1 scoreboard.
@Lansing 6, Wisconsin 2: Ahrens and the Maestro.
Beloit 5, @Great Lakes 2 (10 inn): Seven lossssssses in a row for the Looooooons.
@Lansing 6, Wisconsin 2: Ahrens and the Maestro.
Beloit 5, @Great Lakes 2 (10 inn): Seven lossssssses in a row for the Looooooons.
Mariner System Report (Games of 5/1)
SEATTLE (MAJ: 13-16 3rd American League West): The Mariners lost 3-2 in eleven innings at Cleveland. The Mariners tied the game 1-1 with a run in the top of the ninth and took the lead with a run in the top of the tenth. But, JJ Putz (’00) allowed the tying run in the bottom of the tenth. Asdrubal Cabrera (’05) singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh for the Indians.
TACOMA (AAA: 14-12, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers beat New Orleans 3-2. Jeremy Reed knocked in two runs with a homer and Rob Johnson ('05) drove in the other for the Rainiers.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 18-10, 2nd Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 9-4. Adam Moore (’06) had three RBI and Jon Nelson (’03) had two more RBI. Justin Thomas (’06) allowed two runs on three hits for the win.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 14-14, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks won 6-5 over San Jose. High Desert rallied from a 5-1 deficit for the win. Kuo Hui Lo (’07) drove in the winning run with a double in the bottom of the ninth. Chris Minaker (’06) had a homer as part of the comeback.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Erik Bedard 2-0) at New York (Chien-Ming Wang 5-0) 6:05pm CDT
Oklahoma (Dustin Nippert 0-0) at Tacoma (RA Dickey 1-2) 9:00pm CDT
West Tennessee (Chris Jakubauskas 3-0) at Carolina (Jarrett Santos 0-1) 6:15pm CDT
High Desert at Lake Elsinore 9:08pm CDT
Photo: Scott Shaw-Cleveland Plain Dealer
TACOMA (AAA: 14-12, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers beat New Orleans 3-2. Jeremy Reed knocked in two runs with a homer and Rob Johnson ('05) drove in the other for the Rainiers.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 18-10, 2nd Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 9-4. Adam Moore (’06) had three RBI and Jon Nelson (’03) had two more RBI. Justin Thomas (’06) allowed two runs on three hits for the win.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 14-14, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks won 6-5 over San Jose. High Desert rallied from a 5-1 deficit for the win. Kuo Hui Lo (’07) drove in the winning run with a double in the bottom of the ninth. Chris Minaker (’06) had a homer as part of the comeback.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Erik Bedard 2-0) at New York (Chien-Ming Wang 5-0) 6:05pm CDT
Oklahoma (Dustin Nippert 0-0) at Tacoma (RA Dickey 1-2) 9:00pm CDT
West Tennessee (Chris Jakubauskas 3-0) at Carolina (Jarrett Santos 0-1) 6:15pm CDT
High Desert at Lake Elsinore 9:08pm CDT
Photo: Scott Shaw-Cleveland Plain Dealer
5/01/2008
Tonight might be a little weird...
For the first time in about two years, I will be doing this game without the internet. The wireless system in Lansing is down, and they turned off all the spare phone lines during their remodeling.
Has it been a crutch for all these years? Tune in tonight. It will be fun.
Has it been a crutch for all these years? Tune in tonight. It will be fun.
Transactions
In case you missed it below, there was some Timber Rattler player movement after yesterday's game.
Gerardo Avila and Kevin Reynolds sent to extended spring training.
Joining the Rattlers are Joe White and Scott Robinson. For more on both players, head down to the Game Notes post for today and click on their names.
Gerardo Avila and Kevin Reynolds sent to extended spring training.
Joining the Rattlers are Joe White and Scott Robinson. For more on both players, head down to the Game Notes post for today and click on their names.
Tonight's Rattler Starting Pitcher (5/1)
RHP NATHAN ADCOCK: Selected by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2006 draft out of North Hardin (KY) High School.
SCHOOL DAYS: In Adcock’s senior season, he went 12-2. He struck out seventeen in a game three times in that season and totaled 140 K’s.
FIRST PRO SEASON: Adcock made ten appearances (six starts) for Seattle’s Arizona League affiliate after the draft. He was 0-2 with a 3.31ERA and struck out 31 batters in 35-1/3 innings.
FIRST PRO START: Adcock pitched one inning on July 14 against the AZL Rangers in his first professional start. He allowed an unearned run on one hit with one strikeout and no walks. Adcock got a no decision.
FIRST PRO WIN: Adcock picked up his first professional win against Kane County at home on May 22. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four. The Rattlers were up 6-3 when Adcock left and picked up a 6-5 win. That game is his only appearance against the Cougars.
RATTLER DEBUT: Adcock pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief in the second game of a doubleheader against Clinton on April 10 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Adcock walked a pair and struck out one as the LumberKings scored three unearned runs.
LAST SEASON: Adcock started 2007 with the Timber Rattlers. He was 2-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts). Opponents scored 60 runs in 87-2/3 innings pitched, but only 36 of those runs were earned. He was promoted to High Desert on July 20 and went 1-3 with an 8.84 ERA in five starts. In his two stops in the Mariner system, Adcock struck out 77 and walked 60 in 106 innings.
LAST START: Adcock allowed five runs (four earned) in 4-2/3 innings against Beloit in the first game of a doubleheader on April 26. Adcock was in line for the win, but could not get out of the fifth inning. He walked six and struck out six as the Rattlers could not hold an early 5-0 lead. Beloit would eventually win the game 6-5.
LAST RATTLER WIN: Adcock beat Quad Cities on July 2, 2007. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits over five innings for his second win of the '07 season.
VS. LANSING: Adcock faced Lansing twice in 2007 and received no decisions each time. On May 17 in Grand Chute, he allowed three runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts over five innings. On July 14, he faced tonight’s Lansing starter Kyle Ginley and allowed one unearned run over five innings on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Adcock was promoted to the California League after that start against the Lugnuts.
PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 7.1 (6/2 vs. Quad Cities)
STRIKEOUTS: 6 (4x – Last: 7/26 @ Lancaster)
SCHOOL DAYS: In Adcock’s senior season, he went 12-2. He struck out seventeen in a game three times in that season and totaled 140 K’s.
FIRST PRO SEASON: Adcock made ten appearances (six starts) for Seattle’s Arizona League affiliate after the draft. He was 0-2 with a 3.31ERA and struck out 31 batters in 35-1/3 innings.
FIRST PRO START: Adcock pitched one inning on July 14 against the AZL Rangers in his first professional start. He allowed an unearned run on one hit with one strikeout and no walks. Adcock got a no decision.
FIRST PRO WIN: Adcock picked up his first professional win against Kane County at home on May 22. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four. The Rattlers were up 6-3 when Adcock left and picked up a 6-5 win. That game is his only appearance against the Cougars.
RATTLER DEBUT: Adcock pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief in the second game of a doubleheader against Clinton on April 10 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Adcock walked a pair and struck out one as the LumberKings scored three unearned runs.
LAST SEASON: Adcock started 2007 with the Timber Rattlers. He was 2-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts). Opponents scored 60 runs in 87-2/3 innings pitched, but only 36 of those runs were earned. He was promoted to High Desert on July 20 and went 1-3 with an 8.84 ERA in five starts. In his two stops in the Mariner system, Adcock struck out 77 and walked 60 in 106 innings.
LAST START: Adcock allowed five runs (four earned) in 4-2/3 innings against Beloit in the first game of a doubleheader on April 26. Adcock was in line for the win, but could not get out of the fifth inning. He walked six and struck out six as the Rattlers could not hold an early 5-0 lead. Beloit would eventually win the game 6-5.
LAST RATTLER WIN: Adcock beat Quad Cities on July 2, 2007. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits over five innings for his second win of the '07 season.
VS. LANSING: Adcock faced Lansing twice in 2007 and received no decisions each time. On May 17 in Grand Chute, he allowed three runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts over five innings. On July 14, he faced tonight’s Lansing starter Kyle Ginley and allowed one unearned run over five innings on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Adcock was promoted to the California League after that start against the Lugnuts.
PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 7.1 (6/2 vs. Quad Cities)
STRIKEOUTS: 6 (4x – Last: 7/26 @ Lancaster)
May 1 Game Notes
ABOUT WEDNESDAY: The West Michigan Whitecaps defeated the Timber Rattlers 6-1. The Whitecaps scored three times in the first and once in the second to grab an early 4-0 lead.
GAGNIER THE GREAT: Whitecap starting pitcher Lauren struck out 11 Timber Rattlers over six shutout innings. He allowed three hits and walked two for his first win of the season.
JOHNNY WHOLESTAFF: The Timber Rattlers used Jake Wild as a spot starter and also used five relievers in the game. Wild, making his first start of the season, went 1-2/3 innings and gave up four runs (two earned). Keith Meyer pitched 4-1/3 scoreless innings as the first reliever. Ryan Moorer worked a scoreless inning. Rob Harmon allowed two runs and struck out a pair in 2/3 of a frame. Justin Souza retired the only batter he faced. Bryan Harris finished up the game with a scoreless ninth.
INAUSPICIOUS START: Wild gave up back-to-back singles to start the game. He got Justin Henry to hit a tailor-made double play ball to short, but the grounder was booted, all runners were safe, and a run scored. An RBI single and another error led to a third run in the inning.
AVOIDING THE SHUTOUT: Alex Meneses scored on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning for Wisconsin’s only run. The Rattlers have not been shutout yet in 2008.
KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE: Edilio Colina moved his hitting streak to 11 games (14-for-42) with a first inning single yesterday. That streak is the longest on the Rattler team this season.
MOVES: The Seattle Mariners have sent outfielder Kevin Reynolds and infielder Gerardo Avila to extended spring training. Replacing them are infielder Joe White and outfielder Scott Robinson. Both White and Robinson join the Rattlers from extended spring training.
MEET THE NEW GUYS: White, a 42nd round pick of the Mariners in the 2006 draft out of Georgia Perimeter College, played 57 games for the Timber Rattlers in 2007 and hit .291 with three homers and 35 RBI. White also had a 15-game hitting streak from August 2-19. Robinson was a 7th round pick of the Houston Astros in the 2002 draft out of Palomar College. He was the MVP of the South Coast League as a member of the Macon Music. He signed with Seattle after hitting .338 with 11 homers and 67 RBI.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 14-11 and tied with Dayton for second place in the Eastern Division. Both teams trail first place West Michigan by one game. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 7-2 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .233 as a team and have scored 68 runs (3.1/game). Wisconsin has hit three homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 3.92. The Lugnuts are hitting .285 as a team and have scored 126 runs (5.0/game). Lansing has hit 12 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.47.
2007 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 1-7 against the Lugnuts last season. The Rattlers won the first meeting between the teams last season and dropped the next seven, including a sweep at the hands of the Lugnuts July 12-15 at Oldsmobile Park.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook places eight members of the current Lansing roster on their list of top thirty prospects in the Toronto organization. Infielder Kevin Ahrens (#3) is the highest ranked of the eight. Infielders Justin Jackson (#6) and John Tolisano (#7) are also in the top ten. Outfielder Yohermyn Chavez (#12); pitcher Alan Farina (#15), pitcher Kyle Ginley (#17), pitcher Brad Mills (#20); and outfielder Moises Sierra (#30) round out the list.
OUT OF THE DRAFT: The Lugnuts have seven members of the 2007 Toronto draft class on their roster, including a first round pick and two supplemental first round picks. Third baseman Kevin Aherns was Toronto’s first round pick in ’07. Shortstop Justin Jackson and pitcher Tyler Magnusson were both supplemental first round picks. Infielder/outfielder John Tolisano was a second round pick. Pitcher Alan Farina (3rd), pitcher Brad Mills (4th), and catcher Joel Collins (10th) were also out of the 2007 draft.
VETERANS: Six members of the Lugnuts current team played in Lansing in 2007.
WEST MICHIGAN PITCHER: Kyle Ginley was a 17th round pick of the Blue Jays in the 2006 draft out of St. Petersburg (FL) Junior College. He was 7-6 with a 4.73ERA in 26 starts for the Lugnuts in 2007. Ginley faced the Timber Rattlers twice last season and got a no decision each time out. On May 20 in Grand Chute, he allowed one run on three hits over four innings and struck out seven. On July 14 in Lansing, he gave up two runs on seven hits over five innings with three strikeouts. Ginley is the reigning co-pitcher of the week in the Midwest League with teammate Nate Starner. In his last start, Ginley allowed an unearned run on five hits in 7-2/3 innings against Clinton on April 26. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts (19-1/3 innings). Ginley has struck out 19 in his last three starts.
GAGNIER THE GREAT: Whitecap starting pitcher Lauren struck out 11 Timber Rattlers over six shutout innings. He allowed three hits and walked two for his first win of the season.
JOHNNY WHOLESTAFF: The Timber Rattlers used Jake Wild as a spot starter and also used five relievers in the game. Wild, making his first start of the season, went 1-2/3 innings and gave up four runs (two earned). Keith Meyer pitched 4-1/3 scoreless innings as the first reliever. Ryan Moorer worked a scoreless inning. Rob Harmon allowed two runs and struck out a pair in 2/3 of a frame. Justin Souza retired the only batter he faced. Bryan Harris finished up the game with a scoreless ninth.
INAUSPICIOUS START: Wild gave up back-to-back singles to start the game. He got Justin Henry to hit a tailor-made double play ball to short, but the grounder was booted, all runners were safe, and a run scored. An RBI single and another error led to a third run in the inning.
AVOIDING THE SHUTOUT: Alex Meneses scored on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning for Wisconsin’s only run. The Rattlers have not been shutout yet in 2008.
KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE: Edilio Colina moved his hitting streak to 11 games (14-for-42) with a first inning single yesterday. That streak is the longest on the Rattler team this season.
MOVES: The Seattle Mariners have sent outfielder Kevin Reynolds and infielder Gerardo Avila to extended spring training. Replacing them are infielder Joe White and outfielder Scott Robinson. Both White and Robinson join the Rattlers from extended spring training.
MEET THE NEW GUYS: White, a 42nd round pick of the Mariners in the 2006 draft out of Georgia Perimeter College, played 57 games for the Timber Rattlers in 2007 and hit .291 with three homers and 35 RBI. White also had a 15-game hitting streak from August 2-19. Robinson was a 7th round pick of the Houston Astros in the 2002 draft out of Palomar College. He was the MVP of the South Coast League as a member of the Macon Music. He signed with Seattle after hitting .338 with 11 homers and 67 RBI.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Lansing Lugnuts are the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, the Lugnuts were 78-61 and qualified for the playoffs as the second half champions. They were swept by the West Michigan Whitecaps in the first round.
LUGNUTS IN 2008: Lansing is 14-11 and tied with Dayton for second place in the Eastern Division. Both teams trail first place West Michigan by one game. In their most recent series, Lasing faced Quad Cities in a three games that were held in three different Iowa cities due to flooding around the home ballpark of the River Bandits. Lansing went 1-2, winning the middle game at Clinton, but losing game one in Cedar Rapids and game three in Iowa City. Lansing is 7-2 at home this season under new manager Clayton McCullough.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .233 as a team and have scored 68 runs (3.1/game). Wisconsin has hit three homers. The Rattler pitching staff has an ERA of 3.92. The Lugnuts are hitting .285 as a team and have scored 126 runs (5.0/game). Lansing has hit 12 home runs. The Lugnut pitching staff has an ERA of 3.47.
2007 SEASON SERIES: Wisconsin went 1-7 against the Lugnuts last season. The Rattlers won the first meeting between the teams last season and dropped the next seven, including a sweep at the hands of the Lugnuts July 12-15 at Oldsmobile Park.
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook places eight members of the current Lansing roster on their list of top thirty prospects in the Toronto organization. Infielder Kevin Ahrens (#3) is the highest ranked of the eight. Infielders Justin Jackson (#6) and John Tolisano (#7) are also in the top ten. Outfielder Yohermyn Chavez (#12); pitcher Alan Farina (#15), pitcher Kyle Ginley (#17), pitcher Brad Mills (#20); and outfielder Moises Sierra (#30) round out the list.
OUT OF THE DRAFT: The Lugnuts have seven members of the 2007 Toronto draft class on their roster, including a first round pick and two supplemental first round picks. Third baseman Kevin Aherns was Toronto’s first round pick in ’07. Shortstop Justin Jackson and pitcher Tyler Magnusson were both supplemental first round picks. Infielder/outfielder John Tolisano was a second round pick. Pitcher Alan Farina (3rd), pitcher Brad Mills (4th), and catcher Joel Collins (10th) were also out of the 2007 draft.
VETERANS: Six members of the Lugnuts current team played in Lansing in 2007.
WEST MICHIGAN PITCHER: Kyle Ginley was a 17th round pick of the Blue Jays in the 2006 draft out of St. Petersburg (FL) Junior College. He was 7-6 with a 4.73ERA in 26 starts for the Lugnuts in 2007. Ginley faced the Timber Rattlers twice last season and got a no decision each time out. On May 20 in Grand Chute, he allowed one run on three hits over four innings and struck out seven. On July 14 in Lansing, he gave up two runs on seven hits over five innings with three strikeouts. Ginley is the reigning co-pitcher of the week in the Midwest League with teammate Nate Starner. In his last start, Ginley allowed an unearned run on five hits in 7-2/3 innings against Clinton on April 26. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts (19-1/3 innings). Ginley has struck out 19 in his last three starts.
Meet Lansing
That's Oldsmobile Park, the home of the Lansing Lugnuts. If you head west from the stadium and can you find the Michigan Capitol Building?
The Lugnuts joined the Midwest League in 1997. Their immediate predecessor was Springfield, but that was just a placeholder franchise in 1996. According to MWL Guide, the Lugnuts are historically the Waterloo team.
Lansing had Kansas City as their first major league parent club. They were a Chicago Cub affiliate from 1999-2004. The Lugnuts have had an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays since 2005.
Lansing won a MWL Championship in their first year and won their second league championship in 2003. They lost to the Peoria Chiefs in the 2002 finals.
Carlos Zambrano and Corey Patterson were both Lugnuts in 1999.
Lansing is the State Capital of Michigan and has a population of 300,032 (according to the 2000 census).
The campus of Michigan State University is east of Lansing in, um, East Lansing.
Want to learn more about the history of Michigan. Check out the Michigan Historical Museum or walk the Michigan Walk of Fame. Danny Thomas, Dr. Jonas Salk, and Gordie Howe were in the class of 2007.
Michigan automakers something that might interest you? RE Olds Transportation Museum may be for you.
Rattler History...Since 2000
Here is how the Rattlers have fared on May 1…since 2000
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 10-2 at home. Ryan Christianson homered and drove in two runs. Caleb Balbuena allowed one run on two hits over five innings for the win.
2001: The Rattlers were off.
2002: The game at Quad City was called after Joe Mauer hit a two-run homer off Tanner Watson in the bottom of the first. Rain delayed the start of the game by 93 minutes. Then, we sat around until 10:00pm before the game was finally called.
2003: The Rattlers won 4-2 at Dayton. There was a rain delay of one hour and 21 minutes during this game and Dave Viane got the win in relief of TA Fulmer. Jon Nelson and Dustin Delucchi each had RBI for the Rattlers.
2004: The Rattlers game at Fort Wayne was rained out
2005: The Rattlers lost 6-5 at South Bend. All of the scoring in this game was in the first three innings. Asdrubal Cabrera’s three-run double in the top of the second and Mike Wilson’s homer in the third gave the Rattlers brief leads, but Jason Snyder could not hold them.
2006: The Rattlers and the Whitecaps split a doubleheader. West Michigan won game one 9-4. Wisconsin took game two 4-3.
GAME ONE: The Whitecaps scored three in the first, two in the second, and two in the third. All seven runs were off Marwin Vega.
GAME TWO: A three run fourth was enough for the Rattlers to hang on for the win.
2007: The Rattlers lost 10-4 to Dayton at home. There was a 4-3 Rattler lead after a four run fourth inning. But, Dayton scored three in the sixth and four in the seventh.
A 3-3 record with a few off days. But, this was a great day for Timber Rattler history. Because on May 1, 2002, after the rainout in Quad Cities, I drove to Clinton and hit the riverboat casino. I hit a Royal Flush and pulled a little over $1,000 out of there. As I said...Great day!
2000: The Rattlers beat Burlington 10-2 at home. Ryan Christianson homered and drove in two runs. Caleb Balbuena allowed one run on two hits over five innings for the win.
2001: The Rattlers were off.
2002: The game at Quad City was called after Joe Mauer hit a two-run homer off Tanner Watson in the bottom of the first. Rain delayed the start of the game by 93 minutes. Then, we sat around until 10:00pm before the game was finally called.
2003: The Rattlers won 4-2 at Dayton. There was a rain delay of one hour and 21 minutes during this game and Dave Viane got the win in relief of TA Fulmer. Jon Nelson and Dustin Delucchi each had RBI for the Rattlers.
2004: The Rattlers game at Fort Wayne was rained out
2005: The Rattlers lost 6-5 at South Bend. All of the scoring in this game was in the first three innings. Asdrubal Cabrera’s three-run double in the top of the second and Mike Wilson’s homer in the third gave the Rattlers brief leads, but Jason Snyder could not hold them.
2006: The Rattlers and the Whitecaps split a doubleheader. West Michigan won game one 9-4. Wisconsin took game two 4-3.
GAME ONE: The Whitecaps scored three in the first, two in the second, and two in the third. All seven runs were off Marwin Vega.
GAME TWO: A three run fourth was enough for the Rattlers to hang on for the win.
2007: The Rattlers lost 10-4 to Dayton at home. There was a 4-3 Rattler lead after a four run fourth inning. But, Dayton scored three in the sixth and four in the seventh.
A 3-3 record with a few off days. But, this was a great day for Timber Rattler history. Because on May 1, 2002, after the rainout in Quad Cities, I drove to Clinton and hit the riverboat casino. I hit a Royal Flush and pulled a little over $1,000 out of there. As I said...Great day!
Midwest League Action (Games of 4/30)
April 30 scoreboard.
West Michigan 6, @Wisconsin 1: It was a long day for the Rattlers.
@Beloit 4, South Bend 2: Three-run 7th for the Snappers.
Fort Wayne 11, @Kane County 5: Nine-run 4th for the Wizards.
@Peoria 5, Dayton 0
Dayton 5, @Peoria 4 (F/9): It may have been a split, but at least game two didn't go 20 innings.
Quad Cities 4, Lansing 3 @Iowa City: The River Bandits are 1-0 at Duane Banks Field.
@Burlington 6, Cedar Rapids 3: Sometimes it is just about finding a way.
@Clinton 6, Great Lakes 4: And it's another win for the L-Kings.
West Michigan 6, @Wisconsin 1: It was a long day for the Rattlers.
@Beloit 4, South Bend 2: Three-run 7th for the Snappers.
Fort Wayne 11, @Kane County 5: Nine-run 4th for the Wizards.
@Peoria 5, Dayton 0
Dayton 5, @Peoria 4 (F/9): It may have been a split, but at least game two didn't go 20 innings.
Quad Cities 4, Lansing 3 @Iowa City: The River Bandits are 1-0 at Duane Banks Field.
@Burlington 6, Cedar Rapids 3: Sometimes it is just about finding a way.
@Clinton 6, Great Lakes 4: And it's another win for the L-Kings.
Mariner System Report (Games of 4/30)
SEATTLE (MAJ: 13-15 3rd American League West): The Mariners lost 8-3 at Cleveland. Wladimir Balentien (’04) hit a three-run homer in his 2008 debut with the big league club.
TACOMA (AAA: 13-12, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers lost 7-6 to New Orleans. Brian LaHair (’04) homered and Jeremy Reed drove in four runs for Tacoma. Ryan Feierabend (’02) allowed one run over seven innings, but got a no decision as Tacoma couldn't hold the lead.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 17-10, 3rd Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 4-3. West Tennessee scored twice in the eighth to tie the game 2-2. Marshall Hubbard (’05) knocked in two runs with a single in the top of the ninth for the lead. Mumba Rivera (’05) got the save.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 13-14, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 11-8 to San Jose. Greg Hallman (’07) homered and drove in two runs and Johan Limonta (’06) also drove in two runs for High Desert. But, the Giants stole nine bases in the game.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Miguel Batista 2-3) at Cleveland (Paul Byrd 1-2) 6:05pm CDT
New Orleans at Tacoma 9:00pm CDT
West Tennessee (Justin Thomas 0-2) at Carolina (Aaron Thompson 0-2) 6:15pm CDT
San Jose at High Desert 9:05pm CDT
TACOMA (AAA: 13-12, 2nd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers lost 7-6 to New Orleans. Brian LaHair (’04) homered and Jeremy Reed drove in four runs for Tacoma. Ryan Feierabend (’02) allowed one run over seven innings, but got a no decision as Tacoma couldn't hold the lead.
WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 17-10, 3rd Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx beat Carolina 4-3. West Tennessee scored twice in the eighth to tie the game 2-2. Marshall Hubbard (’05) knocked in two runs with a single in the top of the ninth for the lead. Mumba Rivera (’05) got the save.
HIGH DESERT (High-A: 13-14, 2nd California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 11-8 to San Jose. Greg Hallman (’07) homered and drove in two runs and Johan Limonta (’06) also drove in two runs for High Desert. But, the Giants stole nine bases in the game.
MARINER SYSTEM SCHEDULE TODAY
Seattle (Miguel Batista 2-3) at Cleveland (Paul Byrd 1-2) 6:05pm CDT
New Orleans at Tacoma 9:00pm CDT
West Tennessee (Justin Thomas 0-2) at Carolina (Aaron Thompson 0-2) 6:15pm CDT
San Jose at High Desert 9:05pm CDT
You're never going to believe this....
It's 3:00am and I'm running a little late. The posts will be up later...probably from the hotel or the ballpark.
But, I did want to get this reminder up
By the way, Tickets for the Donald Driver charity softball game go on sale at 10:00am today. Call for tickets (920) 733-4152 or 1-800-WI-TIMBER. Or, stop by the stadium. Or, check out the Rattler website.
How about a Haiku to hold this spot until later today?
Early mornings don't
bother me at all because
this is who I am.
But, I did want to get this reminder up
By the way, Tickets for the Donald Driver charity softball game go on sale at 10:00am today. Call for tickets (920) 733-4152 or 1-800-WI-TIMBER. Or, stop by the stadium. Or, check out the Rattler website.
How about a Haiku to hold this spot until later today?
Early mornings don't
bother me at all because
this is who I am.
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