Link Report for Mon. 5/2 -- Slumbering offenses abound

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Josh Butler at Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

 

Huntsville: RHP Cody Scarpetta at Mississippi (Braves), 7:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link - Braves' feed

Brevard County: RHP Maverick Lasker at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 9:35 AM gametime

Sorry, no audio available for this game...

 

Wisconsin: RHP Austin Ross at Quad Cities (Cardinals), 10:45 AM pre-game; 11:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	14	9	.609	-	-	9-3	5-6	8-2	L1
	Iowa	12	11	.522	2.0	120	5-2	7-9	5-5	W1
	Memphis	9	13	.409	4.5	118	8-7	1-6	5-5	W1
	Nashville	9	13	.409	4.5	118	6-8	3-5	3-7	W1

 

 

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Huntsville	15	8	.652	-	-	8-1	7-7	7-3	W1
	Tennessee	15	9	.625	0.5	47	6-3	9-6	6-4	L2
	Jackson	12	10	.545	2.5	46	2-6	10-4	7-3	W4
	Chattanooga	12	12	.500	3.5	44	5-9	7-3	3-7	L4
	Carolina	7	17	.292	8.5	39	5-10	2-7	4-6	W2

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	16	8	.667	-	-	9-4	7-4	7-3	L2
	Clearwater	15	9	.625	1.0	46	8-4	7-5	7-3	W2
	Lakeland	12	12	.500	4.0	43	8-5	4-7	3-7	W1
	Brevard County	10	14	.417	6.0	41	4-9	6-5	5-5	L1
	Dunedin	10	14	.417	6.0	41	2-8	8-6	6-4	W2
	Tampa	9	15	.375	7.0	40	3-8	6-7	2-8	L4

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	16	6	.727	-	-	8-2	8-4	7-3	W1
	Cedar Rapids	15	8	.652	1.5	-	7-3	8-5	7-3	W1
	Beloit	13	8	.619	2.5	48	8-4	5-4	6-4	W1
	Peoria	12	11	.522	4.5	45	4-3	8-8	6-4	L1
	Quad Cities	11	12	.478	5.5	44	5-8	6-4	5-5	L1
	Wisconsin	8	12	.400	7.0	44	5-8	3-4	3-7	W1
	Kane County	8	16	.333	9.0	40	4-7	4-9	3-7	L1
	Clinton	7	17	.292	10.0	39	3-11	4-6	3-7	L1

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers Radio Blog --

 

Tale of train blocking and today's game notes

[Mass Haas]

At the risk of a major jinx, this should be enough for Austin Ross, don't you think?

 

Wisconsin Top of the 1st

• Nick Shaw grounds out, second baseman Greg Garcia to first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez.
  
• Cody Hawn walks.
  
• Michael Walker homers (5) on a fly ball to left center field. Cody Hawn scores.
  
• Chris Dennis homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field.
  
• Robert Garvey grounds out, second baseman Greg Garcia to first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez.
  
• Franklin Romero flies out to right fielder Chris Edmondson.

[Mass Haas]

Only four earned runs allowed by Maverick Lasker in his three starts (17 innings) since a disastrous April 16th outing. Five scoreless today, will get a no-decision; Manatees trail 3-0 after six innings.

 

Without a lot of research, it's been a rough season-to-date for bullpen arms, no?

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

Still no starting plans for Mark Rogers through at least Friday...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lakeland (Tigers) 3, @Brevard County 1

Excrutiating...

Brevard County Box Score

Both clubs (but especially Brevard) failed to capitalize on opportunities on another picture-perfect day in Viera / Melbourne, sunny 78 degrees; as noted earlier, RHP Maverick Lasker, still only 21 years, two months old, was impressive -- 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K, only one fly ball out. The Flying Tigers put eight men on base through the first four innings (two via errors from the left side of the Manatee infield), yet Lasker held firm. After all those high-pressure pitches early on, he capped his afternoon with a 1-2-3 5th, great to see. R.J. Seidel came on in the 6th, followed by Rob Wooten, and this is how three runs are allowed despite only one base hit, a single at that --

 

Lakeland Top of the 6th

• Pitcher Change: R. J. Seidel replaces Maverick Lasker.
  
• Jordan Lennerton walks.
  
• With Avisail Garcia batting, wild pitch by R. J. Seidel, Jordan Lennerton to 2nd.
  
• Avisail Garcia singles on a line drive to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Jordan Lennerton to 3rd.
  
• Corey Jones out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Jordan Lennerton scores.
  
• Daniel Fields walks. Avisail Garcia to 2nd.
  
• Julio Rodriguez hit by pitch. Avisail Garcia to 3rd. Daniel Fields to 2nd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Robert Wooten replaces R. J. Seidel.
  
• Gustavo Nunez hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Robert Wooten. Avisail Garcia scores. Daniel Fields to 3rd. Julio Rodriguez to 2nd. Gustavo Nunez to 1st.
  
• Brent Wyatt out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Daniel Fields scores.
  
• Tony Plagman grounds out, second baseman Ryan Gennett to first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard.

Eight Brevard batsmen each singled exactly once, with Khris Davis, Mike Brownstein and D'Vontrey Richardson among those, and those three walked as well. Two bases (Shawn Zarraga his 4th, Scooter Gennett his 3rd) were stolen successfully. So how did only one Manatee runner cross home plate? See below...

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 1st

• Ryan Gennett flies out to center fielder Daniel Fields.
  
• Kentrail Davis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Daniel Fields.
  
• Hunter Morris singles on a ground ball to right fielder Avisail Garcia. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
  
• Khristopher Davis grounds into double play, shortstop Gustavo Nunez to second baseman Corey Jones to first baseman Jordan Lennerton. Hunter Morris out at 2nd.

Brevard County Bottom of the 7th (Only one run)

• Hunter Morris grounds out to first baseman Jordan Lennerton.
  
• Khristopher Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Daniel Fields.
  
• D' Vontrey Richardson walks. Khristopher Davis to 2nd.
  
• Brock Kjeldgaard flies out to center fielder Daniel Fields.
  
• Shawn Zarraga singles on a line drive to center fielder Daniel Fields. Khristopher Davis scores. D' Vontrey Richardson to 3rd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Matt Little replaces Victor Larez.
  
• With Shea Vucinich batting, Shawn Zarraga steals (3) 2nd base.
  
• Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging.

And this is just a great way to disappoint nearly 2,000 fans, most of which were schoolchildren, we imagine -- bases loaded, nobody out, and then (sigh...)

 

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Kenny Faulk replaces Matt Little.
  
• Khristopher Davis walks.
  
• D' Vontrey Richardson singles on a line drive to right fielder Avisail Garcia. Khristopher Davis to 2nd.
  
• Brock Kjeldgaard singles on a line drive to right fielder Avisail Garcia. Khristopher Davis to 3rd. D' Vontrey Richardson to 2nd.
  
• Shawn Zarraga called out on strikes.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Scott Krieger replaces Shea Vucinich.
  
• Scott Krieger strikes out swinging.
  
• Mike Brownstein flies out to right fielder Avisail Garcia.

Kudos to reliever Corey Frerichs for keeping it close late.

[Mass Haas]

More later, as the Rattlers are holding on to a 4-3 lead entering the 9th inning.

 

But reliever Tyler Cravy has been amazing. He came on in the 7th, inheriting a one-out bases loaded situation and answering with two K's.

 

He then proceeded to strike out the side (and more) in the 8th, stranding two more baserunners.

 

He's pitched 1.2 innings but has six, not five, strikeouts. How? One man reached on a wild pitch. Amazingly fun baseball circumstances.

 

Wild stuff, the Rattlers have missed their opportunities, it's 2:00 PM Central and if you're around now, catch the end of Chris' call

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin holds on for a very satisfying, if not knee-buckling 4-3 win.

 

We'll wait for Chris Mehring's detailed summary next hour, but for now, fully digest an eventful game log and enjoy.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Wisconsin 4, @Quad Cities (Cardinals) 3

 

What a relief! Rattlers bullpen holds off Banditsby Chris Mehring

DAVENPORT, IA – Six Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitchers combined to strikeout 18 Quad Cities River Bandits hitters in a 4-3 victory Monday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park. The Rattlers built an early 4-1 lead and a struggling corps of Rattlers relievers shined to hold off late inning rallies by the Bandits.

 

Mike Walker started the scoring for Wisconsin (9-12) with a long two-run homer to left-center. Chris Dennis was next and he homered to right-center for back-to-back homers and a 3-0 Wisconsin lead. Dennis cracked his homer in his first at bat of the season for the Rattlers. He had just joined the team Sunday when he came off the disabled list of the Brevard County Manatees, the Florida State League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Quad Cities (11-13) got a run back off Rattlers starter Austin Ross when Nick Longmire scored from third on a wild pitch.

 

Wisconsin got that run back in the top of the fourth when Franklin Romero scored from third on a passed ball for a 4-1 lead.

 

Ross kept the Bandits off the board until the sixth inning. Longmire doubled to right with runners on first and second to drive in one run and cut Wisconsin’s lead to 4-2. Stosh Wawrzasek entered the game and got out of the inning with a strikeout and a deep fly ball to left that Robbie Garvey tracked down for the final out.

 

Quad Cities made the game interesting in the seventh. Damon Krestalude gave up a leadoff triple and a walk before getting a strikeout for the first out. Brian Garman relieved Krestalude and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch before walking two batters to load the bases.

 

Tyler Cravy, the third Wisconsin pitcher of the seventh inning, escaped the frame by recording two strikeouts and stranding all three runners on base.

 

Cravy struck out Chris Edmondson to start the bottom of the eighth, but a wild pitch on strike three allowed Edmondson to reach. One strikeout later, a single by Yunier Castillo put runners at first and second. Cravy threw another wild pitch to move the tying run to third and the go ahead run to second. Then, Cravy struck out the next two batters and Wisconsin still clung to the one run lead.

 

Greg Holle came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth and gave up a single to the leadoff batter. A fielder’s choice was followed by a strikeout, the eighteenth of the game for Rattlers pitching.

 

Longmire stepped up as the last chance for the River Bandits with the tying run still at first and he appeared to have grounded a single to center. Second baseman Nick Shaw ranged into shallow center and made a backhand stop. Then, without pause, Shaw flipped the ball from his glove to shortstop Carlos George at second base. George made a barehanded catch for the force out at second and the Rattlers held on for the win.

 

Game three of the series is set for Wednesday. Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 3.46) is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers. Quad Cities sends Trevor Rosenthal (1-2, 2.78) to the mound for the 7:00 PM.

 

Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or on timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40 PM

 

Wisconsin Box Score

18 K's, wow! Starter Austin Ross fanned nine, walked four and allowed two runs in his 5 2/3. So he certainly deserved the win by sheer force of workload to go to 3-0. As Chris noted, check out the big bailout of Ross provided by Stosh Wawrzasek to preserve Ross' line --

 

Quad Cities Bottom of the 6th

• Patrick Elkins walks.
  
• Jonathan Rodriguez singles on a fly ball to left fielder Robert Garvey. Patrick Elkins to 2nd.
  
• Kyle Conley strikes out swinging.
  
• Nicholas Longmire doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Franklin Romero. Patrick Elkins scores. Jonathan Rodriguez to 3rd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Stosh Wawrzasek replaces Austin Ross.
  
• Chris Edmondson strikes out swinging.
  
• Juan Castillo flies out to left fielder Robert Garvey.

LHP Brian Garman was expected to close this year for Wisconsin, almost assuredly, but he's been nothing short of lost, and hopefully finds his way back soon. The teams combined to go 2-for-23 with RISP. Chris Dennis stole a base, he was 11-for-14 in that department last year. Nick Shaw is 1-for-33 in his last ten games, and even the six walks he's had in that stretch can't pretty that up. Cody Hawn drew two walks, he'll need to continue to build on that as the free passes weren't plentiful in April. Big (and sneaky speedy) Jason Rogers is missed in the middle of the lineup, hope to see him again by mid-June (hand surgery).

 

Wisconsin Play-by-Play

Tyler Cravy's hold-your-breath heroics in the 7th and 8th --

 

Quad Cities Bottom of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Damon Krestalude replaces Stosh Wawrzasek.
  
• Yunier Castillo triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Franklin Romero.
  
• Greg Garcia walks.
  
• Frederick Parejo strikes out swinging.
  
• Pitcher Change: Brian Garman replaces Damon Krestalude.
  
• With Patrick Elkins batting, passed ball by Tony Pechek, Yunier Castillo scores. Greg Garcia to 2nd.
  
• With Patrick Elkins batting, passed ball by Tony Pechek, Greg Garcia to 3rd.
  
• Patrick Elkins walks.
  
• Jonathan Rodriguez walks. Patrick Elkins to 2nd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Tyler Cravy replaces Brian Garman.
  
• Kyle Conley strikes out swinging.
  
• Nicholas Longmire strikes out swinging.

Quad Cities Bottom of the 8th

• Chris Edmondson strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Tyler Cravy. Chris Edmondson to 1st.
  
• Juan Castillo strikes out swinging.
  
• Yunier Castillo singles on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Keen. Chris Edmondson to 2nd.
  
• With Greg Garcia batting, wild pitch by Tyler Cravy, Chris Edmondson to 3rd. Yunier Castillo to 2nd.
  
• Greg Garcia strikes out swinging.
  
• Frederick Parejo called out on strikes.

[Mass Haas]

'Tees fall in matinee to Lakeland

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. -- Five shutout innings and seven strikeouts from starting pitcher Maverick Lasker wasn't enough as the Brevard County Manatees closed out its six-game homestand with a 3-1 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Monday afternoon, in front of 1,987 fans.

 

Lasker handed the ball over to R.J. Seidel in the sixth and Seidel proceeded to walk the lead-off batter, throw a wild pitch to move the runner to second and then give up a single to put runners on the corners.

 

A sacrifice fly by Corey Jones then put Lakeland up 1-0. After another walk and a hit batter, Seidel left the game with no outs and the bases loaded in the inning. Rob Wooten came in to try and limit the damage, but he booted a sacrifice bunt attempt by Gustavo Nunez, to allow the second run of the inning to score.

 

Lakeland would add one more with another sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead. The Manatees would cut into the lead in the seventh, thanks to a two-out RBI single from Shawn Zarraga that scored Khris Davis.

 

Brevard County had a runner on second with one out in the eighth but came up empty.

 

In the ninth, the Manatees were able to load the bases with no outs as Khris Davis drew a walk and D'Vontrey Richardson and Brock Kjeldgaard hit back-to-back singles. But Zarraga struck out looking for the first out, pinch hitter Scott Krieger struck out on three pitches for out number two and Mike Brownstein flew out to right to end the threat and the game.

 

Brevard County finishes the six-game home stand with a 2-4 mark and will now hit the road for three games against the Dunedin Blue Jays, beginning on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central). The Manatees will be back at home on Friday, May 6th against the Daytona Cubs.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Maverick Lasker threw five shutout innings and struck out seven, but it was in a losing effort as Brevard County fell 3-1 to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Monday afternoon, in front of 1,987 fans. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/05/02/OGV93ZZU.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Latest from Buck Rogers in Huntsville --

The Huntsville Stars will host a Tornado Relief Day at the Ballpark on Wednesday, May 4th. Gates open at 10:00 am for an 11:03 am start.

 

There will be no charge for parking or tickets, however, donations will be accepted for the American Red Cross' Tornado Relief Fund for Madison County.

 

North Alabama residents have showed patience and understanding during this past week. Those that need a break from clean-up and recovery efforts can come take in a game of a few innings and relax. The weather is supposed to be wonderful, 0% chance of rain.

 

Thanks to all the restaurants, grocery stores, churches and individuals who donated food and time to help us feed first responders and area residents since Thursday morning. I may have forgotten one or two of them, but they include Sodexo, Brix, Cafe Berlin, Panera Bread, Baumhower's Wings, Rolo's, Whitesburg Baptist Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Publix and Star Market. I know there are some that I've forgotten, and many residents brought their food over as well. These groups of people certainly went above and beyond the call of duty in making this grass roots operation successful.

 

The meal count was around 8,000.

 

Please pass this message to your family, friends and co-workers.

 

Rock On!

[battlekow]

Final: @Oklahoma City 2, Nashville 1

Sounds Open Road Trip With 2-1 Loss

Nashville Sounds

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Three Oklahoma City pitchers held the Sounds to only two hits in the RedHawks' 2-1 victory over Nashville on Monday evening at RedHawks Field in the opener of a four-game series.

Left-hander Douglas Arguello (2-1) picked up the win for Oklahoma City by hurling a quality start, holding Nashville to one run on two hits while fanning five in his six frames of action.

Fernando Rodriguez followed with two hitless innings, striking out three, before Jose Valdez closed out the win with a scoreless ninth for the RedHawks to earn his third save.

Caleb Gindl and Mike Rivera each singled in the contest to account for Nashville's lone hits.

The loss continued a trend of recent struggles for the Sounds in Oklahoma City. Since the start of the 2008 season, Nashville is just 6-19 in games played at RedHawks Field.

Oklahoma City grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Sounds starter Josh Butler. Following a leadoff single by Jose Vallejo, the right-hander issued consecutive walks to J.B. Shuck and ex-Sound Carlos Corporan to load the bases. Vallejo plated the game's first run when Butler recovered to induce a double play grounder from Koby Clemens.

Nashville evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the second against Arguello, loading the bases with no outs using a pair of walks sandwiched around a Gindl single. After Rivera was forced out at the plate on a Taylor Green grounder to first, Gindl raced home with the tying run a batter later as Butler helped his own cause with an RBI groundout to third.

Butler again minimized damage following a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fourth, permitting just one run in the frame on an Arguello sacrifice fly as the RedHawks pulled back in front by a 2-1 margin. The right-hander then induced an inning-ending double play groundout from Vallejo.

Butler (1-2) took the loss after giving up two runs on four hits over four innings, walking a Sounds season-high five batters while striking out three.

Brewers left-hander Manny Parra made his seventh rehab appearance for Nashville and retired all three batters he faced. He carries a 6.10 ERA (7er/10.1ip) in his rehab stint with the Sounds.

Brendan Katin went 0-for-3 for the Sounds to snap his season-best hit streak at five games.

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Tuesday evening. Left-hander Chase Wright (0-1, 1.64) will make his first start of the season for the Sounds. Oklahoma City will counter with right-hander Henry Villar (1-0, 4.76).

Nashville box score

Two hits, but six walks--Green and Luis Figueroa were the only starting position players not to draw a free pass. Mat Gamel committed his second error at first base. Is the Eric Farris, shortstop experiment over? He hasn't played there since the 22nd. Mike McClendon tossed his 9th consecutive scoreless inning.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Mississippi 2, Huntsville 0

Huntsville box score

A dismal offensive evening in the Brewers system. The Stars managed just three baserunners, singles by Lee Haydel, Erik Komatsu, and Steffan Wilson. Cody Scarpetta again was inefficient with his pitches, needing 93 to get through five innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four. He threw 59 strikes.

Huntsville play-by-play

At least the Stars had the good sense to group two of their three hits together, and leading off an inning to boot, but the opportunity was quickly squandered:

Huntsville Top of the 8th

• Steffan Wilson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Antoan Richardson.
• Erik Komatsu singles on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Lemon. Steffan Wilson to 2nd.
• Martin Maldonado grounds into double play, shortstop Jordan Kreke to second baseman C. Retherford to first baseman Geraldo Rodriguez. Steffan Wilson to 3rd. Erik Komatsu out at 2nd.
• Matt Cline flies out to right fielder Cory Harrilchak.

[Mass Haas]

The River Bandits weren't too quick to credit Timber Rattler hurlers --

 

Pull-happy Bandits strike out 18 times in loss

Steve Batterson, Quad City Times

There was a nice breeze Monday afternoon on the banks of the Mississippi River and the Quad-Cities River Bandits did their part to contribute to it.

 

Quad-Cities batters struck out a season-high 18 times in a 4-3 Midwest League loss to Wisconsin, including 10 times over the final four innings as they attempted to chip away at the Timber Rattlers' lead.

 

Eight of the 12 runners the River Bandits left on base were stranded in scoring position and in addition to disappointing the kid-filled crowd of 5,028 - the largest of the season at Modern Woodmen Park - the effort drew the ire of manager Johnny Rodriguez.

 

"Their pitchers did not show me an out pitch. We didn't have the right offensive approach at all," Rodriguez said. "We didn't use the middle of the field. We got pull happy. It was hard to watch."

 

At least Rodriguez had company from his viewing vantage in the third-base coach's box.

 

Quad-Cities had runners on third with one out in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings but mustered just two runs.

 

"Opportunities were there all day. We couldn't make the most of them, and that is what is frustrating," said Nick Longmire, who collected a pair of doubles but struck out with the bases loaded to end the seventh.

 

The River Bandits played from behind almost from the onset. Mike Walker and Chris Dennis delivered back-to-back homers in the top of the first inning to give the Timber Rattlers a 3-0 edge.

 

Longmire cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth with a run-scoring double, but as was the case in the eighth inning, Quad-Cities stranded runners on second and third.

 

Yunier Castillo opened the seventh with a triple and scored on a passed ball in the seventh to pull the River Bandits within a run.

 

After a pair of Wisconsin pitchers walked the bases full with one out, the Rattlers gave the ball to Tyler Cravy, who came in and struck out Kyle Conley and Longmire to end the threat.

 

"We had enough chances, but we didn't put any pressure on their defense at all," Rodriguez said. "Your job as a professional is to shorten your swing with two strikes, work the middle of the field, put the ball in play, and we didn't do that. They were giving us runs and we didn't take them."

 

K COUNT: Wisconsin pitcher Austin Ross, an eighth-round pick of the Brewers in the 2010 draft from LSU, continued his early-season dominance of the Midwest League as he improved to 3-0.

 

In his 5 1/3 innings Monday, Ross struck out nine and scattered four hits, extending a string which has seen him work at least five innings in each of his five starts. Right-handers are hitting .148 against Ross, while left-handers are hitting .146.

 

The Timber Rattlers used six pitchers Monday, but Ross and Cravy combined for 15 of the 18 strikeouts recorded by Wisconsin pitchers.

 

QUOTEBOOK: "He's been mashing against us. He's had a couple of homers and is showing what he can do.'' - River Bandits outfielder Nick Longmire, referring to his former Pacific teammate Mike Walker, a Wisconsin infielder who belted a two-run homer vs. the River Bandits on Monday

 

SCORE IT: From the something you don't see every day department, the Timber Rattlers' Tony Pechek advanced teammate Carlos George with a 1-4-3 sacrifice in the fourth inning.

 

The grounder glanced off the glove of pitcher Zach Russell and was scooped up by second baseman Greg Garcia who threw to Jonathan Rodriguez at first to complete the rare sacrifice.

[Mass Haas]

Chris' Rattler post-game thoughts list keeps getting longer, and we love it.