Juan Sanchez......CF
Michael Marseco...SS
Corey Kemp.........C
Brock Kjeldgaard..LF
Chris Dennis......RF
John Delaney......3B
Jose Duran........DH
Edgar Trejo.......1B
Steve Braun.......2B

Cody Adams........SP

SCHEDULED STARTER

RHP CODY ADAMS: Selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2008 draft out of Southern Illinois University.

SALUKI: Adams was 6-4 in 14 starts in his last season at SIU. He had an ERA of 3.75 and a pair of complete games. In his career at SIU, Adams went 21-13 with a 3.64ERA in 57 career appearances (36 starts). He went 11-5 as a sophomore in 2007.

FIRST SINCE: Adams was the first Southern Illinois University baseball player to be selected in the top three rounds of the draft since pitcher Eric Haberer was a third round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 draft.

SCHOOL DAYS: While pitching for Sherarrd (IL) High School, Adams was a four-time All-Conference and All-Area pick. As a senior, Adams was a First Team All-State selection.

LAST SEASON: Adams was a member of the Helena Brewers in the Pioneer League for his first pro season. Adams made 14 appearances (five starts) and was 5-4 with a 3.48ERA for Helena.

RANKING: Baseball America rated Adams as the #28 prospect in the Milwaukee minor league system heading into the 2009 season.

LAST START: Adams got the start at Beloit on May 25. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks over 4-1/3 innings. The Rattlers had the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Adams could not get out of the fifth to qualify for the win.

VS. KANE COUNTY: Adams pitched four innings at Kane County on May 20 in a start against the Cougars. He walked four, gave up four hits, and allowed four runs (three earned) in a no decision.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 8.0 (@ Billings 9/5/08)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (2x; Last: @ Clinton 4/18/09)

SCHEDULED RELIEVER

LHP DANIEL MEADOWS: Selected by Milwaukee in the 49th round of the 2008 draft out of Temple Junior College in Texas.

LEOPARD SPOTS: Meadows was 9-5 in two seasons at Temple Junior College.

NO TO TECH: Meadows chose to sign with the Brewers over a scholarship offer to Texas Tech.

PRO DEBUT: Meadows started his professional career with the Arizona League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He made three relief appearances and was 0-1 with an ERA of 0.00.

MOVIN’ ON: Meadows was promoted to the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League in early July and would appear in 12 games (six starts). Meadows was 2-3 with a 5.45 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 39-2/3 innings.

HE’S A PLAYER…OF THE WEEK: Meadows was named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week on May 11. He appeared in three games during the week of May 4 through 10 and was 2-0 and allowed one run over 10 innings with a walk and nine strikeouts.

ON TO CLINTON: Meadows was selected to pitch for the Western Division in the 2009 Midwest League All-Star Game.

AS A STARTER: In four starts this season, Meadows is 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA. He has gone at least five innings in all four of his starts.

IN RELIEF: In his 11 appearances as a reliever, Meadows is 5-1 with a pair of blown saves and an ERA of 4.22.

LAST APPERANCE: Meadows got a spot start in the first game of a doubleheader against the Beloit Snappers on June 7. He pitched five innings, walked five, allowed one run on three hits, and struck out five in a Timber Rattlers victory. The win was his ninth of the season.

VS. KANE COUNTY: Meadows pitched 2-2/3 innings in relief at Kane County on May 22. He allowed one hit and no runs with no walks and three strikeouts.

PROFESSIONAL BESTS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 6.0 (5/30/09 at West Michigan)
STRIKEOUTS: 7 (8/28/08 at Missoula)

From the game notes of the Kane County Cougars...

The Cougars are the only team in the league with four players (Kleen 40, Coleman 37, Christian 34, and Desme 33) with 30-plus RBIs

Matt Ray is 0-for-16 in his last five games and 2-for-40 in the last 10

Jeremy Barfield is 0-for-13 in his last four games

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Brock Kjeldgaard hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie and give the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers a 7-4 win over the Kane County Cougars.

FIRST INNING FIREWORKS: The teams combined for five runs in the first inning. Kane County scored three on three hits off Rattler starting pitcher Dan Merklinger. Steve Kleen drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Grant Desme’s two-run homer with two outs put the Cougars up 3-0. Wisconsin scored a pair of runs on one hit in the bottom of the first. Cougars starting pitcher Anthony Capra walked four batters in the frame and the Rattlers got an RBI double from Corey Kemp and a sacrifice fly from Kjeldgaard.

TEN DEEP BREATHS: Merklinger regrouped after the first inning and allowed one run – a solo homer by Petey Paramore in the top of the fifth – and two hits over his next 5-2/3 innings. In

BRAND NEW GAME: Wisconsin tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on four consecutive hits against reliever Scott Deal. Kjeldgaard started the inning with a double and John Delaney followed with a single. Back-to-back RBI singles by Michael Vass and Jose Duran evened the score 4-4.

RITCHIE RICH: Rattler reliever Brandon Ritchie entered the game for Merklinger in the top of the seventh with a runner at second and two outs. Ritchie got out of inning and did not allow a run over the next two innings. He is tied with Jim Henderson for the most appearances (21) by a reliever this season and lowered his ERA to 1.80.

WOO HOO! In the bottom of the ninth, Juan Sanchez singled and was sacrificed to second by Michael Marseco. Kemp was walked intentionally by Jamie Richmond to set up the double play and was relieved by Justin Murray. Murray struck out Chris Dennis and got ahead of Kjeldgaard 1-2. Kjeldgaard lined the next pitch down the left field line for the game winning homer.

TEAM LEADER: Kjeldgaard’s homer was his team-leading ninth of the season. Last night was his first home run since May 26. It was also his first home run at home since May 7.

JUST OVER A YEAR: The last “walk-off” homer for the Timber Rattlers was on June 5, 2008. Gavin Dickey hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the tenth to beat Quad Cities 4-3.

HOMESTAND: The Rattlers are in the midst of a 12-game home stand. They are 4-5 in the first nine games. Wisconsin hosts Kane County tonight 10 through June 13 to wrap up the home schedule in the first half.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Kane County Cougars are the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are 36-23 and in first place in the Midwest League Western Division. The Cougars have a one game lead over the Cedar Rapids Kernels and are four games up on Clinton for the Wild Card Spot. There are 11 games remaining in the first half. Kane County saw their three game winning streak end with the loss last night.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .246 as a team. They have scored 250 runs (4.2/game) and have hit 34 home runs. The Cougars are hitting .259 as a team. They have scored 314 runs (5.3/game) and hit 49 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a staff ERA of 4.17 and have allowed 281 runs (4.8/game). Kane County pitchers have an ERA of 3.63 and have allowed 246 runs (4.2/game). The Timber Rattlers defense has committed 74 errors. The Cougars defense has committed 69 errors. Wisconsin is 19-14 at home. Kane County is 15-13 on the road.

SEASON SERIES: The season series is tied 2-2 through four games. The Rattlers were 1-2 in a three game series at Elfstrom Stadium from May 20-22. The Rattlers won game one 7-5, but the Cougars won the final two games by scores of 7-6 and 6-3.

ALL-STARS: Kane County placed seven players on the Western Division squad for the upcoming Midwest League All-Star Game. Four Cougars will start for the West: First baseman Steve Kleen, shortstop Dusty Coleman, third baseman Jason Christian, and designated hitter Jeremy Barfield. Three Kane County pitchers also made the team: Starters Shawn Haviland and Kenny Smalley and reliever Jamie Richmond.

KANE COUNTY STARTING PITCHER: Shawn Haviland was selected by Oakland in the 33rd round of the 2008 draft out of Harvard. He went 2-6 with two saves and an ERA of 5.46 in 13 games (8 starts) in his final year with the Crimson. Haviland was 2-3 with a 3.48ERA and 61 strikeouts in 54-1/3 innings over 18 innings (9 starts) for Vancouver in the Northwest League in 2008. In his start prior to this evening, Haviland lost to Peoria at Elfstrom Stadium on June 6. He allowed six runs on seven hits over 4-1/3 innings. Haviland faced the Timber Rattlers back on May 21 at Elfstrom Stadium. He allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six over seven innings, but got a no decision.

The regular afternoon posts will be alone momentarily. I just need a few minutes. You see....

It was a TV taping day today for Timber Rattlers Field Pass.

Interviews with Jim Henderson and Steve Braun. Plus, I did a little bullpen session with Timber Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook. My arm still hurts and yes, this is everything you thought it would be from a guy who hasn't thrown a pitch since Little League.

This show should air right around June 23 on Sports 32.