It was a week that plenty of close games;
With the Rattlers winning most, sometimes in late frames.
There were two "walk-off" wins, if you are into that term;
But, there was also one inning -- out of many -- that will make you squirm.
The second half is just starting and the record is good;
So are these Wily & Brock guys, who keep rolling through the neighborhood.
It's that time once again. Will you take the call?
Are you ready for This Week in Timber Rattlers Baseball?
Friday, June 26; @Wisconsin 3, Peoria 2: Put yourself in this spot. Game tied. Bases loaded. Bottom ninth. Infield in. You're at the plate. What did you just imagine yourself doing? Clean single to center? Grand slam? How about a walk-off fielder's choice? Jose Duran was up in that exact situation and hit a hard shot that was knocked down at second. The throw to the plate was just a bit too late and Corey Kemp scored the winning run. Also in this game, pitcher Wily Peralta struck out ten hitters over six innings and was hitting mid-90's with his fastball throughout the evening. Keep your eye on this kid.
Saturday, June 27; @Wisconsin 2, Peoria 1 (14 innings): It was a long night at the ballpark and there were some injuries two different suicide squeeze plays that were unsuccessful, and an odd end. Steve Braun got hurt in a rundown between third and home when the Chiefs sensed a squeeze play. Peoria pitched out and Braun got caught. He's out for the rest of the season...probably. Later in the game, Chris Dennis tried to score on a hit to right and landed awkardly on his right foot. He's out maybe two months. And so the game crept on to the four hour mark with the score still tied 1-1. Duran reached on an error to start the bottom of the 14th. Two outs later he was only to second base. Juan Sanchez sent a high pop up to shallow right.....and Peoria's second baseman Junior Lake dropped the ball. Or in the words of one wag in the press box...He Metsed it...
Sunday, June 28; Peoria 15 @Wisconsin 6: This was a 6-4 Rattlers lead at one time. It was 6-5 going to the top of the eighth inning. The first nine Chiefs batters of the eighth reached. All nine scored. For good measure, the Chiefs scored again in the top of the ninth. That was just rubbing it in, but there will be games like this every once in awhile. The good news, for now and the future, the Rattlers have gone 7-1 against the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Monday, June 29; Off day. Are you kidding me? A three-day all-star break just ended on Thursday. Did we really need another off day? I'm not going to complain too much. The last radio guy in the Midwest League to complain about the scheduling of games was put on the scheduling committee. I've got enough on my plate.
Also, this was the day the Timber Rattlers got their first player from the 2009 draft. Peter Fatse (Pronounced FAHT-see) joined the team and jumped into the lineup on Tuesday. He was the 24th round pick of the Brewers out of UCONN. UCONN....UCONN....UCONN....oh, right....
Haven't had a chance to ask where he is in that one.
Tuesday, June 30; Clinton 4 @Wisconsin 2: This was a 2-2 game until the top of the eighth. Clinton got a pair of runs with two outs in the inning and the Rattlers lost despite outhitting the LumberKings 6-4. The Rattlers got a pair of runners aboard with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but could not get the runner home against former Timber Rattlers pitcher Ruben Flores.
Wednesday, July 1; @Wisconsin 4, Clinton 3: Day game special and the Rattlers win another one-run game. This time the score was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh. That's when the L-Kings got BROCKED!
Brock Kjeldgaard tripled off the wall in rightfield to drive John Delaney home from first with what turned out to be the game winning run. Peralta got the win and struck out six more over the final three innings.
There was an incident in Wednesday's game. Delaney, who wears number eight tripped on the mound going after a popup. Before Thursday's batting practice someone did this to the mound:
People have odd senses of humor.
Thursday, July 2; @Wisconsin 4, Clinton 3: Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Brett Lawrie beat out a routine grounder to short. He scored on a Corey Kemp double. One out later, Kjeldgaard doubled in Kemp. Then, Michael Vass singled in Kjeldgaard for a 3-2 lead. In the sixth, the L-Kings got BROCKED again!
On a 1-2 pitch, Kjeldgaard hit a high flyball to leftcenter. It hit the top of the scoreboard. A little math...385' to the wall.....scoreboard is about 50' maybe 55' off the ground...Well, it went a long way. Nick Tyson closed out the game and the Rattlers are back above .500 (39-38) on the season and are in first place with a record of 5-2. Good start to the first half.
Wanted to add this in before the bullet points for tonight's game. Lorenzo Cain, the #6 prospect in the Brewers organization, has just completed his rehab assignment in Arizona and will join the Timber Rattlers for tonight's game. He joins Taylor Green and Alex Periard as Brewers farmhands who play for the Rattlers as a way to get back in to game action before joining the upper levels of the system. No word on how long Cain will be a Rattler, so get out tonight to catch him in action--if you are in the area.
The week ahead in Bullet Points:
- Friday, July 3: vs. Clinton. Spider-Man appearance. Military Appreciation Night. Retired and active duty military personnel receive a free reserved ticket to this game. North Shore Bank Family Night with Kids 12 and under eating free and kids 14 and under running the bases after a fireworks display.
- Saturday, July 4 through Tuesday, July 7 @Burlington. Look out, blackjack tables. I have a system this time.
- Wednesday, July 8: vs. West Michigan -- First 1,000 fans get a player poster of Daniel Meadows from Express Convenience. It will not look like this:
- Thursday, July 10 vs. West Michigan Taco Bell Night for the Boys' and Girls' Club
Now a little something from the hot list at WSUP a million years ago.
So long, everybody.