Nine after nine for April 20, 2012

Wisconsin 8
West Michigan 2
Boxscore | Game Story

Who is that masked man? No. Really? Who is it?

1. Cold, windy, and wet. Midwest League baseball, folks
2. Despite the conditions, the Rattlers defense continues to be outstanding. Adrian Williams, who was playing left for the first time this season, made a couple of plays that saved runs and – due to time constraints – they did not make it into the game story.  The first was a charging shin-high basket catch of a sinking line drive off the bat of Aaron Westlake in the first inning.  The second was made as Williams raced back to the track in and flagged down a twisting liner off the bat of Pat Leyland in the fourth.  Both plays ended innings and should definitely be noted.
3. Westlake may have gone to the dugout and smashed something after Yadiel Rivera snared his liner with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and the Rattlers lead at two runs.  Westlake, a Tigers infield prospect, is 0-for-9 in this series.  He is 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in this series and the Rattlers have turned in at least four web gems in those six at bats with RISP.
4. Rivera is very advanced as a defensive player for a 19-year-old. If he can come close to matching that offensively,…wow.
5. Staying on the defensive theme…I have only had to use my blue highlighter twice in the last ten games for the Rattlers defense.  To explain that reference head over to this piece by Ben Hill on the MiLB.com site.
6. I know. Rattlers have scored 26 runs in the last three games and here I am going on about the defense.  Wrap your heads around this little note: Carlos George, Brandon Macias, and Chadwin Stang are all on 4-game hitting streaks.  They are all 7-for-14 in those hitting streaks.
7. Max Walla is still hitless at 0-for-11 since joining the Rattlers, BUT he has drawn six walks, scored four runs, and tonight he drove in a run with sacrifice fly.
8. The two-run singles by Greg Hopkins and Rafael Neda in the eighth inning were sharply hit and came in key situations. Good to see them deliver in those spots.
9. Andy Moye with five innings, one unearned run.  Moye has allowed two runs – one earned – in eleven innings this season.  Tonight was his first win with the Rattlers.