Nine after 9 for June 22, 2012

Wisconsin 1
Burlington 2
Boxscore | Game Story

I am blaming the multi-colored umbrella.

1. Matt Miller’s last three starts: 20-1/3 innings, 17 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, 21 strikeouts.  He has matched his career professional high for strikeouts in a game (8) in each of his last two starts.  Well pitched games, too.
2. The triple play that almost was.  There were a couple of things that worked against the play:  The ball was hit hard, but not hard enough.  Rashun Dixon is not a slow runner for a #4 batter in the lineup.  He had enough speed to beat the throw from second. Dang it.
3. That is the closest the Rattlers have come to turning a triple play in a game in a long time.
4. Tyler Cravy’s last two decisions are what I would consider “tough luck losses”.  The Peoria Chiefs scored the winning run off him in the bottom of the 14th on a fluky play.  In Friday’s game, that unearned run got around to third and scored on some tough plays.  I said this on the air tonight, but in case you missed it: Cravy hasn’t just improved from last year to this year.  He has improved from the start of this season to right now.  Good to see.
5. The development of Yadiel Rivera continues apace.  In the past, he tries to hit a 3-1 pitch up towards Clinton.  In the third inning on Friday, he drives a pitch through the center of the diamond for a single.  Then, he goes from first to third on a wild pitch.  Then, he drops a successful sacrifice bunt when called upon to do so.  Good to see this, too.
6. A 1-for-3 night pushed Rafael Neda over .200 to .202.  That may not sound like much to you, but keep in mind that after he went 0-for-5 on May 26 at Peoria, he was hitting .156.  Since that game, he is 11-for-33 (.333).  Keep going.
7. Mitch Haniger’s professional debut was 0-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout, and some nice catches in the outfield.  He played centerfield and he appeared to play a shallow centerfield.
8. Even with two errors tonight, the Timber Rattlers have only been charged with 56 errors over the first 70 games of the season.  That is the fewest errors charged to a MWL team this season.
9. I haven’t put this out there on the blog or anywhere, so here is how the pitching rotation (with tandems) sets up for the start of the second half:
   RHP Matt Miller
   RHP Drew Gagnon
   RHP David Goforth w/ RHP Chad Pierce
   RHP Mark Williams
   RHP Chad Thompson w/ RHP Jacob Barnes