Nine after 9 for August 13, 2012

Clinton 4
Wisconsin  7
Boxscore | Game Story

Series win!

1. The Timber Rattlers played five three-game series against Clinton in 2012.  The Rattlers went 12-3 against the LumberKings, a potential playoff opponent. Wisconsin took two of three from them in this series.
2. Matt Erickson was ejected in the second inning.  He thought that Kevin Rivers was offered with a bunt attempt on a pitch that hit the Clinton batter.  This was the second game in a row that the Rattlers manager disagreed with the call by this umpiring crew on that same kind of call.  On Sunday, Chris Taylor tried a sacrifice bunt and was hit on the hand.  It was ruled a hit batsman and Erickson thought that call was wrong.  On Monday, Matt disagreed with the call and apparently said a magic word after the base umpire declined to rule that Rivers attempted to bunt. That got him run from the game.
3. Wisconsin scored two more runs in the first inning.  They have outscored opponents 86-49 in the first inning this season.
4. I mentioned this on twitter, but it’s worth a mention here for those of you who who do not follow me.  Yadiel Rivera had a 12-pitch at bat in the second inning.  He was down 0-2 after swinging at the first two pitches – the second on a check swing that he didn’t think was a swing.  From there the sequence went: foul, ball, foul, ball, ball, foul, foul, foul, foul, grounder to third.  It may have ended in a 5-3 grounder, but that kind of at bat was still good to see from Rivera.
5. I’ve mentioned the number of times Brandon Macias has been hit this season – 20 and counting.  But, it’s time to mention how many times he has hit back.  Macias went 2-for-5 with two singles on Monday to give him 113 hits this season.
6. Greg Hopkins with two more RBI on Monday.  He’s at 46 on the season now and had five in the last two games.  If Hopkins gets hot – like we have seen him get over the last two season, that will be a great thing for the Timber Rattlers.
7. Nick Ramirez walked twice and was walked intentionally one time in the game.  He also drove in his 60th run of the game.  He continues to put together a very nice season.
8. Eric Semmelhack scattered six hits, a walk, and a hit batsman over five innings to get his second win with Wisconsin. Semmelhack mixed in five strikeouts.
9. Congratulations to Mark Williams.  He is now a 2-time Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.  The award was announced late in the afternoon and there was a note added on to the game story.  I did want to mention it here, too.  Williams 2 games, one start, one complete game. 8 innings pitched, six hits, 13 strikeouts and 1-0.

Monday’s Highlights: