Game notes 8/26; Zammarelli streaking, Five straight, & An August run
Today’s Preview: The Clinton LumberKings (A, Mariners) meet the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A, Brewers) for the fifth and final time during the 2017 season. The LumberKings trail the all-time series 303–361, dating back to 1963, and trail against Wisconsin, 66–69, since the LumberKings became a Seattle Mariners affiliate in 2009. The LumberKings took two of three during the team’s first two meetings of the season including a win against current big leaguer Matt Garza during a rehab start. In a four-game series in Clinton May 26–29 the LumberKings split the series two games apiece. The teams last met in Wisconsin August 2–4 where the LumberKings took two of three wining the series finale in 11 innings 8–7.
LumberKings Starter: Danny Garcia, 23, makes his 27 appearance and 24 start of the season for the Clinton LumberKings. The Miami Florida native, despite being hit hard, was give the win his last time out against the Peoria Chiefs in Peoria. He worked five innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on 10 hits while walking none and striking out three. Garcia struggle with the home run during the outing allowing two, but the LumberKings would come from behind for a 7–6 win. This will be his third appearance against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this season. He is 1–0 with a 3.38 ERA (3ER/8IP) against Wisconsin this season, with his one winning coming in relief. Garcia has allowed two home runs to Wisconsin this season, one to Demi Orimoloye and one to Tucker Neuhaus. The Mariners drafted Garcia in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami where he made two appearances in the College World Series.
Timber Rattlers Starter: Victor Diaz, 23, makes his 20 appearance and 16 start of the season for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Venezuelan native, took the loss his last time out for a brief 3.2 inning outing against the Quad Cities River Bandits in Wisconsin. He allowed eight runs on five hits while walking four and striking out two. The wildness of Diaz in the start was also compounded by two hit batters and two home runs that he allowed. This will be Diaz third start of the season against the LumberKings. He was hit hard in his first outing against the LumberKings, allowing four runs on just two hits while walking three and striking out four. Diaz lasted just 2.1 innings in what was his second start of the season. He last faced the LumberKings in Wisconsin on August 4 where he was given a no decision for an abbreviated 2.1 inning outing, allowing five runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three. The righty did spend several weeks on the disabled list in May and was not available when the LumberKings last faced the Timber Rattlers.
Last Time Out: A playoff run is brewing for the Clinton LumberKings who won their fifth straight game on Friday night, topping the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3–0 at Ashford University Field. The win was the LumberKings (29–32, 60–68) 10th in their last 12 games and has moved them to within two games of the wild card spot in the Western Division. Ryne Inman started for Clinton and navigated jams over his five innings of work. The Timber Rattlers (27–34, 53–76) worked three walks against Inman (2–4) and tallied three hits but never scored a run. The LumberKings starter stranded seven Wisconsin base runners over his five innings to pick up his second win of the season. In the bottom of the first inning, the LumberKings broke the scoreless tie with a run off Wisconsin starter Braden Webb. Yojhan Quevedo, with his 100th hit of the season, singled to lead off the inning and then moved to third when Gareth Morgan singled three pitches later. The LumberKings looked to have run themselves out of the inning when Morgan was picked off the bag at first. While Morgan was caught in the run down, Quevedo then broke for the plate and beat the throw with a head first slid, giving the LumberKings a 1–0 lead. Clinton would muster just the one run off Webb (5–7) but added on with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Billy Cooke singled with two out and moved to second on a Jhombeyker Morales single. Both runners then scored when Joe Rizzo doubled to right center field to pick up his 50th RBI of the season.
Five for fighting: The Clinton LumberKings rode their winning streak to five games with the 3–0 win on Friday night. The winning streak is the second longest of the season for the LumberKings, who won six games from June 11 through the 16th.
Zamm reaches: Nick Zammarelli has been one of the most consistent hitters for the LumberKings in the second half and is hitting .308 since the All-Star break. A reason for the success has been his current streak of reaching base. With a double to left center field in the sixth inning of Friday night’s win Zammarelli extended his streak of reaching base safely to 16 games a new LumberKings season high. Zammarelli’s streak began on August 8th at home against the Peoria Chiefs.
August rush: Friday’s win was the 13th of the month for the LumberKings who are threating to do something they have not done this season and finish month at or above .500. The team is now 13–11 during the month of the August with an impressive 9–6 mark on the road.
This date in baseball history: On this date in 1996, with a ten year, $20 million deal, Pro Player, the sports apparel division of Fruit of the Loom, becomes the first sports marketing and products company to have its name used as the moniker for a stadium. The renaming of Joe Robbie Stadium, the home of the Florida Marlins, to Pro Player Stadium sparks controversy as many Miamians believe the name of the benefactor, whose name will be removed, should still be included due to his generosity and efforts to fund the original project.
Broadcast Information: All games will be broadcast live on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at LumberKings.com via the TuneIn Radio App with Erik Oas, in his first season as the “Voice of the LumberKings.”
