FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (8-5) return to Herr-Baker Field to take on the Wausau Woodchucks (5-8) in the first of three straight games at home. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and can be streamed live on the Northwoods League Baseball Network.

TODAY’S STORYLINES

RUNS, RUNS AND MORE RUNS: Five combined home runs was the headline on Sunday as the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders fell 7-3 on the road to the Wausau Woodchucks. The loss marked their third straight, and their first loss on the year while scoring first. The Dock Spiders tallied a run in three of the first four innings, but five Wausau runs in the bottom of the fourth with two outs off three home runs helped the Woodchucks take the lead for good. The Dock Spiders bullpen was once again a star, allowing one run over the final 4.1 innings while striking out five. The loss ended a three game road swing for the Dock Spiders before returning home for three straight at Herr-Baker Field. 

LOOK AT THAT BULLPEN: The Dock Spiders bullpen has been a star over the last two-plus games. Between Saturday and Sunday, the bullpen has allowed one run over their last nine innings. Six different Dock Spiders relievers have combined to strike out nine while issuing just two walks. Four different relievers, Rocky King, Alex Vera, Caedon Kottinger and David Dean have all tallied multiple innings of work over the span.

HOME RUN HAPPY: During Sunday’s game, the Dock Spiders and Woodchucks combined to hit five home runs after both teams had combined to hit six in their first 12 games of the year. The solo shot from Anthony Frechette in the fourth inning was the second home run in as many days for a Dock Spider, after Tommy Stevenson’s home run during Saturday’s game at Mequon. This year, however, just one home run has been hit at Herr-Baker Field, while the other four have come on the road.

BACK AT HOME: After not playing at Herr-Baker Field since last Wednesday against Green Bay, the Dock Spiders will be home for four of the next five days, including a series with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters that starts on Tuesday night. After Friday, the Dock Spiders will spend seven of the upcoming eight games on the road. By the end of June, 15 of the Dock Spiders first 32 games have been at home.

WHEN SCORING FIRST: Sunday’s game marked the seventh time on the year that the Dock Spiders tallied a first inning run. When scoring first, the Dock Spiders are 6-1 on the year. They’ve tallied 11 first inning runs in their first 13 games, including a season-high four on the first Sunday game of the year against Lakeshore, capped off by a Kyte McDonald solo home run.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP

RHP SEAN DUFFY (FDL): Duffy makes his first start of the year against Wausau. The righty threw a season-high 77 pitches to reach the fifth inning against Lakeshore last Monday in his most recent start. 

RHP DANTE CHIRICO (WAU): Chirico is set to make his third start of the year, and his second against the Dock Spiders after he took the ball in the home opener for Wausau.