FOND DU LAC, WI — The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (11-8) take on the Madison Mallards (9-12) at Herr-Baker Field. The Dock Spiders defeated the Mallards on Sunday afternoon, 4-3, in Madison. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:30 on ESPN+. Tickets are available at dockspiders.com or at the box office at Herr-Baker Field.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
SLAMMING THE DOOR: Christian Ruebeck entered a 4-2 game in the eighth inning with one out, and after a run scored on an error, he retired the final five outs on strikes to earn the save in a 4-3 Dock Spiders victory over the Madison Mallards on Sunday afternoon. The save helped stave off a Madison comeback that saw the Mallards score the final three runs of the game after the Dock Spiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Nick Mitchell, Grant Hussey and Evan Smith all tallied multi-hit games, including a three-hit, three-RBI day from Mitchell in his return to the lineup after missing three games. The win was the third in the last five for the Dock Spiders, and their second in a row.
STRIKING OUT THE SIDE: Dock Spiders reliever Christian Ruebeck has now retired 10 of his last 11 outs via the strikeout after he retired all five outs on strikes during Sunday’s relief appearance. Since he walked four and struck out one on June 6 at Lakeshore, Ruebeck’s tallied 10 strikeouts over his last 3.2 innings, and has yet to allow a run or hit over the span. His 17.6 K/9 leads all Dock Spiders pitchers, and is fifth in the Northwoods League out of all pitchers that have thrown at least six innings.
HOW ABOUT THE PITCHING: After issuing 17 walks and seven runs during Friday night’s game against Lakeshore, the Dock Spiders pitching staff has allowed just four runs and nine walks over their last two games. Starters Kaleb Hill and Stephen Schissler have combined to throw 10 scoreless frames with five strikeouts. It marks the third time this year that the Dock Spiders have allowed less than five runs in back-to-back games, and the first time since June 5-6 against Lakeshore.
NICK JUST HITS: Nick Mitchell’s three-hit, three-RBI game on Sunday at Madison was his seventh multi-hit game of the year and his fifth multi-RBI game. In 16 appearances, Mitchell’s recorded a hit in 14 games and reached base in 15. Over his last three games, Mitchell’s gone 5-9 with a walk, two stolen bases and three RBI. Mitchell also has the second-lowest strikeout rate out of all qualified hitters, striking out in 6.6% of his plate appearances.
THE ADVANCED LOOK: Entering today’s game, both Nick Mitchell and Evan Stone are ranked in the top-10 among Northwoods League outfielders in WAR (Wins Above Replacement). Through 20 games, Mitchell has been worth 1.2 wins, seventh among outfielders across the NWL, and leads all outfielders in the Great Lakes West Division. Stone has been worth 1.1 wins, eighth among all outfielders.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP
LHP AUSTIN WAGNER (FDL): The Fond du Lac native makes his third home start after he allowed a career-high three home runs during his last start at Wausau on June 12. At home, Wagner has a 1.54 ERA, with 14 strikeouts over 11.2 innings.
RHP MICHAEL FINAN (MAD): Finan makes his fourth start of the year after he allowed five runs in his last start at Lakeshore on June 14 in a 16-14 Madison loss. All six of his walks and all four of his strikeouts have come over his last two appearances, including a season-high three at Lakeshore last time out.
