Despite a better night in the hits department at the Duck Pond, the Madison Mallards suffered the same fate the team has for the three previous nights with a loss to the Northwoods League?s top team, the Rochester Honkers. The final score was 8-3.
In a matchup of two left-handed pitchers, the Mallards sent Casey Baron to the hill against the Honkers? Matt Reynolds. Reynolds was making his third appearance against the Ducks this summer and was staked to an early lead after pitching out of a huge jam in the first.
The Mallards loaded the bases in the bottom of the first against Reynolds. Jordan Comadena and Kris Rochelle walked. Spencer Steedley laid down a bunt that turned into a single to fill the sacks for Tommy Lentz, Mike Rohde and Mitch Saum. Lentz popped out, Rohde struck out and Saum popped out to let the Honkers lefty off the hook.
In the second, the Honkers scored against Baron. The league?s RBI leader, Kyle Bowley, hit a one-out single to score Chris Jones from second and give the geese an early 1-0 lead.
The Honkers added another run in the fourth on a throwing error by the Mallards? Saum.
Madison finally got on the board in the fifth when Lentz scored on a two-out single by Gary Arndt.
After Rochester took a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth, Madison scored again to make it 4-2. Steedley reached on a two-out single and scored on Lentz?s double into the left field corner.
The Honkers put the game out of reach, however, with four runs in the top of the ninth against Madison reliever Jason Leaver. All of the runs were unearned.
The Mallards plated one more in the bottom of the ninth as Blaine Rutledge scored on a Wayne Bond single to make the final score 8-3.
Madison left 15 runners on base for the game and left the bases loaded twice on the evening.
Baron took the loss to fall to 3-5 on the summer. Mike Creevy and Leaver followed in relief.
Saturday was Pedro?s Fiesta Hispana Night. Luis Montoto, a radio host on La Movida (WLMV, 1480 AM in Madison) provided Spanish introductions of players from both teams. The first 500 fans received sombreros from Pedro?s Mexican Restaurante. American Family Insurance handed out 2,500 Fiesta Mini-Bobbleheads. After the game, Ballet de Folk Lorico performed on the Great Dane Duck Blind.
The Mallards have an off day Sunday. Monday, the Ducks visit La Crosse in the first game of a home-and-home series. You?ll hear Monday?s game beginning at 6:50 p.m. on Madison?s Fox Sports Radio 100.5 FM or online at www.mallardsbaseball.com. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
Madison returns home Tuesday to host the Loggers. Tuesday is PDQ and Quench Gum Trading Card Night #1 of 3. Fans 21 and over will receive the fifth in a series of five Mallards souvenir pint glasses from Budweiser.
Great tickets remain for all games. Stop by the ticket office at Warner Park, call 608.246.4277 or go online to www.mallardsbaseball.com.
