The Mallards will try to sweep the Green Bay Bullfrogs & move to 6-2 during tonight’s 7:05 p.m. game at Joannes Stadium. The matchup features Mallards 6’6” right-hander Kyle Barry (MATC) against Bullfrogs lefty Jon Gulbransen (Valparaiso). All game action can be heard on Madison’s Sports Radio 100.5 FM beginning with Ben Larson’s pre-game report at 6:30 p.m. Tonight’s game will not be webcast due to technical difficulties in Green Bay.
Madison Mallards (5-2) at Green Bay Bullfrogs (4-3)
June 5, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Joannes Stadium – Green Bay, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Kyle Barry (MAD) – 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 1-0, 4.50 ERA
LHP Jon Gulbransen (GB) – 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 0-0, 3.00 ERA
Mallards records:
– 1-0 vs. Green Bay
– 2-1 at home
– 3-1 on road
– 2-1 vs. South Division
– 3-1 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 2-1 when scoring first
– 5-0 when leading after 7 innings
– 4-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 4-0 when scoring 7+ runs
– 5-1 when allowing fewer than 7 runs
– 5-1 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Yesterday’s Mallards recap: W 2-1 at Green Bay, June 4
-Matt Jansen (Purdue) pitched eight shutout innings and Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) moved from shortstop to the mound to pitch the ninth and earn the save. Madison scored in the fifth and the eighth to account for their two runs. Don Lambert (Baylor) scored Russell Harben (South Alabama) on an RBI groundout for the first run of the game, and Brandon Haveman (Purdue) reached on an error in the eighth that extended the inning and scored Luke Stewart (UAB) to give Madison a 2-0 lead. Wikoff allowed a one-out RBI double to David Valesente, but he was stranded at second as Wikoff got the final two outs for his first career save.
Mallards Musings:
-The Mallards are off to their best start (5-2) since 2005, when they started 6-2.
-Matt Jansen (Purdue) has yet to allow a run in two starts this season. He has pitched 13 innings and allowed just six hits and two walks, while striking out 10. Opponents are hitting .140 against the left-hander. Jansen is tied for the league lead with that 0.00 ERA, but has pitched six more innings than the next closest qualifier.
-Joe De Pinto (USC) has brought some west-coast offense to the Mallards. The freshman was signed to a 10-day contract to start the season, and has recorded at least one hit in each of the seven games so far. He’s hitting .385 (10-26) with a double, five RBIs and a .484 on-base percentage.
-After a solid second half of 2007, in which he was named a post-season All-Star, Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) has picked up right where he left off to start 2008. He is hitting .333 (10-30) in seven games played with six doubles and three RBIs. He has also swiped five bases and played nearly flawless defense, recording just one error.
-Josh Groves (UW-Milwaukee) has been on a tear since arriving in Madison. Playing mainly at third base, he is 9-for-28 (.321) with eight runs scored. His run total is second in the Northwoods League.
-Despite being short a couple of arms as players are still arriving, the Mallards pitching staff is third in the league in ERA (2.29). The offense checks in at fifth in the league (.248 batting average).
The Mallards return home for one game against La Crosse on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. It will be Dejope “A Little Vegas Right Here In Madison” Night, and will feature an appearance by the King! It is also Luxury Bath Systems Rubber Ducky Night (first 1,000 kids 14 & under receive a Mallards Rubber Ducky) and General Communications T-Shirt Night (first 1,000 fans) at the “Duck Pond.”
