Madison, WI – June 11, 2008. The Madison Mallards can leave their overnight bags unpacked for a couple more days, as they will host the Waterloo Bucks tonight and tomorrow in games originally scheduled for Waterloo. The Mallards will also be at home on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. and Monday at 7:05 p.m. instead of traveling to Waterloo. Recent heavy rains and flooding in Waterloo have forced the move to the “Duck Pond.” Kyle Barry is on the hill for the Mallards tonight, making his third start of the season. Great tickets are still available for all four games against Waterloo. For 12 dollars fans can get a general admission ticket and all-you-can-consume hot dogs, brats, popcorn and soda through the fifth inning.
Waterloo Bucks (3-7) at Madison Mallards (6-5)
June 11, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Kyle Barry (MAD) – 2 GS, 13.0 IP, 2-0, 2.77 ERA
TBA (WAT)
Mallards records:
– 0-0 vs. Waterloo
– 2-4 at home
– 4-1 on road
– 3-2 vs. South Division
– 3-3 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 3-1 when scoring first
– 0-2 in extra innings
– 6-0 when leading after 7 innings
– 5-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 4-0 when scoring 7+ runs
– 6-4 when allowing fewer than 7 runs
– 6-1 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 3-1 (10) vs. Thunder Bay, June 10
The Mallards and Thunder Bay Border Cats dueled into the 10th inning for the second game in a row and for the second time the Border Cats came out with the win, this time by a score of 3-1 to earn the series sweep at the “Duck Pond.” The Mallards offense struggled for the third night in a row, mustering just one run on three hits off of three Border Cats hurlers. They have scored three runs on 13 hits in the last three games. Dan Zehr earned the win for Thunder Bay with three-and-two-thirds blemish-free innings, striking out five. Andy Deain (Northern Illinois) took the loss for the Mallards. A crowd of 4,484 came out to the “Duck Pond,” which was Madison’s fourth straight defeat at home. This was the Mallards fourth loss in their last at-bat on the season. Joe Yermal (Charlotte) made his Mallards debut on the mound and was solid in six innings of work. He scattered four hits and allowed one earned run. He was relieved by Scott Heitshusen (Michigan State) who worked one inning and struck out the side looking. Nathan Kafka (Minnesota State) followed him and did not allow a hit.
Location change for Waterloo series:
The Mallards will be at home tonight and Thursday for a series against Waterloo that was originally scheduled to take place at Waterloo. But Waterloo’s field has become unplayable due to recent heavy rains, forcing the series to be shifted to the “Duck Pond.” Both games will start at 7:05 p.m., and Waterloo will remain the home team. All general admission tickets for tonight and Thursday are just 7 dollars, and for an unprecedented 12 dollars fans can receive a ticket and an all-you-can eat-and-drink menu option for unlimited hot dogs, brats, popcorn and soda through the fifth inning. Come out to the “Duck Pond” and see a road game for the Mallards without leaving Madison! Great seats are still available for the series against Waterloo.
Mallards Musings:
-Matt Jansen (Purdue) and Bryan Earley (Lincoln Trail) have yet to allow an earned run in two starts this season. Jansen also has a relief appearance. He has pitched 14 innings and allowed just seven hits and three walks, while striking out 10. Opponents are hitting .152 against the left-hander. Earley has pitched 11 innings, allowing just four base hits and striking out 10. They are tied for the league lead with that 0.00 ERA.
-Travis High (NC State) and Kyle Heim (Iowa) have been a one-two punch out of the bullpen for the Mallards to start 2008. They have both appeared in a team-high five games, and have combined for 17.1 innings pitched, allowing 17 hits and six earned runs (3.16 ERA).
-The Mallards pitching staff has charged out of the gate to start the 2008 season, and is currently leading the league with a microscopic 2.05 ERA. The next closest staff belongs to Wisconsin, checking in at 2.32.
-The Mallards offense has been patient at the plate to begin the season, drawing 53 walks in 11 games so far. That is the third-most walks in the league.
-In the last five games Mallards starting pitchers have allowed only three earned runs and 21 hits in 33 innings pitched (0.82 ERA). The Mallards are 2-3 in those games. Below are the five starters’ lines:
Matt Jansen (W at Green Bay, June 4) – 8 IP, 5 hits, no earned runs, 5 strikeouts
Kyle Barry (W at Green Bay, June 5) – 7 IP, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts
Bryan Earley (L vs. La Crosse, June 6) – 6 IP, 1 hit, no earned runs, 7 strikeouts
Gabriel Shaw (ND vs. Thunder Bay, June 9) – 6 IP, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 2 strikeouts
Joe Yermal (ND vs. Thunder Bay, June 10) – 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout
