Madison, WI – June 19, 2008. The Mallards offense will try to get back on track tonight at 7:05 against the Duluth Huskies, after getting just four hits in a 4-2 loss against Eau Claire last night. Right-hander Scott Heitshusen (Kansas) will head to the mound tonight, looking for his third win of the season. He will match up against Huskies righty Aaron Barrett. Great seats still remain for tonight’s game, as well as tomorrow’s series finale against Duluth and the weekend series against first-place Wisconsin. Click on the news tab at the top of the page for more information on tonight’s game.
Duluth Huskies (5-15) at Madison Mallards (12-7)
June 19, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Scott Heitshusen (MAD) – 2 GS, 14.0 IP, 2-0, 3.86 ERA
RHP Aaron Barrett (DUL) – 2 GS, 10.1 IP, 0-0, 1.74 ERA
Mallards records:
– 0-0 vs. Duluth
– 5-5 at home
– 7-2 on road
– 9-4 vs. South Division
– 3-3 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 8-3 when scoring first
– 0-2 in extra innings
– 4-2 in one-run games
– 9-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 7-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 7-0 when scoring 7+ runs
– 11-6 when allowing fewer than 7 runs
– 10-1 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 4-2 vs. Eau Claire, June 18
It was another offensive struggle at the “Duck Pond,” as the Madison Mallards dropped the series finale to the Eau Claire Express 4-2 in front of 5,553 people. The Mallards could only manage four hits off a trio of Express pitchers, three of which were singles by Brandon Wikoff (Illinois), and struck out 14 times on the night. With the loss the Mallards fall to 12-7 and are currently in third place in the South Division, one game behind second-place La Crosse.
Mallards Musings:
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) continues his hot hitting. In 11 games he is hitting a team-high .341 (14-41) with a home run, 10 RBIs, nine runs scored and an on-base percentage of .400. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak.
-Matt Jansen (Purdue) continues to pitch well and make a strong case for mid-season all-star honors. In 26 innings pitched over four starts and a relief appearance he has allowed just four earned runs (1.38 ERA). He is 2-0 on the season, and opponents are hitting just .213 against the left-hander.
-Luke Stewart’s third home run of the season on June 17 against Eau Claire puts him in a tie for the most home runs in the league.
-Josh Groves (UW-Milwaukee) has crossed the plate 16 times in 2008, a total that’s good for a tie for second in the league.
-The Mallards pitching staff has been stellar so far and is currently fourth in the league with a 2.63 ERA.
-The basepaths have been friendly to the Mallards so far this season. The team currently has a 79% success rate trying to steal (27-34).
-The Mallards will play a their second twin-bill of the season at La Crosse on July 21 to make up for a game that was rained out.
