Madison, WI – June 24, 2008. Fresh off a sweep of first-place Wisconsin over the weekend, the Mallards head back to the field tonight at Thunder Bay. The sweep of the Woodchucks closed the gap between them and the Mallards to three games with 11 to go in the first half. The Mallards will send lefty Matt Jansen (Purdue) to the hill against the Border Cats, who swept the Mallards in two games earlier this season at the “Duck Pond.”
Madison Mallards (14-9) at Thunder Bay Border Cats (12-12)
June 24, 2008 – 6:05 p.m. (CT)
Port Arthur Stadium – Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Pitching Probables:
LHP Matt Jansen (MAD) – 4 GS, 26.0 IP, 2-0, 1.38 ERA
RHP Michael Raymond (4 GS, 20.0 IP, 1-2, 6.30 ERA) or RHP Brett Brach (4 GS, 27.0 IP, 1-4, 3.33 ERA) (TB)
Mallards records:
– 0-2 vs. Thunder Bay
– 7-7 at home
– 7-2 on road
– 11-4 vs. South Division
– 3-5 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 9-3 when scoring first
– 2-3 in extra innings
– 6-2 in one-run games
– 11-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 9-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 9-0 when scoring 7+ runs
– 12-7 when allowing fewer than 7 runs
– 11-1 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: W 9-8 (10) vs. Wisconsin, June 22
The Mallards and Wisconsin Woodchucks needed extra innings to decide a winner for the second night in a row, and for the second night in a row the Mallards won it in the bottom of the 10th, this time by a score of 9-8. On Saturday it was a bases-loaded walk by Josh Groves (UW-Milwaukee) that ended the game, and Sunday’s winning run came on a two-out single by Phil Gosselin (Virginia) that drove in Aaron Bray (Charlotte) from second. It was Gosselin’s fourth hit of the night. Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) worked the 10th inning to earn the win, and Brad Riddle took the loss in his sixth inning of relief work. The Mallards earned the sweep and pulled within three games of the first-place Woodchucks in front of a season-high 7,281 fans at the “Duck Pond.”
Mallards Musings:
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is currently on a 12-game hitting streak, dating back to June 11. He is hitting .380 with 11 runs scored and four doubles during the streak. It is the second-longest hitting streak in the Northwoods League this season.
-Following a day out of the lineup on June 17 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) is 9-for-20 (.450) in his last five games, pushing his batting average back above the .300 mark to .317. He was 2-for-10 in the three games prior to his day off.
-Tonight’s starting pitcher 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 (UAB) is tied for second in the Northwoods League with three home runs.
-From the beginning of the season on May 29 until June 15 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) reached base in 16 consecutive games.
College World Series Update:
Future Mallard Alan Ahmady (Fresno State) was 1-for-3 with a walk in Fresno State’s 7-6 loss to Georgia in the opening game of the best-of-three championship series of the College World Series. The two teams will square off again tonight at 6:05 (CT) on ESPN, with Georgia having the 1-0 lead in the series.
Following the two-game series at Thunder Bay, the Mallards return to the “Duck Pond” for two games against Brainerd Thursday and Friday. Thursday is MAYSA Mascot Soccer Game sponsored by Quench Gum & Break Away Sports. Come see local mascots battle for supremacy!
On Friday the Mallards will welcome “Potsie” from Happy Days fame to the ballpark! It is also Manager C.J. Thieleke Budweiser Pint Glass Night (first 750 fans 21 & older). Great seats still remain for both games against the Blue Thunder. Visit mallardsbaseball.com or call 608.246.4277 to buy tickets.
