Madison, WI – July 5, 2008. The Mallards will try to salvage a series split with the Wisconsin Woodchucks tonight, when the two teams square off at 6:35 p.m. from Wausau. Right-hander Nolan Cain (LSU) will make his second start of the season for the Mallards, trying to improve on his first outing in which he was roughed up in one-and-two-thirds innings pitched. Due to technical difficulties in Wausau last night, the webcast was unavailable for viewing but Woodchucks’ team officials hope to have the problems resolved by tonight’s start. Visit livemallardsbaseball.com to watch all Mallards action on the road live!
Madison Mallards (0-1) at Wisconsin Woodchucks (1-0)
July 5, 2008 – 6:35 p.m. (CT)
Athletic Park – Wausau, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Nolan Cain (MAD) – 1 GS, 1.2 IP, 0-1, 59.40 ERA
RHP Bobby Pritchett (WIS) – 5 GS, 30.2 IP, 4-2, 1.76 ERA
Mallards records (first-half):
– 2-0 vs. Wisconsin
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division
Mallards records (second half):
– 0-1 vs. Wisconsin
– 0-0 at home
– 0-1 on road
– 0-1 vs. South Division
– 0-0 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 16-4 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-3 in one-run games
– 15-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 14-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 15-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 14-2 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 8-7 (10) at Wisconsin, July 5
The South Division first-half champion Mallards dropped the opening game of the second half to the Wisconsin Woodchucks 8-7 in 10 innings. The Mallards makeshift lineup and pitching staff hung with the Woodchucks and came back from deficits of 6-3 and 7-6 to tie the game and take the Woodchucks to extra innings for the third time in three meetings this season. Rob Curry earned the win for the Woodchucks in five innings of relief work in which he struck out nine Mallards, and Travis High (NC State) moved from the field to the mound for the bottom of the 10th and absorbed the loss.
Road Warriors:
The Mallards will play the final game of the first half of their 10-game, 11-day road trip tonight at Wisconsin. So far the Mallards are 3-2 on the extended road stay. The team is in Wausau for tonight’s game and will enjoy a day off tomorrow. After the day off they will go to Duluth for two games and then Alexandria for two games, before returning to Madison on Friday, July 11.
Mallards Musings:
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is fifth in the Northwoods League with a .351 batting average in 25 games played.
-Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) and Matt Jansen (Purdue) are on the league leaderboard in ERA. Shaw comes in sixth with a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings pitched, and Jansen is 10th with a 1.73 ERA after pitching 36 innings.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for fourth in the Northwoods League with four home runs. His 13 extra-base hits rank him sixth in the league.
-After a 4-for-5 performance on June 26 against Brainerd, outfielder Aaron Bray (Charlotte) was named Northwoods League Player of the Night. He had four singles and scored three runs. Bray is the first Mallard to win the nightly award this season. Lyerly made it two Mallards award-winners in one week when he earned the honor on Monday after a 4-for-5 game at Mankato. He had a home run, a double, three RBIs and scored three runs in the contest.
-With a win on June 25 at Thunder Bay, Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) moved into a tie for the third in the league in wins with four.
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) had a 10-game hitting streak snapped on June 28. It was the Mallards second-longest hitting streak of the season.
-Rob Lyerly’s (Charlotte) 12-game hitting streak dating back to June 11 ended with a 0-for-2 performance at Thunder Bay on June 24. He hit .380 with 11 runs scored and four doubles during the streak. It is the second-longest hitting streak in the Northwoods League this season.
-From the beginning of the season on May 29 until June 15 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) reached base in 16 consecutive games.
Spilborghs Shines: Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs broke out with a huge game Wednesday night (4-for-5, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 2 Home Runs) to help beat the Florida Marlins in a crazy 18-17 final. Spilborghs is the first former Mallard to make the big leagues, having played with the team in its inaugural season (2001).
The Mallards will be hosting the 2008 Northwoods League All-Star Game on July 13th and July 14th. The Homerun Derby, the Military All-Stars vs. Home Talent League All-Stars Game, and the All-Star Fan Fest will take place on the 13th, while the Northwoods League All-Star Game will take place at 7:05 pm on July 14th. Great seats are still available and can be purchased either online at mallardsbaseball.com or by calling the ticket office at (608) 246-4277.
