Madison, WI – July 9, 2008. After scoring just one run in two games at Duluth, the Mallards will be looking for an offensive revival tonight at Alexandria. The Mallards will send right-hander Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) to the mound for the 6:05 p.m. contest.
Madison Mallards (0-4) at Alexandria Beetles (3-2)
July 9, 2008 – 6:05 p.m. (CT)
Knute Nelson Memorial Park – Alexandria, MN
Pitching Probables:
RHP Alex Rivers (MAD) – 3 GS, 20.0 IP, 2-0, 0.90 ERA
RHP Matt Hill (ALX) – 4 GS, 36.1 IP, 3-0, 2.23 ERA
Mallards records (first half):
– 0-0 vs. Alexandria
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division
Mallards records (second half):
– 0-0 vs. Alexandria
– 0-0 at home
– 0-4 on road
– 0-2 vs. South Division
– 0-2 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 16-5 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-4 in one-run games
– 15-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 14-2 when outhitting its opponent
– 15-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 14-4 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 3-0 at Duluth, July 8
A day after leaving nine runners on base in a 4-1 defeat the Mallards again struggled to move runners Tuesday night, stranding 11 on base in a 3-0 loss to the Duluth Huskies. The shutout loss drops the Mallards to 0-4 to start the second half. Matt Jansen (Purdue) took the loss for the Mallards, and five Huskies hurlers combined to allow just three Madison hits on the night. In the two-game set in Duluth the Mallards scored just one run and left 20 runners on base.
Road Warriors:
The Mallards wrap up the 10-game road trip with two games in Alexandria tonight and tomorrow. So far the Mallards are 3-5 on the extended road stay. After the series in Alexandria the team will return to Madison on Friday, July 11 for a showdown with division-rival Wisconsin.
Let’s Play Two:
The Mallards are 4-0 in doubleheaders this season. They will try to tack on two more wins in an upcoming double-dip at La Crosse on July 21.
Mallards Musings:
-The Mallards will be represented in the 2008 Northwoods League All-Star Game by pitchers Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) and Matt Jansen (Purdue), as well as outfielder Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) and catcher Eric Nielsen (Purdue). Nielsen is appearing in his second straight All-Star Game.
– Lyerly is second in the Northwoods League with a .356 batting average in 26 games played.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for fifth in the Northwoods League with four home runs.
-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 June 30 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 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.
-Lyerly’s 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 Wikoff reached base in 16 consecutive games.
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.
