Madison, WI – July 16, 2008. After a few days off for the league All-Star break the Mallards are back on the field tonight for a 7:05 contest against the Alexandria Beetles. The Mallards beat the Beetles twice in Alexandria earlier in the second half. Gates open at 5:30 for tonight’s game, and it is Rayovac/Remington Mini Millie Bobblehead Night (first 2,500 fans)!
Alexandria Beetles (4-5) at Madison Mallards (3-5)
July 16, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI
Pitching Probables:
LHP Matt Jansen (MAD) – 7 GS, 42.0 IP, 2-2, 2.14 ERA
RHP Brandon Efferson (ALX) – 6 GS, 36.1 IP, 1-4, 4.46 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):
– 2-0 vs. Alexandria
– 1-0 at home
– 2-5 on road
– 1-3 vs. South Division
– 2-2 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 19-5 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-5 in one-run games
– 17-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 16-2 when outhitting its opponent
– 18-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 17-5 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 4-3 at Wisconsin, July 12
A two-run triple by Luke Stewart (UAB) put the Mallards on top by one in the eighth, but the bullpen gave it back in the bottom half and the Mallards fell to the Wisconsin Woodchucks 4-3 in Wausau. The home team has been victorious in each of the six meetings between the two teams this season. The first-place Woodchucks extended their South Division lead with the win and the Mallards drop to 3-5 in the second half. Brant Combs (Missouri State) took the loss, while Rob Currie picked up the win for 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 were 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 appeared in his second straight All-Star Game.
-Jansen struck out the side in the first in his one inning of work, and Lyerly was 2-for-2 with a run scored and another driven in. Shaw worked two-thirds of an inning and allowed one hit, while Nielsen entered the game late and went hitless in two at-bats. The South Division ended a three-game All-Star losing streak with an 8-4 victory in front of an All-Star Game record crowd of 5,357.
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) earned Northwoods League Player of the Night Thursday night when he reached base six times with three singles and three walks. He scored five runs for the Mallards.
-Lyerly is third in the Northwoods League with a .344 batting average in 31 games played.
-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. Drew Martin (NC State) was NWL Player of the Night on July 3 when he was 5-for-7 in two games at Battle Creek on the last day of the first half.
-With a win on June 25 at Thunder Bay, Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) moved into a tie for sixth in the league in wins with four.
-Wikoff 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.
