Madison, WI – July 24, 2008. After their second late-inning loss in three games last night in Eau Claire, the Mallards will be looking to play nine solid innings of baseball tonight in the series opener in Green Bay. The Mallards fell to La Crosse Monday night on a three-run, sixth-inning home run in the second game of a doubleheader and last night Eau Claire scored six runs in the eighth inning to win the game 7-5. Scott Heitshusen (Kansas) will start on the mound for the Mallards tonight, looking to end the team’s four-game losing streak.
Madison Mallards (7-10) at Green Bay Bullfrogs (8-8)
July 24, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Joannes Stadium – Green Bay, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Scott Heitshusen (MAD) – 7 GS, 40.0 IP, 3-2, 4.95 ERA
RHP Matt Lange (GB) – 5 GS, 46.0 IP, 4-2, 1.37 ERA
Mallards records (first half):
– 3-1 vs. Green Bay
– 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. Green Bay
– 5-1 at home
– 2-9 on road
– 4-7 vs. South Division
– 3-3 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 22-8 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-6 in one-run games
– 21-2 when leading after 7 innings
– 20-4 when outhitting its opponent
– 21-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 20-6 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 7-5 at Eau Claire, July 23
Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) pitched a gem for the Mallards through seven innings Wednesday night, retiring 15 straight at one point, but he had nothing to show for it as a six-run eighth inning boosted the Eau Claire Express past the Mallards 7-5 at Carson Park. The Mallards are now 7-10 in the second half and have lost four games in a row, tying their longest losing streak of the season. Rivers ended up as the tough-luck loser after running into trouble in his eighth inning of work and eventually giving up six earned runs.
Mallards Musings:
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) has reached base in each of the 22 games he’s played at the “Duck Pond” this season. It is the longest home consecutive on-base streak in the league this season.
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is eighth in the Northwoods League with a .327 batting average in 40 games played.
-Wikoff is fourth in the league in runs scored with 35.
-Luke Stewart’s (UAB) six home runs put him in a tie for fourth in the league.
-Joe Bonadonna (Illinois) became the fifth Mallard to win Northwoods League Player of the Night when he reached base five times against Battle Creek on July 19. He was 3-for-3 with two singles and a double, and also drew two walks and scored three times.
-Wikoff earned Northwoods League Player of the Night July 10 when he reached base six times with three singles and three walks. He scored five runs for the Mallards.
-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.
-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.
-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.
-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 fourth-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.
Playoff tickets can be purchased in a package of all four potential home playoff games. Single-game playoff tickets will go on sale to the public on July 29. Playoff tickets can be purchased by calling 608.246.4277 or by visiting the Mallards box office.
Box seats for the playoffs will be $ 9, with bleacher seats priced at $ 8. Cheap seats can be purchased for $ 7 and standing room only tickets will be available for $ 6. The Duck Blind will be open for the playoffs, with beer tickets priced at $ 26 for Sunday-Wednesday games and $ 31 for Thursday-Saturday nights. Duck Blind soda tickets will be $ 21 or $ 26. Reserved seats in the Duck Blind will be $ 31 for Sunday-Wednesday games and for Thursday-Saturday nights. Suites are also available for playoff games and fans can receive more details by calling the Mallards box office and asking for group sales.
More details on playoff games at the “Duck Pond” will be made available on mallardsbaseball.com as soon as the second half of the regular season concludes. Tickets for the remainder of the Mallards regular season home schedule can be purchased online, in person at the Box Office or by calling 608.246.4277.
