Madison, WI – July 27, 2008. The Waterloo Bucks had the Mallards number again Sunday night, scoring five runs in the ninth to extend a 3-2 lead into an 8-2 lead to put the game out of reach. Madison scored two in the bottom of the ninth to make the final score 8-4 in front of 6,172 fans at the “Duck Pond.” The loss is the eighth straight for the Mallards, the longest losing streak in franchise history, and moves the first-half South Division champions to 29-25 overall and 7-14 in the second half. Garrett Nix earned the win for Waterloo with six innings of work, allowing just five hits and two earned runs. Matt Jansen (Purdue) took the loss, pitching four innings and giving up three runs. He falls to 2-4 on the season.
Joe Bonadonna (Illinois) had his third straight two-hit game for the Mallards, going 2-for-5 with a double. Charlotte teammates Rob Lyerly and Aaron Bray also added two hits apiece for the Mallards, who had seven on the night. Phil Gosselin (Virginia) accounted for the other team hit. James Jones was 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Bucks and got the final two outs of the game on the mound. Will Campbell was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Waterloo left the bases loaded in the first two innings off the Mallards left-handed All-Star, and Madison couldn’t get anything going in the first two frames. Waterloo opened the scoring in the top of the third when Campbell singled to left field, scoring Mike Rogers.
But the Mallards answered in the home half of the third, getting one run on one hit to tie the game at one. Bryan Resnick reached on an error with one out in the fourth and he and Zach Jones scored on a double to right field by Rogers to give the Bucks a 3-1 lead. That was all for Jansen on the night, as a high pitch count limited his effectiveness. He was relieved by Alex Rivers (Santa Clara), who worked a perfect fifth to keep the Mallards within two.
The Mallards scored again in the sixth, when Gosselin singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Bray followed with a single back to Nix, moving Gosselin over to third with no outs. Drew Martin (NC State) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Trent Soares (Fresno State) hit a ball to center field that was deep enough to score Gosselin from third to make the score 3-2 in favor of Waterloo. The Mallards had an opportunity to add a couple more, as there were still runners on first and third, but Luke Stewart (UAB) struck out and Eric Nielsen (Purdue) flew out to end the inning and leave Bray on third. The Mallards left six runners on third base to end innings tonight.
The score remained 3-2 until Waterloo blew the game wide open, scoring five in the top of the ninth off Brant Combs (Missouri State). Madison was able to get a couple in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough and the final score was 8-4.
The Mallards head to Wausau tomorrow night for a 6:35 p.m. contest against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. After Monday’s game the Mallards and the Woodchucks will come to Madison to battle at 7:05 on Tuesday night. It will be U.S. Cellular Bobblehead Night, featuring Maynard G. Mallard in a new pose! The first 1,000 fans will receive this commemorative figurine. Green Bay Packers 2008-2009 schedule magnets will also be given out, courtesy of Fan 4 Ever.
