The Mallards hope Kurtis Muller’s (Iowa) calf is healthy tonight as the speedy center fielder is hitting a team-high .525 in 6 games against La Crosse Logger pitching this season.
Madison, WI – July 29, 2009. A night after winning a 6-4 rain-shortened eight inning game against the Battle Creek Bombers yesterday, the Mallards open a brief two-game series versus the playoff-hopeful La Crosse Loggers at the “Duck Pond” on Wednesday.
Starting on the mound for Madison tonight will be Northwoods League Mid-Season All-Star Cody Winiarski (MATC) who is 5-3 with a 2.00 ERA over 63 innings that includes nine starts. He has 51 strikeouts on the year and opponents are hitting just .202 against the right-hander. Winiarski posted a 6-2 record and 2.40 ERA over 56.1 innings this past spring at MATC and has agreed to transfer to Virginia in the fall.
The Loggers will counter with left-hander Steve Gruver (Tennessee) who is a perfect 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA over 57.2 innings that includes 10 starts. Opponents are hitting only .190 against him.
Madison continues to lead the league in many offensive categories including batting average (.267), slugging percentage (.394), on-base percentage (.345), runs per game (4.95), hits (503), doubles (107), and home runs (40).
Something will have to give as La Crosse has a 6-2 record when playing on Wednesday’s while Madison owns a 6-1 record on “hump days.”
Head-to-head the season series between these two clubs is locked at three games a piece with today and tomorrow’s two-game series marking the final meetings of the summer.
The Mallards will hope Kurtis Muller’s (Iowa) calf is healthy after getting pegged in the recent series against Waterloo, as the speedy center fielder is hitting .525 (11-for-21) with 8 RBI against Loggers pitching. Adam McClain (Memphis) has also enjoyed success against La Crosse in hitting .350 (7-for-20) in 6 games.
Madison (13-8) remains one game ahead of the second place Waterloo Bucks (13-10) and 1.5 games in front of the Loggers (12-10) with 12 games left in the second half. The Mallards are also a full two games ahead of the South Division First Half Champion Eau Claire Express (9-16) in terms of overall record that will hold important meaning for home-field advantage once the playoffs arrive.
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The Mallards return home for a very important brief two-game series versus the La Crosse Loggers Wednesday, July 29 beginning at 7:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive the fifth and final bobblehead in the season-long series, this time a “Maynard Pitching” bobblehead courtesy of Schoep’s Ice Cream and WKOW-TV.
On Thursday, the first 1,000 kids, 14 & under will receive a Physicians Plus Tin Lunch Box and the first 1,000 fans of all ages will receive a Yo-Yo courtesy of the Holiday Inn at the American Center. It’ll also be The Simpson’s Night to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary! Anyone named Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, or Maggie will receive a free bleacher ticket (day of game only!).
Plenty of great seats are available for all of the Mallards remaining six home games and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling the box office at 608.246.4277 today!
