Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) provided exactly what the Mallards needed last night in only allowing one earned run on seven hits over seven innings to pick up his fourth win of the year.
Last night’s Box Score
Madison, Wis. – August 9, 2009. The Mallards took care of business for the second straight night on Saturday with a 3-1 win and series sweep over Eau Claire at the “Duck Pond,” but they remain in second place by one-half game after South Division leader, La Crosse, came away with an improbable come-from-behind win, scoring five in the ninth to stun Waterloo, 11-10.
Madison (37-28 overall, 18-13 second half) will welcome in tonight a streaking Green Bay team that has won its last six games. Cody Winiarski (MATC) looks to repeat what Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) did last night. Rivers threw eight innings, allowing a run on seven hits while striking out five in a win over the Express. Winiarski seeks his seventh win of the season and a must-win scenario for the Mallards.
The Bullfrogs (29-36, 15-17) have gotten the best of Madison so far this year, winning four of six games in the season series including three in a row. They sit four games behind La Crosse at the moment, eliminating them from playoff contention. The only satisfaction they’ll have is playing spoiler in a tight South Division playoff race.
Sunday will be St. Mary’s “An Apple A Day, Keeps the Doctor Away” Night (first 1,000 fans receive a free apple!) Stop-N-Go will sponsor Back to School Lunch Bag Night (first 1,000 kids, 14 & under) while Charter Communications will give away baseball cards to the first 1,000 kids as well.
Tonight’s game is slated for 5:05 p.m. at the “Duck Pond”. Gates will open 90 minutes prior to the first pitch. Great seats are still available for the Mallards two remaining regular season games and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 608.246.4277.
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Tonight’s Pitching Match-up
RHP Cody Winiarski (MATC) : A solid starter toward the front of the rotation this year, Winiarski sports a 6-4 overall record with a 2.15 ERA in 16 appearances (11 starts) spanning over 71 innings pitched. Against the Bullfrogs in 2009, he’s 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in seven innings. In his last start back on Aug. 4, Winiarski went five innings, surrendering a run on only four hits and getting the 8-3 victory over St. Cloud.
RHP Dixon Anderson (California) : Not used to starting a whole lot this season, Anderson has compiled a 2-2 record with a 1.91 ERA in 22 appearances, but only four starts. He’s recorded 49 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched and has yet to allow a home run this year. In his last start back on Aug. 1, Anderson threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five and walking four in a 7-1 win over La Crosse.
What’s On the Line
The Mallards remain a half-game behind La Crosse in the NWL South Division standings with just two games left to play. Last night, it looked as if Madison would move into first place after Waterloo took a 10-6 lead in the ninth inning at La Crosse, but the Loggers were resilient, scoring five in the bottom of the ninth to shock the Bucks, Mallards and everyone else scoreboard watching across the NWL. The Loggers will play host to Mankato for their final two regular season games. Mankato already has a playoff spot locked up after winning the first half title in the North Division, but wouldn’t mind a little momentum heading into the playoffs which begin on Tuesday.
By the Numbers
Green Bay is one of the few teams in the Northwoods League to have success against the Mallard pitching staff while keeping the Madison offense at bay for the most part. The Bullfrogs have a team batting average of .277 against Mallard hurlers this season and have averaged six runs per game so far while the pitching staff has held Madison hitters to a measly .236 clip and just two runs per game.
Looking to Get Even
Green Bay has won four of the six games in the season series and came away with a series sweep at the “Duck Pond” back on July 16-17, outscoring the Mallards by a combined score of 16-3 in those two games. Here’s a look at the season series between both squads entering tonight:
07/17 GREEN BAY 7 at MADISON 2
07/16 GREEN BAY 9 at MADISON 1
07/02 MADISON 3 at GREEN BAY 8
07/01 MADISON 2 at GREEN BAY 0
06/15 MADISON 1 at GREEN BAY 6
06/14 MADISON 6 at GREEN BAY 4
