by Peter Geppert,
Battle Creek, MI – July 22, 2012. Another great starting pitching performance, this time from the arm of Mallards starter Daniel Gibson (Florida), setup a 5-0 win by the Madison Mallards (13-4, 29-23) over the Battle Creek Bombers (5-12, 19-33). With the victory the Mallards swept their three game weekend road series against the Bombers.
The Mallards wasted no time in getting out to an early lead, taking advantage of a fielder’s choice by Bombers starting pitcher Casey Mulholland (Ole Miss) on a ball put in play by first baseman Jeff Zimmerman (Northern Illinois). With center fielder John Welborn (Texas San-Antonio) on third, Zimmerman hit a slow roller that forced Mulholland to take the out and let Welborn score.
Zimmerman struck again in the sixth inning with a solo homer, his eighth of the year, that pushed the Mallards lead to 2-0. The Mallards added on again that inning when third baseman Nicholas Howard (Virginia) followed Zimmerman with a home run of his own.
Gibson held the Bombers hitless until the sixth inning when Bombers first baseman Sikes Orvis (Ole Miss) drove a ball that resulted in a ground rule double.
The Mallards’ bats stayed hot in the seventh inning when left fielder Derek Fisher (Virginia) added a two run homer to give the Mallards a 5-0 advantage.
From there the Mallards got three no-hit innings of relief from the bullpen to shut down the Bombers and deliver a win.
Gibson (3-2) finished his best outing of the evening with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work, and holding the Bombers to one hit.
Mulholland (0-3) suffered another loss for the Bombers after going 1.2 innings and giving up the go-ahead run in the first.
Woodchucks Watch:
As the Mallards continue their chase of the Woodchucks for the second half South Division title and a spot in the post-season the Mallards will continue to keep an eye on the Woodchucks the rest of the season…
Scoreboard Watch: Woodchucks 9, Express 2 Bottom 3rd
The Mallards return to action at the “Duck Pond” on Friday, July 27th against the Rafters. That night will be Presidential Bobble Election Night at the ballpark.
