Madison, WI – July 2, 2016. The Mallards (20-13) fell to the top team in the Northwoods League North division on Saturday, as the St. Cloud Rox (23-9) topped Madison by a score of 4-0. The game marked the first start of the season for Westin Wuethrich (Washington), who turned in four innings of work for the Mallards.
Wuethrich was sharp early, allowing only one hit in his first two innings. A fielding error would bring in a run in the third, putting the Mallards in a 1-0 hole heading into the middle innings. Wuethrich would walk the leadoff batter in the fourth inning, with a wild pitch and a single bringing home the runner a few batters later. Wuethrich would exit after four complete innings, allowing four hits and a single earned run while striking out four. It was a solid first start for the right-hander, who understands that starting a game is a different adventure than coming out of the bullpen.
“You just have to stay composed and take the game one pitch at a time,” said Wuethrich. “Make sure you don’t let the game get out of control.”
Mike Byrne (Florida) would relieve Wuethrich in the fifth inning, making his second appearance for Madison this season. Byrne would pitch three scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out three. Byrne is the owner of a 0.40 WHIP on the season.
The Rox would tack on two more runs in the 8th inning, one of which came off of Madison’s third error of the ballgame. The Mallards weren’t able to overcome the deficit, eventually falling to St. Cloud.
The Madison offense was quiet tonight, hitting safely just four times in the contest. It was as uncharacteristic a performance as one will see, as Madison had yet to be shutout all season prior to tonight.
Josh Stowers (Louisville) summed it up perfectly, “It happens.”
Logan Salow (Kentucky) would pick up the win for St. Cloud, allowing three hits and striking out seven in six innings. Robbie Palkert (Nebraska) earned the three-inning save, with Westin Wuethrich taking his second loss of 2016.
With the loss, Madison has the possibility of dropping to three games back of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in the Northwoods League South division. The first half of the season ends on July 5th, with each division leader on that date securing a playoff spot.
The Mallards will return to the Duck Pond tomorrow, July 3rd, to finish off the two-game set with the St. Cloud Rox. The game will feature postgame fireworks, presented by U.S. Bank. There will also be a performance by The Ryan McGrath Band. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting MallardsBaseball.com, calling the Mallards ticket office at 608-246-4277, or stopping in the ticket office at 2920 N Sherman Ave.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.mallardsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Mallards as your favorite team.
