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Published On: July 7th, 2006

(7/4/06) Last night’s postgame show was about all the fireworks the Mankato MoonDogs could come up with on the 4th of July.

Casey Baron tossed seven shutout innings and Wayne Bond hit his second home run of the season and the Madison Mallards completed a two-game sweep of the MoonDogs. The Mallards won all four meetings with the MoonDogs this season, and their record in the all-time series now stands at 15-1.

Baron (2-3) gave up just four hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking none. MoonDogs starter Steve Salas, ninth in the Northwoods League with a 1.14 ERA entering the game, had another solid outing without much run support. Salas (2-4) went eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits and notching six strikeouts.

The game was scoreless until the sixth inning, when the Mallards received some clutch hitting from Spencer Steedley. With runners at second and third with two outs, Steedley singled to right to drive in both runners and provide Baron with the only runs he would need on the night. Bond’s home run in the eighth provided the Mallards with the final margin of victory.

The MoonDogs did not have more than one runner on base at once all night, with their best scoring opportunity coming in the first inning. Will Penniall led off with a single, but was picked off first. One out later, Tim Smith singled, but Shane Buschini lined out to shortstop to end the inning.

One inning later, Ryan Manthei hit a bloop double to left, and Chris Henault followed with a drive down the right field line that just landed in foul territory, as the MoonDogs missed another scoring chance.