Mallards take series, top Woodchucks 6â3
July 29, 2011 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wausau Woodchucks News Release
WAUSAU - The Wisconsin Woodchucks were unable to recover from a four-run first inning by the Madison Mallards Friday night, losing their third in a row on Marshfield Go-Pink Night, 6-3.
After starter Aaron Gates took an early exit, allowing four runs in the first, the âChucks struck for three in the second inning, and received a strong pitching performance from reliever Justin Burns before the lumber fell dormant and collected only two hits the rest of the night.
With the loss, the Woodchuck have lost nine of ten games following the All-Star Break, falling from second to seventh place in the South Division.
Looking towards a double-header Saturday, the âChucks fell to 8-13 in the second half, while the Mallards improved to 9-10. Aaron Gates recorded his first decision with the Woodchucks, falling to 0-1.
Repeating a common trend of late, Gates, Friday's starting pitcher, struggled mightily with his control and exited early. After Justin Parr led off the first inning with a single, Gates issued three walks and hit a batter - allowing four runs to score while succumbing to the 35-pitch rule.
Justin Burns, an unannounced, but probable starter in Saturday's road matchup with Wisconsin Rapids, replaced Gates in the second, and retired the Mallards in order.
Holding an early four-run lead, Madison starter Estevan Uriegas struggled in the second inning, giving back three runs. Garrett Yrigoyen led off the inning with a walk, and Cody Regis followed with a single. Robbie De La Cruz then grounded into a double play - scoring Yrigoyen - before a two-out rally scored two more runs.
The deficit cut to one, Burns faced the minimum through the fourth inning, before running into trouble in the fifth.
Justin Parr and Justin Scanlon led off with a double and a single, before Matt Juengel hit a sac fly to score one, and Willie Argo hit a single to put runners on the corners. During the next at-bat, Burns had Argo picked off, but in the ensuing rundown, Scanlon snuck home and scored. Argo ended the inning by being picked off again, ended the fifth up 6-3.
Uriegas shut down the âChucks following the three-run second, notching a quality start and allowing only one more hit through the seventh inning. He ended the night with six hits, three walks and three runs allowed, while striking out six, improving to 3-1.
After the two-run fifth, Justin Burns, Ryan Iverson, and Anthony Drobnick combined to face the minimum over the last four innings.
The Mallards' bullpen faced the minimum over the past two innings, while Matt Milroy - Madison's imposing closer - notched his fifth save of the season.
The Woodchucks will travel down to Wisconsin Rapids Saturday for a day-night double header, before returning home Sunday to cap the short series with the Rafters.
Northwoods League Stories from July 29, 2011
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- Stingers Sweep Rochester With 8-5 Victory - Willmar Stingers
- Urban thrills Faber crowd once again - St. Cloud River Bats
- Urban thrills Faber crowd once again - St. Cloud River Bats
- Mallards Sweep Woodchucks Behind Offense, Uriegas - Madison Mallards
- Lunkers Fall to Mankato 12-1 - Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers
- Honkers Swept in Willmar - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards take series, top Woodchucks 6â3 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Doubleheaders to take place on August 4 and 5 in Eau Claire - Eau Claire Express
- Bombers Games Lost to Unplayable Grounds - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Goose Droppings American Style - Rochester Honkers
- Uriegas to the Mound as Mallards Look for Two-Game Sweep - Madison Mallards
- Marshfield Clinic Go-Pink Night Tonight - Wausau Woodchucks
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