Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Radue Goes against Growlers; Lumber out in Full for Bullfrogs

Published on July 10, 2015 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Green Bay Bullfrogs Pitcher Ryan Radue
Green Bay Bullfrogs Pitcher Ryan Radue
(Green Bay Rockers)

Green Bay, WI.- Skip Handelsman's Bullfrogs (28-16/6-3) hop into tonight's 7:05PM contest with the Kalamazoo Growlers (11-33/3-8) having won four in a row (2X Growlers, 2X Bombers) overall and six straight at home dating back to a June 24th win over the Lakeshore Chinooks.

Tonight's starting pitching bill features Ryan May (RHP/LSU) (0-2/4.88ERA/27 2/3) from Kalamazoo who the Bullfrogs saw last on July 5th. He counters Ryan Radue (RHP/UConn) (4-0/2.66ERA/27.0IP) who has been the winning pitcher in his last three appearances.

Military Appreciation tonight features the Bullfrogs' patriotic uniforms that will be auctioned off after the game. It's the final home game until July 18th.

Growlers Three Leads Torn Down By Bullfrogs

In last night's 8-6 win, it seemed every time the Growlers came knocking, the Bullfrogs were already waiting with a prompt answer. Kalamazoo took the lead in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th innings only for Green Bay to tie or re-take the edge each time.

The final emphatic touch on this Bullfrogs comeback effort was in the bottom of the sixth when the Bullfrogs put up a six spot having trailed by two runs leading into the frame.

Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's) put home the first run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to right field, and with two outs Robb Paller's (Columbia) two-RBI single plated Logan Taylor (Louisville) and Matt De La Rosa (Lenoir Rhyne). The final run scored on a balk by Nathan Coakley (St. Francis) on a first to third move in which he did not throw to a base.

In total, three balks were called (one against Bullfrogs, two on Growlers) and all of them resulted in runs scored.

The Bullfrogs rapped out 13 hits on eight runs and had excellent production from the 1-3 hitters in thei order. Logan Taylor (Louisville), Robb Paller (Columbia), and Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) were 7-for-13 with three runs and four RBI.

It was Taylor's first game back in the lineup since July 3rd, allowing Mikey Duarte (UC-Irvine) to slot down in the middle of the order to drive in runs, as Brian Celsi (California) also was placed fourth in the lineup having nine RBI in eight games played.

Sam Brunner (Dayton) yielded four walks and exited after 4 2/3 IP. Adam Rude (LHP/UW-Oshkosh), Jack Mahan (Eckerd), and Jeremy Graf (Flagler) finished the rest of the game giving up just a combined two earned runs.

Mahan was credited with his first win (1-0/2.77ERA) and Jeremy Graf the save (9SV/1.96) as the Frogs advanced to 12 games over .500 and won their fourth in a row.

Radue Has Not Lost Yet; Senior Bats Lead the Way

When Ryan Radue starts, the Bullfrogs win. In Radue's six starts, the team has never lost, although Radue has lasted no longer than 5 1/3 IP in any of his starts. He has only given up 22 hits in 27IP but has consistently found himself in high pitch count scenarios with five starts of two walks or more.

He has experience going against Kalamazoo, having pitched against them on June 6th in which he went just 2 2/3IP/2R because of a season high five walks.

Radue has been in the rotation from start to present, the only pitcher outside of Garrett Harrison who has not thrown innings from the bullpen still on the team.

During the month of July, the Bullfrogs are 6-3, and the team ERA is 5.19. In 78.0IP the K: BB ratio is almost 1:1 (48K:46BB). These numbers contrast a June in which the K:BB ratio was more than 2:1 (239K-110BB) and the Bullfrogs posted a 2.43 ERA.

Amid such pitching variability, a welcomed shift has occurred in favor of the Bullfrogs' bats. Robb Paller (Columbia) has been white hot. On a three-game hit streak he is 8-for-12 with three runs and six RBI. With runners in scoring position, Paller has 12 hits in 28 tries adding extra spark to a team that is hitting a proficient .267 with RISP this season.

Hitting third in the order, Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) has lifted his season average to .301 (25-for-83) with a recent 2-for-5 performance to make it a six-game hit streak for him, just after he tallied a nine-game hit streak from June 21-28.

Rosenbaum tied up the game last night in the fifth, 4-4, with a two-out RBI single to right-center in a two- strike count. It was the type of veteran at-bat that has stamped the Bullfrogs recent offensive ascension. His inclusion leads to a lineup typically featuring eight of nine players who are rising seniors.

Over the last five games, the Bullfrogs are batting .306 with six players who have four hits or more over that timeframe. And six players also have two RBI or higher over the last five.

Growlers Bring 3-18 Road Record To Final Game

After allowing eight runs last night, the Growlers team ERA on the road stands at 7.26, a league worst. Field Manager, Travis Wade, has had really no choice but to try inserting former bullpen arms into the starting staff.

That is what they are trying with Ryan May (RHP/LSU). His last outing was his second start, and he went 4 2/3IP/ 2ER/ 6H/5K-2BB against the Bullfrogs. It was clear he was exhausted trying to get through the fifth, an inning in which he has not surpassed yet this summer.

Even in the loss yesterday, the Growlers can hang their hat on the fact that some guys, cold the whole year, had break out games at the plate.

Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois) was 2-for-5 including a key 2-RBI single that gave the Growlers a lead in the middle of the game.

Hitting seventh, still with a season average at just .178, Bryce Adams (LSU) had a pair of base hits last night. Kalamazoo also patiently forced six walks, and their six runs was the third time they put up five or more against the Bullfrogs.

But one thing they have not done well is score runs late. Out of 10 chances, the Growlers have dropped four games when capturing the lead after the fifth inning.

If the Bullfrogs hang on for another win over Kalamazoo it will be their ninth sweep of the season, first of the Growlers, and could get them within half a game from first place if Kenosha loses against Madison.

Single game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.greenbaybullfrogs.com to purchase tickets. The Bullfrogs' business hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Green Bay Bullfrogs Pitcher Ryan Radue
Green Bay Bullfrogs Pitcher Ryan Radue
   



Northwoods League Stories from July 10, 2015


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