Ducks Dig the Longball in Doubleheader Sweep
May 14, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
Long Island Ducks Congratulate Lew Ford on his Home Run
(Long Island Ducks)
(Central Islip, N.Y.) - The Long Island Ducks swept a day/night doubleheader from the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Saturday, taking the opener 9-5 and the nightcap 9-2 at Bethpage Ballpark.
Southern Maryland took advantage of a throwing error and scored four unearned runs in the first inning off of Ducks starter Bruce Kern. A RBI single by Jamar Walton, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jon Dziomba and a two-run double by Bryant Nelson did the damage.
Dan Lyons put the Ducks on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to left field off of Blue Crabs starter Shaun Garceau. Lew Ford pulled the Ducks even at four in the third with a three-run homer over the wall in left. Anthony Vega then put Long Island in front 5-4 with a two-out RBI single to right-center in the fourth.
A solo homer to left-center by Jamar Walton in the fifth tied the game at five, but the Ducks jumped back in front with three runs in the bottom of the frame. A run-scoring double play ball and a two-run homer to left by Cody Puckett highlighted the inning. Fehlandt Lentini rounded out the scoring with a line drive solo blast to left in the sixth.
Kern did not factor into the decision, lasting four and two-thirds innings and allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out six. Patrick Crider (1-0) collected the win after striking out Kuan-Jen Chen to end the fifth inning. Garceau (1-2) took the loss, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and a walk over four innings with two strikeouts.
Lyons led the way with four hits and three runs scored. Puckett added three hits and two RBI, while Ford finished with two hits, three RBI and two runs.
Long Island took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two on Ford's RBI infield single off of Blue Crabs starter Tim Sexton. Two more runs in the second on a solo homer to right by Blake Tekotte and a wild pitch that scored Mike Dowd extended the advantage to three.
Zach Wilson put Southern Maryland on the board with a solo homer to right-center in the fourth off of Ducks starter Darin Downs. However, Vega responded with a three-run blast to right in the bottom of the frame to balloon the Ducks lead to 6-1.
A RBI single by Steve Lombardozzi in the fifth brought the Blue Crabs within two, but a two-out, two-run double to center by Matt Wessinger in the sixth opened the lead to 8-2. Dan Lyons capped the scoring with a solo homer to left in the seventh.
Downs (2-1) earned the win, pitching seven innings of two-run ball, allowing eight hits while striking out eight. Sexton (0-1) suffered the loss, yielding six runs (five earned) on six hits with three strikeouts in four innings.
Tekotte led the Flock with three hits and two runs in the contest.
The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their four-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Bud Harrelson Face Fans. It's also a Sunday Family Funday at the ballpark! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks. Following the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
Tickets to the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX. Those unable to make the game can follow all of the action live on the Ducks' official YouTube channel. Streaming video and audio will be available online.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
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 Long Island Ducks Congratulate Lew Ford on his Home Run |
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Atlantic League Stories from May 14, 2016
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