Blue Crabs Outlast Ducks in 16-Inning Marathon
Published on September 5, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
Long Island Ducks Pitcher Nick Struck
(Long Island Ducks)
(Central Islip, NY) - The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-4 in 16 innings on Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
Randy Ruiz put the Ducks on top 1-0 in the second, hitting a solo homer to left off Southern Maryland starter Tim Sexton. Southern Maryland was able to pull even in the sixth when Ducks reliever Patrick Crider's wild pitch scored Casey Stevenson from third. In the home half of the sixth, Long Island retook the lead on a RBI fielder's choice from Dan Lyons.
In the seventh, Antone DeJesus' two-run homer to right off Ducks reliever Ryan Kussmaul gave the Blue Crabs a 3-2 advantage. However, Delta Cleary, Jr.'s RBI single to center off reliever Orlando Santos in the eighth tied the ballgame at three. The Blue Crabs were able to pull ahead 4-3 in the 10th on Jamar Walton's infield RBI single off Ducks reliever J.C. Romero. Long Island responded yet again, when Lyons picked up his second RBI on another fielder's choice facing Blue Crabs reliever Cody Eppley to make the score 4-4.
The score would remain the same until the 16th inning, when Grant Zawadzki bounced a RBI single into center off Ducks reliever Chris McCoy with the bases loaded to give Southern Maryland a 5-4 lead. Long Island could not close the gap.
McCoy (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up one run on six hits in five innings while walking one and striking out four. Chris Bodishbaugh (1-0) earned the win, tossing three shutout innings of relief without allowing a hit. Both starters finished with a no decision. Struck did not allow a run on one hit in four innings while walking three and striking out four. Sexton went six and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with six strikeouts. Frank DeJiulio, Jr., Amalio Diaz, and Mariel Checo each threw a scoreless inning of relief for the Ducks.
Cleary, Jr. picked up three hits and one RBI for Long Island in the loss. Fehlandt Lentini had two hits and scored three times.
The Ducks continue their four-game set with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It will be Prostate Cancer Awareness Night at the ballpark, presented by BigCatBikes.com and Ed Randall's "Fans For the Cure" with Prostate Cancer Screening Blood Tests courtesy of Winthrop-University Hospital and Winthrop Urology, PC. Following Saturday's game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza. It will also be a Dick's Sporting Goods Saturday at Bethpage Ballpark! Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons with a special offer from Dick's Sporting Goods to fans as they exit the ballpark following the fireworks show. Right-hander Bruce Kern gets the start for the Ducks against Blue Crabs southpaw Jon Leicester.
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 Long Island Ducks Pitcher Nick Struck |
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- Blue Crabs Outlast Ducks in 16-Inning Marathon - Long Island Ducks
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