Davies single in 11th nails down important first game win for Ducks
Published on September 25, 2004 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2004) â Unlike any of the Long Island Ducks first three playoff contests, Game One of the Atlantic League Championship Series on Friday night was a wild, back-and-forth offensive battle that featured a combined 21 runs and 29 hits in an 11-inning thriller. In the end, the Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series with an 11-10 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 6,122 fans at Citibank Park.
Long Island drew first blood in the four hour, 22-minute marathon, plating a run in the bottom of the first on a Pat Lennon RBI single that scored eventual game hero Justin Davies. After Camden tied the game at one in the second, Lennon was at it again, driving home two runs on a double to left center in the third. The 3-1 lead was short-lived however, as starting pitcher Jason Navarro lost the plate and became slightly wild. After allowing three runs in the fourth and surrendering the lead to Camden, manager Don McCormack lifted Navarro with two outs and brought in Julian Heredia. "The Witch Doctor" did the job, retiring the only batter he faced, shortstop Tony Rodriguez, to end the Camden rally.
In the fifth, John DeSilva relieved Heredia and let up one run on three hits before recording an out, extending the Riversharks lead to 5-3. The Ducks responded with a rally of their own in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with none out before bringing home two runs to knot the game at five. DeSilva recovered and kept the Ducks in the game, allowing just one more run through two and two-thirds innings.
Davies gave the Ducks the go-ahead run in the sixth with an RBI triple down the right field line that plated Matt Garrick and started a five-run Ducks rally. The big blow came on a Jason Johnson bases loaded triple that gave Long Island a 10-5 lead. Pat Lennon (3-for-5, run, double) added another RBI of his own to bring his total on the night to five.
Chris Widger's RBI single to left center in the seventh got Camden to within 10-6, but Jamie Brewington came on for DeSilva and retired Dwight Maness on a fly to right with runners on first and third to end the Camden threat. Brewington stayed in the game, retiring the side in order in the eighth and getting Quincy Foster on a fly ball to left to begin the ninth. Brewington gave way to Joe Cotton after allowing back-to-back singles.
Cotton allowed a single to Ryan Jones that loaded the bases, setting the stage for Chris Widger's dramatic grand slam home run to left that again tied the game, this time at 10 runs apiece. Widger finished the game 3-for-6 with six RBI. After Camden's Todd Rizzo and Long Island's Jordan Zimmerman traded scoreless innings of relief in the tenth, Andy Shibilo kept the Sharks off the board in the 11th to keep the score tied at 10. The Ducks went to the bottom of the 11th against Camden's Evan Thomas looking for a rally.
Jason Johnson led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With Johnson on third and none out, Rusty McNamara grounded out to second. McCormack sent Andrew Salvo to the plate to pinch hit for Matt Garrick. Camden manager Wayne Krenchicki countered by ordering an intentional walk to Salvo to set up a possible double play ball with Kevin Baez coming up to bat. On an unbelievable play, Camden centerfielder Dwight Maness, playing shallow, made a shoestring catch of a flare off the bat of Baez and held Johnson at third. With two outs, Davies strode to the plate with the game on the line. Camden's Thomas, who returned to the Riversharks fresh off a Triple-A championship at Buffalo, threw a curve that Davies scorched into rightfield for the winning hit. The win was Long Island's third playoff win, with each coming by one run.
The Ducks and Riversharks meet in Game Two of the best-of-five Atlantic League Championship Series on Saturday night at Citibank Park. Start time for the final home game of the 2004 season is 7:05 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast live on WLIE Radio (540-AM) with Chris King, David Weiss and Mike Graham describing all the action from Central Islip. A live streaming broadcast will also be available by logging on to www.liducks.com and clicking on the radio icon. Southpaw Matt Beech (0-1, 4.76) takes the hill for Long Island and will be opposed by Camden lefty Kevin Dougherty (0-0, 0.00). Plenty of great tickets remain available by calling 1-888-332-5600, by logging on to www.liducks.com and clicking on the tickets icon, or by visiting the Citibank Park box office.
The Long Island Ducks, 2004 Atlantic League North Division Champions, are in their fifth anniversary season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Citibank Park. For further information, call (631) 940-3825.
Atlantic League Stories from September 25, 2004
- Crazy comeback puts Ducks one win from first championship - Long Island Ducks
- Game one goes to the Ducks - Camden Riversharks
- Davies single in 11th nails down important first game win for Ducks - Long Island Ducks
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