Ducks Can't Shake Blue Crabs
August 23, 2011 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., August 23, 2011) -The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 13-10 in game two of a three-game series on Tuesday night at Bethpage Ballpark.
Southern Maryland jumped out to a quick lead on Brian Barton's two-run home run in the first inning off Ducks' starter Mark Diapoules. The Ducks flexed their own muscles in the bottom of the frame with Ray Navarrete's two-run homer off Blue Crabs' starter Brian Slocum to tie the game at two.
Three runs in the second and four more in the third for the Blue Crabs put the visitors back in front by a score of 9-2, but Long Island scratched across single runs in the third and the sixth to get within five. A run-scoring double by J.R. House and a solo homer by Kraig Binick made the score 9-4.
The see-saw battle continued into the night, as the Ducks trailed 10-4 heading into the seventh. However, Long Island roared back with three in the bottom of the frame on a solo homer by Javier Colina, and run-scoring singles by Freddie Thon and Binick to cut the deficit to 10-7. Southern Maryland's Casey Benjamin and Travis Garcia connected with back-to-back homers in the eighth to extend the lead to 12-7, but Matt Esquivel crushed a three-run home run to center in the bottom of the inning to make it a 12-10 game, but that was as close as the Ducks would come.
Jason Waddell (4-7) picked up the win in relief of Slocum despite allowing four runs on five hits in two and two-thirds innings. Diapoules (7-2) suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs (six earned) on four hits in two innings of work. Jim Ed Warden earned his 25th save with a scoreless ninth.
Navarrete, Esquivel, Binick, and Matt Padgett led the Flock with two hits apiece, with Esquivel's three RBI pacing the team.
The Ducks wrap up their three-game series with the Blue Crabs on Wednesday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 PM, with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening early at 5:00 for a special softball game between the Nassau County PBA and Nassau County Fire Department. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive Back to School Notebooks, courtesy of Staples. Joselo Diaz gets the start for the Ducks against Southern Maryland's Eddie Rodriguez.
Tickets for the game and all home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, going online to www.liducks.com or calling 631-940-TIXX. Fans unable to attend the game can follow all the action online at www.liducks.com by clicking the Watch Live icon on the homepage. Streaming video and audio will be provided by iBN, the Internet Broadcast Network.
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Duck Tales: Kennard Jones extended his on-base streak to 40 games with a single and three walks. He is now tied with Adam Godwin for the longest on-base streak in the league this season. Doug Jennings has the longest on-base streak in Ducks' history when he reached base safely in 47 games in 2004The Ducks hit four home runs tonight to extend their league-leading total to 125 in 2011. Ray Navarrete hit his team-leading 21st while Javier Colina hit his 19th, Matt Esquivel clubbed his 12th, and Kraig Binick launched his third. The most homers the Ducks have hit in a game this season was six back on July 31 against the Road WarriorsTonight's game took three hours and 52 minutes, matching the longest nine inning home game this season for the Ducks. Long Island and Lancaster also took three hours and 52 minutes to complete their game on August 8.
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