Ducks Close Half With Doubleheader Split
Published on July 10, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., July 10, 2011) - The Long Island Ducks split a doubleheader with the Somerset Patriots, taking the opener 3-1 before falling in game two 7-2 on Sunday evening in front of a past-capacity crowd of 6,069 at Bethpage Ballpark.
Long Island struck on their first two batters of game one, as Kennard Jones and Ray Navarrete hit back-to-back solo homers off Patriots' starter Kevin Reese. Somerset closed within one in the second on a solo shot by Jeff Nettles against Ducks' starter Ruddy Lugo. A RBI double to left-center by Jones rounded out the scoring.
Lugo (3-1) picked up the win, allowing just one run on four hits in five innings pitched. Reese (2-3) went the distance but took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings of work. Ehren Wassermann earned his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
In game two, Somerset got on the board first courtesy of John Pachot's two-run double in the second against Ducks' starter Chris McCoy. Long Island got a run back in the second on a sac fly to left off the bat of Matt Padgett.
The Patriots extended their lead to six with three more runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and one in the ninth. A two-run double by Matt Hagen, a sac fly from Norris Hopper, a RBI single by Nettles, and a solo homer by Josh Pressley highlighted the scoring.
Luke Sommer (1-2) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one walk while striking out two. McCoy (1-1) was saddled with the loss after yielding five runs on four hits in four innings.
Jones led the way with three hits and two RBI in the twinbill while Matt Esquivel had a pair of hits and a run scored.
The Ducks will return to action following the All-Star Break on Friday, July 15 when they open a nine-game homestand with a three-game set against the Road Warriors. Game time is set for 7:05 PM, with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. It's the Fifth Annual Irish Heritage Night, and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Sports Water Bottles, courtesy of the Nutty Irishman.
Tickets to the game and all upcoming games are available at the Bethpage Ballpark Box Office, over the phone at 631-940-TIXX, or online at www.liducks.com. Fans unable to make the contest can follow all the action live on the radio at MyCountry 96.1 FM, with Michael Polak calling the play-by-play. Streaming video and audio via iBN, the Internet Broadcast Network, will also be available online at www.liducks.com by clicking the Watch Live icon on the homepage.
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Duck Tales (Game One): When Kennard Jones and Ray Navarrete hit back-to-back homers in the first, it was the third time in 2011 that the Ducks homered back-to-back. Jones now has hit six home runs this season while Navarrete clubbed his tenth. Long Island has totaled 77 homers this season and has gone deep in nine straight games, hitting 19 longballs during that spanJones stole his 17th base in the third inning. He now has three steals in the last two games and is second on the team behind Kraig Binick (22)The Ducks moved a season-high 18 games over .500 with the victory.
Duck Tales (Game Two): Matt Esquivel and Kennard Jones both tripled in the game. Esquivel's triple was his first of the season while Jones collected his team and Atlantic League leading eighth. Long Island now has 17 triples in 2011 after totaling 21 three-baggers a year agoDespite the loss, the Ducks finished the first half with a record of 40-23. The 40 wins tied the franchise-high for wins for a first half, which the Ducks also accomplished in 2000 (40-30) and 2004 (40-23). The most Ducks wins in any half was 42 in the second half of 2000 (42-28).
Atlantic League Stories from July 10, 2011
- Revs Blow Out Barnstormers Heading Into All-Star Break - York Revolution
- Barnstormers Clubbed In First Half Finale - Lancaster Stormers
- Ducks Close Half With Doubleheader Split - Long Island Ducks
- Patriots Split Twinbill to Close First Half - Somerset Patriots
- Crabs End First Half with Win - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Riversharks Fall in First-Half Finale - Camden Riversharks
- Bluefish Hand Warriors Defeat - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Patriots Falter To Ducks - Somerset Patriots
- âStormers Take Day Game to Clinch First Half - Lancaster Stormers
- Bridgeport splits doubleheader - Bridgeport Bluefish
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