Ducks Have Up and Down Week, Split Six Games
Published on May 19, 2003 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 19, 2003) â In week three of the Atlantic League season, the Long Island Ducks played three games apiece against the Newark Bears and Somerset Patriots. Long Island emerged victorious in two of three games against the defending league champion Newark Bears. Newark OF Rickey Henderson brought much hoopla to Citibank Park during his visit, but the Ducks made sure that he was quiet on the field, holding the future Hall of Famer to a 2-for-11 showing at the plate. The Ducks then went on the road to face Somerset and dropped 2 of 3 to the Patriots over the weekend in New Jersey. The Ducks are now 10-6, tied for first place with the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League's North Division.
On Tuesday, May 13, the Ducks lost 5-4 to the Newark Bears before an announced crowd of 5,689 at Citibank Park. The loss snapped Long Island's four-game winning streak and kept the team in second place, one game behind the Nashua Pride, who also had a four-game win streak snapped this evening in a 12-6 loss to Camden. Ducks starter Mark Thompson (5.1 IP, 11 hits, 4 ER) struggled out of the gate, allowing three first inning runs. He allowed one more run in the top of the second to spot Newark a 4-0 lead. Long Island fought back with a run in the bottom of the second and a three-run inning of their own in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at four. Newark took the lead for good in the top of the seventh, scoring the game-winning run on Long Island catcher Jamie Pogue's passed ball. In his first visit to Long Island, Newark outfielder Rickey Henderson went 2-for-5 with a run scored and was charged with the Bears lone error, dropping a high fly ball in left field. Newark pitcher Jose Lima (3-0) recorded the win, allowing four runs (1 earned) in seven innings of work. Ducks reliever Jon Cannon (1-2) took the loss.
Long Island got back on the winning track Wednesday, defeating the Newark Bears 5-2 before an announced crowd of 5,836 at Citibank Park. The win tied the Ducks for first place in the North Division, as Nashua lost to Camden 4-2. Outfielder Derrick Gibson and designated hitter Patrick Lennon each homered to lead Long Island offensively.
Gibson struck first, with his first home run as a Duck in the second inning to stake Long Island to an early 1-0 lead. After Newark scored two in the top of the third to take the lead, Lennon sparked a four-run Long Island rally with a two-run home run over the Entenmann's sign on the second wall in left-centerfield in the fourth inning. Ducks starter Clint Weibl improved to 3-0, going five innings and allowing one earned run on four hits. Weibl's three victories tie him with Newark's Jose Lima and Camden's Lincoln Mikkelsen for tops in the Atlantic League. The bullpen trio of Mark Cerbone, Pedro Borbon, Jr. and Oscar Henriquez (third save) combined to pitch four scoreless innings to secure the victory. Newark outfielder Rickey Henderson had an eventful 0-for-4 night, scoring a run, stealing a base and arguing a called third strike with home plate umpire Trent Delmont in the top of the ninth inning.
Thursday, the Ducks defeated Newark 4-1 before 5,814 fans at Citibank Park, taking two of the three games in the series with the Bears. The win gave the Ducks six wins in their past seven games and sole possession of first place in the North Division, as Nashua lost to Camden 3-2 in 11 innings. Ducks starter Bryan Rekar (2-0) allowed three hits, one run (unearned) and struck out two to pick up the win. Rekar threw an economic 83 pitches in his seven-inning stint. Relievers Pedro Borbon (scoreless eighth inning) and Oscar Henriquez (scoreless ninth, fourth save) came on to close the game. The Ducks improved to 9-0 when leading after seven innings this season. Rekar, Borbon and Henriquez have not allowed an earned run this season in a combined 31 2/3 innings pitched. Bears starter Al Hawkins (0-2) took the loss after allowing three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Long Island plated three runs in the third when, with the bases loaded, Doug Jennings was hit by a pitch, followed by back-to-back walks of Patrick Lennon and Derrick Gibson. The Ducks added an insurance run in the eighth inning on OF Kimera Bartee's first home run of the season.
On Friday night, Long Island dropped a 5-1 decision to the Somerset Patriots before 5,093 fans at Commerce Bank Park in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Despite the loss, Long Island maintained sole possession of first place, one game ahead of the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League's North Division with a record of 9-5. Patriots starter Jason Dickson (2-1) picked up the win for Somerset, sprinkling eight hits over seven innings of work while allowing one run (earned) and striking out two. Ducks starter Denny Harriger (1-2) took the loss after allowing three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 Somerset lead. Relievers Scott Aldred and Lesli Brea came on to toss a shutout inning apiece for the Patriots, ensuring the win. Offensively for Long Island, 1B Doug Jennings, OF Mark Whiten and DH Patrick Lennon each had two hits. SS Kevin Baez went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Baez has reached base safely in each of the Ducks first 14 games.
The Ducks avenged their Friday night defeat on with a 12-2 clubbing of the Patriots on Saturday night 5,654 fans at Commerce Bank Park. First baseman Doug Jennings swung a hot bat, going 4-for-4 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Jennings led an offensive effort that saw Long Island crush Somerset pitching for 17 hits and 12 runs. Six Ducks had multiple hits and starting pitcher Jason Navarro (2-1) earned the victory by allowing one run during six innings of two-hit ball. Entering the sixth inning, Long Island held a slim 2-1 lead, but that would soon change as the team posted four runs in the sixth inning and six runs in the eighth to take a commanding 12-2 lead. Somerset starter Mike Oquist (1-2) took the loss, allowing eight hits and three runs in five innings of work. With the victory, Long Island maintained sole possession of first place, one game ahead of the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League's North Division with a record of 10-5.
On Sunday, the Ducks finished up the week by dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker to the Patriots before 5,922 at Commerce Bank Park. With the loss, Long Island dropped into a first-place tie with the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League's North Division with a record of 10-6. Bridgeport OF Melvin Nieves belted a three run walk-off home run to send the Ducks to defeat and rally the Patriots in the ninth inning, giving the Patriots their first series win of the season. Handed a 5-1 lead to start the ninth inning, Long Island reliever Oscar Henriquez (0-1) was touched for five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Somerset 3B Jeff Nettles drew a walk to lead off the ninth inning and, after two straight outs, OF Marcus Knight drew a walk to put runners on first and second. SS Matt Dryer followed Knight's at bat with a two run double to left, scoring Nettles and Knight. Second baseman Emiliano Escandon drew a walk and Nieves followed by driving the first pitch of the at bat over the rightfield wall for the game-winning homer. Ducks 1B Doug Jennings went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a stolen base and two RBIs to lead Long Island offensively. Jennings finished the three game series against the Patriots reaching base 13 of 15 times with eight hits, four walks, and five RBI.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES/EVENTS:
Tuesday, May 20, 7:05 p.m. vs. Nashua (6:05 gates) â The team that is currently tied for first place with the Ducks, the Nashua Pride, pay Long Island their first visit of the 2003 season. Good seats are still available for this game. The first 4,000 fans will be treated to Thunderstix, courtesy of Nickolock Paving Stones. This game will also be broadcast on Cablevision channel 18.
Wednesday, May 21, 7:05 p.m. vs. Nashua (6:05 gates) â Remember to wear your green! It's Irish Night presented by Carr business systems and WBLI 106.1. Good seats are still available for this game.
Thursday, May 22, 7:05 p.m. vs. Nashua (6:05 gates) - Good seats are available for this game.
Friday, May 23, 7:05 p.m. vs. Bridgeport (6:05 gates) â Fans attending Friday's game against the rival Bluefish will be treated to a post-game fireworks extravaganza courtesy of Grucci. Standing room only tickets are available for this game.
Saturday, May 24, 1:35 p.m. vs. Bridgeport (12:35 gates) â The first 2,500 fans into the ballpark will be given travel mugs courtesy of 7-11. Good seats are still available for this game.
Sunday, May 25, 1:35 p.m. vs. Bridgeport (12:35 gates) â Bi-County Saturn is giving baseballs away to the first 1,500 fans in attendance. Good seats are still available for this game.
Atlantic League Stories from May 19, 2003
- Somerset Patriots Bring Back Star First Baseman Luis Lopez - Somerset Patriots
- Ducks Have Up and Down Week, Split Six Games - Long Island Ducks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
