NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



 Long Island Ducks

Ducks Split Twin Bill

August 25, 2009 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release


(Camden, N.J., August 25, 2009) - The Long Island Ducks and Camden Riversharks each earned a win in a doubleheader on Tuesday night at Campbell's Field. Camden took the opener 5-4 with Long Island earning a 6-5 win in game two.

Juan Francia got the Ducks started in the opening game as he ripped his franchise record-tying ninth triple of the season down the first base. Ray Navarrete, who plated Francia last night on single, brought him across on a sacrifice fly and it was 1-0 Long Island.

Ducks' starter Jake Dittler worked a perfect first, but Camden timed him in the home second as they sent eight batters to the plate. With two on, Garrett Guzman ripped a two-run single to right-center and Brett Bonvechio followed with a two-run homer to right to make it 4-1 Riversharks.

The Flock came back with a pair in the top of the third on a George Lombard sacrifice fly and an Estee Harris RBI double to pull within a run. Navarrete tied the game in the fourth as he drilled his first-ever homer at Campbell's Field in his five year Atlantic League career and it was 4-4. Jose Leon's one-out solo shot to left in the sixth was the difference for the Riversharks.

Relievers Felix Rodriguez (4-4) and Tim Bittner combined to retire the last six Ducks' batters to secure the win and save respectively. Dittler (5-7) fired a complete game, allowing five earned on seven hits, and at one point retired 11 straight.

In game two, Francia's lead-off homer to right and Jose Herrera's RBI single in the visitor's first gave the Ducks an early 2-0 advantage. The Riversharks got a run back on a Guzman sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 2-1.

In the third, a RBI single by Harris plated Navarrete to make it 3-1 Flock, but the Sharks answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Bonvechio drew a bases loaded RBI walk to put Camden back within a run. Navarrete padded the Ducks' lead in the fourth with a sacrifice fly and it was 4-2 Long Island.

Camden rallied for three runs on six hits in the fifth inning against reliever Joe Valentine and took a 5-4 lead. A RBI triple by Chris Walker was the big blow of the frame. The Ducks reclaimed the lead in the sixth as throwing error on the catcher allowed David Housel to score and Navarrete picked up his second RBI on an infield single that plated Francia.

Joe Valentine (4-2) recorded the win and Bill Simas recorded his 21st save of the year as he stranded the tying run on third in the ninth. Simas is now just three saves away from the franchise record for career saves.

The Ducks continue their road trip with the series finale against Camden on Wednesday. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Fans can tune into all the action live via streaming webcast at www.liducks.com, with Chris King calling the play-by-play. The Flock is back in town on Monday, August 31 and continues the playoff hunt as they welcome First-Half Freedom Division Champs Somerset in for a four-game series. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m., with the Citibank Park gates opening at 6:05 p.m. Tickets to the game and all upcoming Ducks home games are available at the Citibank Park Box Office, by calling (631) 940-TIXX, or by logging onto www.liducks.com and clicking on the tickets icon at the top of the page.


• Discuss this story on the Atlantic League message board...

Atlantic League Stories from August 25, 2009


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.

Other Recent Long Island Ducks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central