Long Island Ducks Weekly Recap
Published on May 7, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 7, 2012) - The Long Island Ducks started the week off at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, dropping the first three games in the fourth annual Ferry Cup Series against the Bridgeport Bluefish. However, they returned home with a bang, sweeping a three-game set from the Camden Riversharks on opening weekend at Bethpage Ballpark. Long Island outscored the sharks 28-9.
Tuesday, May 1: The Bluefish would strike first, taking the first of three games 8-2. The Ducks scored first when Ryan Garko hit a RBI single to center, but Bridgeport came back in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Dan Lyons quickly evened the score in the top of the fourth for the Ducks on a RBI single to center. However, the Bluefish scored single runs in the sixth and seventh along with four in the eighth, capped by a Prentice Redman two-run double. Mike Loree went five innings, allowing two unearned runs, but took a no decision, while Jeff Lyman suffered the loss.
Wednesday, May 2: The first extra-inning game of the season for the Ducks ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss on Wednesday night. The Ducks struck first with their only two runs of the game when Bryant Nelson tripled and was driven in on Brandon Sing's two-run inside-the-park home run. Bridgeport would cut the lead in half on a RBI single off the bat of Eddie Rodgers and then tied it in the sixth when Joey Gathright swatted a RBI double to left. Neither team would score until the bottom of the 15th inning when a throwing error by Jeff Lyman allowed Gathright to score the winning run. Dan Meyer pitched five innings allowing only one run but did not factor into the decision.
Thursday, May 3: The Bluefish offense came alive early in Thursday's series finale. Bridgeport scored four runs in the bottom of the first and three more in the second off starter Joe Esposito. Colin DeLome's grand slam along with Joey Gathright's two-run triple and a sacrifice fly by Kennard Jones did the damage. A sac fly by Dan Lyons and a RBI single off the bat of Lew Ford accounted for Long Island's only runs in an 8-2 defeat.
Friday, May 4: The 13th home opener for the Ducks ended in grand fashion as a barrage of offense helped Long Island defeat Camden 13-2 on Friday night. Brandon Sing started the scoring in the bottom of the first with a solo blast to center field. Camden's Felix Pie would answer with a homer of his own in the top of the sixth, but the Ducks' bats struck again in the bottom of the frame. A two-run single by Ray Navarrete, a two-run double by Lew Ford and RBI singles by Shawn Williams and Bryant Nelson helped pave the way. In Nelson's second at-bat of the inning, he capped off 11-run frame with a grand slam. Bob Zimmermann earned the win, pitching a brilliant seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters.
Saturday, May 5: The first of 14 Grucci Fireworks Extravaganzas at Bethpage Ballpark became the second fireworks show of night behind the Ducks' offense. After Camden took an early lead, Long Island answered back with six runs in the bottom of the second. Lew Ford set the tone with a RBI infield single, which was then followed by back-to-back two-run singles by Dan Lyons and Kraig Binick and a sac fly from Brandon Sing. Ford kept the offense going with a solo home run to left in the third, and Ryan Garko added a two-run shot to left in the fourth, giving Long Island a seven run lead. Two runs in the seventh on bases loaded walks to Binick and Bryant Nelson and a sac fly from James McOwen in the eighth helped lead the Flock to a 13-5 victory.
Sunday, May 6: Long Island completed the three-game sweep of the Riversharks on Sunday in dramatic fashion. In a pitcher's duel between Mike Loree and Mike McGuire, both teams traded zeroes until the sixth when Chris Walker's RBI groundout put Camden up by one. Lew Ford answered back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run down the left field line to tie the game at one apiece. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 11th when Wilberto Ortiz started the inning with a double. Dan Lyons' sacrifice bunt moved Ortiz to third and set the stage for defending Atlantic League batting champion Kraig Binick, who lined a base hit to the gap in left-center field, clinching the Ducks' first waddle off win of the season by a 2-1 margin.
Up Next: The Ducks will host the York Revolution in an Atlantic League Championship Series rematch starting on Tuesday May, 8 at 6:35 p.m., with games following on Wednesday, May 9 and Thursday May 10 at 6:35 as well. Fans can follow all the action online at www.liducks.com, with Chris King calling the play-by-play. Live streaming video and audio will be available by clicking on the "Watch Live" icon in the schedule box. Fans can follow the action on the Ducks' YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball
Player of the Week:
DH Ryan Garko - .480 AVG (12-for-25), 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB (has a team-leading nine game hit streak and has reached base safely in all ten games this year)
Pitcher of the Week:
P Mike Loree - 2 GS, 0.75 ERA, 12.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K
Who's Hot - OF Lew Ford compiled a .385 average (10-for-26) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI and four runs scored... IF Bryant Nelson had one triple, one grand slam, six RBI, and three runs scored in the five games...P Bob Zimmermann earned his first win of the year, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings of work, striking out seven batters.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES:
Every Ducks home game will be broadcast live on LIDucks.com with streaming video and audio through iBN, the Internet Broadcast Network. Every weekend game (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) can also be heard on the radio at MyCountry 96.1 FM.
Great seats are still available for these games. For tickets, please visit the Bethpage Ballpark Box Office, log on to www.liducks.com and click on the tickets link, or call 631-940-TIXX.
Tuesday, May 8, 6.35 vs. York (5:35 gates) -
It's an Atlantic League Championship Series rematch, as the Ducks will open up a three-game set against the York Revolution. The first 3,500 fans will receive a 2012 Magnet Schedule, courtesy of the QuackerJack Foundation. It's also a peanut-free night. There will be no sale of peanuts at the ballpark, giving those fighting peanut allergies the opportunity to attend a baseball game.
Wednesday, May 9, 6:35 vs. York (5:35 gates) -
Long Island and York continue their three-game set. Keep an eye out for Ducks staffers, who will be handing out Long Island's BeachTree Café coupons as you exit the ballpark! Also, be sure to check out the brand new Photo Booth, located on the main concourse outside the Waddle In Shop.
Thursday, May 10, 6:35 vs. York (5:35 gates) -
The Ducks and Revolution will wrap up their series. Look out for those Ducks staffers again who will be giving away Verace coupons as you exit the ballpark! Keep your eyes on the field as well for our promotions crew, as they hold some new and exciting contests in between innings.
Atlantic League Stories from May 7, 2012
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- Long Island Ducks Weekly Recap - Long Island Ducks
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- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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.
