L.I. Ducks ~ SIXTY

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS: The Webbed Nine Are Turning Back All Comers.

As they sit atop the Liberty Division in the second-half of the Atlantic League season, the Long Island Ducks are the first team to reach twenty wins.  They also happen to be the first team to win sixty games this season.  At thirty games over .500, the Ducks now sport a record of 60-30 which is by far a League best.


The Ducks continue to take on all comers and keep turning them away.  This time it was the surging Bridgeport Bluefish; surging until they faced the Ducks, that is.  The Ducks dropped Bridgeport to third place and 3.5 games behind them in the second-half standings by completing a three game series sweep out in Bethpage Park.


Ducks' Ace, Mike Loree, was up to his usual effectiveness Thursday evening.  In seven innings pitched, he allowed nine hits but only one earned run.  He walked one and struck out seven Bluefish on his way to a dreaded no-decision.  Both starting pitchers engaged in a seven inning pitcher's duel leaving the score tied heading into the eighth.


Dan Lyons singled home Matt Esquivel in the second inning giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead until Bridgeport tied the game in the seventh off Loree.  But then with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Ducks put this game far enough out of Bridgeport's reach.  With the bases loaded, Matt Esquivel doubled home two runs and Kraig Binick drove in another run with a sac-fly, for a 4-2 Long Island lead and ultimate final.


Although Jeremy Hill allowed Bridgeport's second run of the game, he was credited with Thursday's win; his fourth as a reliever.  Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth and secured his fifteenth save of the season.


Not bad....huh?





Mike.BTB