Long Island Ducks: Flock Drops Second Straight; Game Five Today

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

LIBERTY DIVISION SEMI FINALS

 

Series Tied 2-2

I - Ducks 4; Blue Crabs 3

II - Ducks 3; Blue Crabs 1

III - Blue Crabs 7; Ducks 5

IV - Blue Crabs 4; Ducks 3

 

Playoff Preview
GAME ONE FINAL

GAME TWO FINAL

GAME THREE FINAL

 

GAME FIVE

 

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

FROM

BETHPAGE PARK

Long Island, N.Y.

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Club Lets Two Game Lead Waddle Away.  Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Win Games Three and Four At The Pond.  Deciding Game Five Scheduled For Late Sunday Afternoon.



In this series, so far the visiting team is holding court.  If the Ducks want another shot at the League title, that better change tonight.  Otherwise, Long Island will watch the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs possibly take on the Lancaster Barnstormers from home.


After winning the first two games of this series in Maryland, the Ducks have dropped Games Three and Four at Bethpage Park, setting up a series deciding Game Five tonight.


In Saturday night's game, each team exchanged first inning runs.  For the Ducks, Brandon Sing drove Dan Lyons home with a single.  Long Island took a 2-1 lead in the second.  With the bases loaded, only Matt Esquivel managed to trot home on a Dan Lyons sac-fly.  Otherwise it was an opportunity lost.  In the sixth inning, Long Island extended their lead to 3-1, when Brandon Sing connected on his second home run of the series.


Long Island's starter, John Brownell, pitched well through six innings.  He only allowed a run in the first inning, and three hits.  He walked two and struck out four batters.  In the seventh inning however, John surrendered three singles and allowed a run to make Game Four a 3-2 affair.  Jeremy Hill was summoned from the bullpen to finish the seventh.


The eighth inning was Leo Rosales' responsibility.  But he couldn't hold the line.  Southern Maryland first baseman Jesse Gutierrez connected on a two run home run off Long Island's reliever to give the Blue Crabs a 4-3 lead.


In the home ninth, Matt Esquivel grounded into a game ending double play, and thus committed both teams to a fifth and series deciding game on Sunday.


The Lancaster Barnstormers lead the Freedom Division series over the former repeat-defending champion York Revolution.




Mike.BTB