Long Island Ducks: Returning To The Pond Up 2-0 In Series

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Playoff Preview

GAME ONE FINAL

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Strong Pitching Leads Ducks In Southern Maryland Sweep.  Team Has Three Chances At Home To Win One Game and Clinch Trip To Championship Round.


Even better than a split on the road, the Ducks swept the first two games in Southern Maryland.  Long Island now owns a 2-0 advantage in the best of five series.  They are headed home back to The Pond where they'll have three chances to win one more game, and advance to their second consecutive championship round.  The opportunity to vindicate themselves after last season's disappointing end is now just a game away.


Long Island's starter, Matt May, turned in a brilliant performance, dominating the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs over eight full innings.  He limited the Blue Crabs to four hits, and issued no walks.  He allowed one run to score in the fifth inning, and nothing more.  Matt May struck out ten batters before giving way to Leo Rosales out of the bullpen.  Rosales pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two batters to close out the Ducks second win in as many days.


The lone run Southern Maryland scored against May was the extent of all scoring through the first seven innings of the game.  Blue Crabs' starter, Matthew Vasquez, matched Matt May inning for inning, in what emerged into a classic pitcher's duel.  Vasquez kept the Ducks off the board.


An unfortunate sequence for the Blue Crabs allowed Long Island to score twice in the top of the eighth inning however.  Mitch Canham and Dan Lyons led off the inning with consecutive singles.  An E-3 allowed both runners to score.  Then in the top of the ninth inning, Brandon Sing launched his first home run of the playoffs, providing the Ducks with an insurance run in Long Island's eventual 3-1 final.


The Ducks have to be thrilled with their sweep in Southern Maryland but must be tempered enough to win one more game.


In Lancaster, the Barnstormers were leading 3-1 in the fourth inning before the rains came and washed out the night.  The Lancaster Barnstormers lead the Freedom Division series one game to none over the York Revolution.




Mike.BTB