L.I. Ducks: Oh No You Don't, Not in this Pond

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Raging Ducks

Ducks win series over Bluefish 2-1

I - LID 5; BPT 1

II - BPT 3; LID 2

III - LID 8; BPT 4

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Emotions Run High During Grand Series Finale Against Bridgeport Bluefish.

Thursday night's rubber game at Bethpage Ballpark started out business as usual.  Making his 15th start of the season, John Brownell climbed the hill against the Bridgeport Bluefish, and opened the game by retiring the side in order.

Long Island fared no better in their first turn at bat.

The heart of Bridgeport's line-up saw things differently, though, connecting on two solo home runs in the top of the second.

The Ducks were quick to match them in the bottom of the frame.  Tyler Colvin's one out double put two runners in scoring position.  After Ruben Gotay fanned, Mike Blanke's base hit scored both runners.

A run in the third, and Mark Minicozzi's RBI single in the fifth gave John Brownell and the Ducks a 4-2 lead.

John Brownell continued pitching into the eighth, but allowed the Fish to close to within a run after allowing a lead-off double, and an RBI single to left fielder Adron Chambers.  With one out, Brownell was relieved by Eury De La Rosa, who fanned a pair of batters to escape the inning, but not before Bridgeport took exception to some perceived extracurricular celebration on the part of Long Island's reliever.  The benches and bullpens each emptied twice during the frame without incident.

Todd Coffey then pitched himself into a pickle in the top of the ninth, allowing a lead-off single, and double.  Naturally, Bridgeport wound up tying the game on a passed ball.

Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Anthony Vega negated a lead-off base hit by getting thrown out at second.  His team mates picked him up.  With two outs, and Lentini, Delta Cleary Jr., and Mark Minicozzi occupying the bases, you guessed it.......

DH Tyler Colvin connected on a game winning grand slam home run!

With an 8-4 victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish, the Long Island Ducks (9-3) concluded their first home stand after the all-star break with a nifty 5-1 record.  They now lead the Liberty Division by two full games over Bridgeport.