L.I. Ducks: Revolution Outlasts Flock in Series Opener

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Championship Series

Revolution leads series 1-0

I - Revs 8; Ducks 7

II - @ Long Island

Long Island Ducks: Wild Opening Game at the Pond Ends in Defeat.

In a somewhat literal sense, this game got out of control.  Of the 13 pitchers appearing in this game, 12 issued at least one walk.  All told, York and Long Island pitchers combined to issue 20 base on balls.

Therefore, any pitch that strayed into the strike zone was bound to be struck, solidly.  Sure enough, the difference maker in this game was Revs DH Michael Burgess' 3-run home run off Ducks starter Matt Larkins in the top of the third.

Otherwise, the game was a wild back and forth affair.  York held a commanding 4-0 lead through the first four innings of play.  Long Island then answered back with a four-run bottom of the fifth.  Dan Lyons plated the first two runs with a double to left, and Lew Ford plated the second pair with a single to left.

Delta Cleary Jr.'s RBI single in the sixth gave the Ducks their only lead of the night.  But it was short-lived.  York plated a pair of runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings.

The Ducks closed to with 7-8 in the bottom of the eighth, but mustered no more.

Starter Matt Larkins walked off to a no-decision after allowed four earned runs on seven hits and three walks, with five strikeouts.  Reliever James Jones got tagged with the loss after failing to retire a batter - surrendering two runs on two hits and a walk.

At the plate, eternal veteran Lew Ford went 3 for 5 with three RBI.