L.I. Ducks: Monday Swim 5/21/2018

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks: Somerset Patriots Continue Getting Better of the Flock.

Make that four losses in six tries at TD Bank Ballpark this season.

On Saturday, John Brownell outlasted mound opponent Cory Riordan en route to his second victory of the season.  After enduring consecutive losses Brownell evened his record, allowing two runs on just four hits and two walks and a pair of strikeouts through six innings pitched.  The bullpen provided three innings of scoreless, one-hit relief.  At the plate, the Ducks struck for 14 hits including a home run by Travis Snider, and doubles by Lew Ford and catcher Wilkin Castillo.

On Sunday, Long Island's ninth inning rally fell just short as they lose the rubber game by a 5-4 final.  Starter Jake Dunning would perhaps admit he's seen better days.  Yanked after just three innings, Jake allowed four earned runs on five hits and four walks, while fanning just one.  Runs driven in by Cody Puckett and Ramon Cabrera got the Ducks to within a run in the top of the ninth, but with only one out and the tying run on third Dan Lyons bounced back to the pitcher and Daniel Fields fanned to end the game.

The Ducks and Patriots will get a short break from each other, as the Flock host the Road Warriors this week.  Then the Patriots make their first visit of the season to Bethpage Ballpark where the Patriots and Ducks will resume hostilities over the Memorial Day weekend.

With Sunday's loss, the Ducks fall two games behind the Liberty Division leading Patriots.

Don't look now, but the Lancaster Barnstormers have won ten in a row.  Yet, they only lead the Freedom Division by 1.5 games over the Sugar Land Skeeters.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Road Warriors have lost ten straight.  Poor guys ... they just finished up a series in Lancaster.  They'll be on Long Island tomorrow.  After which they travel back to York, then head the opposite direction again for a series at New Britain.  That's just one small sample of what they endure throughout their season-long road trip.

Ducks Notes:

• Bennett Parry presently leads the Atlantic League with 23 strikeouts.
• David Washington is among the top five in home runs and RBI.