L.I. Ducks: 2018 Liberty Division Champions

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Win Liberty Division Series, 3-2

I - LID 9; SOM 2

II - LID 11; SOM 1

III - SOM 8; LID 4

VI - SOM 5; LID 3

V - LID 3; SOM 2*

*10 innings

Long Island Ducks Outlast Somerset Patriots; Win Liberty Division Crown; Advance to Atlantic League Championship Series.

For the moment, this concludes an otherwise epic season-long battle against the Patriots.  The teams split their regular season series down the middle, with each gaining nine victories apiece.  Somerset clinches the first-half division title while posting a 6-3 record over Long Island.  But the Ducks turn the tables in the second-half, likewise taking six of nine from their rival and clinching the division by two games over Somerset.

The Liberty Division championship series opens at Bethpage Ballpark, where the Ducks pummel visiting Somerset in games one and two by a combined 20-3 margin.  As the series shifts to TD Bank Ballpark, the Patriots strike back with victories in games three and four.  In the fifth and decisive game at Somerset, the teams remain deadlocked at two through nine innings of play.

Naturally ...

With two outs in the top of the tenth, Ducks third baseman Taylor Ard singles to center.  David Washington follows with a single to right, advancing Ard to third.  Catcher Ramon Cabrera then lofts a fly to right/center that drops in, scoring Ard from third with the go-ahead run.  Closer Francisco Rodriguez had previously been called upon by Coach Baez to pitch the ninth.  For the bottom of the tenth, Coach calls upon veteran starter Matt Larkins.  After fanning lead-off batter Craig Massey, Larkins greets Somerset shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez with an inadvertent pitch to the ribs.  Undeterred, Larkins retires Endy Chavez on a pop-out to short, then induces first baseman Jayce Boyd into a game ending fielder's choice.

Entering the series, I noted in my preview Long Island's offensive production would not necessarily be the problem.  And it wasn't.  The Ducks wound up outhitting the Patriots 53-41, and outscoring them by a 30-18 margin. 

However, I insisted the Ducks would need to somehow out-pitch Somerset, a team which ranked first/second in most major pitching categories alongside Sugar Land.  The Ducks, who during the regular season ranked fifth/six in most pitching categories, did just that.  Through five games plus one inning, Somerset starters allowed 18 earned runs through 26.2 innings pitched for a 6.18 ERA.  Their bullpen surrendered another nine earned runs in 17.1 innings for an ineffective 4.73 ERA.  Meanwhile Ducks starters allowed just 13 earned runs through 29.1 innings pitched for a 4.02 ERA.  The bullpen was stellar, allowing just three earned runs in 14.2 innings for a 1.90 ERA. 

Closer Francisco Rodriguez earns the victory in Long Island's clinching game, and veteran starter Matt Larkins earns the save.

Well done, Duck!

ATLANTIC LEAGUE 

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Long Island Ducks

vs

Sugar Land Skeeters

FROM

The Lone Star State

That makes three straight Liberty Division titles for Long Island, thus marking their third straight trip to the Atlantic League Championship Series.  The Ducks have previously appeared in six league championships in their history and have won three league titles, but none since their back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.  In each of the last two years, the Ducks were swept first by the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2016, then again last season by the York Revolution.  The Skeeters (1-1) are making their third ever trip to the championship series.

May the wind be at your backs  ...

Next stop is Sugar Land, Texas, where the Skeeters await the Flock's arrival.