L.I. Ducks: Kirk Nieuwenhuis Comes Through in the Ninth

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

MLB Plucking Ducks From the Pond

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (0-1)

vs.

Long Island Ducks (1-0)

Bethpage Ballpark

Infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. is the latest member of the Ducks to have his contract purchased, by the Chicago White Sox.  The 32-year old appeared in ten games for Long Island, slashing .306/.409/.333 through 36 at-bats.

In his place the Ducks have signed 28-year old free agent L.J. Mazzilli.  The Mets 2013 fourth round draft pick spent the majority of the 2018 season playing for the Yankees triple-A affiliate at Scranton/Wilkes Barre, where he batted .243 with 15 doubles, seven home runs, and 25 RBI in 230 at-bats.  He's a career .265 hitter through six minor league seasons.

After going 0 for 3 in his Long Island debut, Mazzilli went 1 for 2 with two walks, and two RBI, in game one of the Ducks series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Tuesday.  The Ducks rallied from a 2-5 deficit after seven innings with a trio of runs in the eighth, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis' game winning hit in the ninth for a 6-5 final margin of victory.  Kirk now has ten RBI in the Ducks first 11 games.  Steve Lombardozzi hit his first home run of the season.

Pitcher Tim Melville's contract was recently purchased by Colorado Rockies, as well.  And it's no wonder.  In two starts he posted a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA, yielding seven hits in twelve innings pitched with 13 strikeouts.  In nine starts last season with the Ducks, he posted a 3.45 ERA on 47 innings pitched.  This is of course great news for Tim, but it's nonetheless a big blow to the starting rotation.

It's also no wonder the Ducks and Somerset Patriots are back at it.  Somerset is in the midst of a six game win streak, and hold a half game advantage over the second place Ducks in the Liberty Division standings.  The expansion High Point Rockers are off to a 6-6 start, and trail the Patriots by three games.

• Long Island Ducks