L.I. Ducks: Flock Yields First Place to Somerset Patriots

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION SHOWDOWN

Patriots lead Ducks 2-0

I - SOM 5; LID 2

II - SOM 4; LID 1

The Somerset Patriots win their fifth in a row while Long Island loses their fourth in a row.  After leading a tightly packed division for a great majority of this first half the Ducks now trail the Patriots in the Liberty Division standings by one full game.  They relinquish their lead via a second straight loss at Somerset on Wednesday.

The Patriots did what they do best: pitch.  Through two games Somerset has now limited Long Island to three total runs and rationed them to five hits in each game.

Starter Thomas Dorminy blanked the Flock through five innings, allowing just three hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  A trio of Patriots relievers would then join in limiting Long Island to one run on just two hits and no walks with two strikeouts.  Somerset closer Mike Antonini pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his league leading 21st save of the season.

With Somerset leading 3-0 after seven, Long Island scored their lone run of the game in the eighth on consecutive doubles from Steve Lombardozzi and L.J. Mazzilli.  

Ducks starter Darin Downs seventh start of the season is brief after allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts trough three innings of work.  He falls to 0-2 on the season while his ERA jumps from 3.09 to a 3.34 mark.  The Ducks relievers joined on five innings allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.