L.I. Ducks: Kirk Nieuwenhuis 8th Inning HR Turns Back Patriots

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION SHOWDOWN

Ducks Lead Series 1-0

I - LID 3; SOM 2

6/12 - SOM @ LID

6/13 - SOM @ LID

Flock Gain Some Elbow Room: Ducks open up 1.5 game lead over Somerset Patriots.

The Patriots lead the Ducks 2-1 after seven full innings of play.  Somerset starter Brett Oberholtzer limits the Ducks to just one run on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts through seven solid innings pitched.  Long Island starter Joe Iorio likewise allows one earned run on seven hits and two walks over five innings pitched.  Both starters exit to no decisions.  In relief of Iorio, Cody Mincey yields one run on two hits (a home run by right fielder Michael Fransoso in the sixth) with four strikeouts through two innings.

Manager Wally Backman then turns to reliever Enrique Burgos who pitches a scoreless eighth.  With two outs in the bottom of the frame and Ezrquiel Carrera representing the tying run at third, Kirk Nieuwenhuis connects on his eighth home run of the season giving the Ducks a sudden 3-2 lead.

Josh Lueke in relief of Burgos then retires the Patriots in order in the ninth to earn his second save in only his fifth appearance since joining the Ducks.

• Lueke, a 34-year old right-hander with 72 games of MLB experience, came to the Ducks after posting a 4.64 ERA with 20 strikeouts though 21.1 innings over 20 relief appearances this season for Puebla of the Mexican league.

The Ducks improve to a league best 28-15 mark, with 26 games remaining before the break.  They also snap Somerset's six game winning streak.