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Tuesday, October 12, 2021

L.I. Ducks: Flock Drops North Division Series Opener to Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE
NORTH DIVISION SERIES
vs.

The still defending Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks set out defending their title on Monday against the Southern Mayland Blue Crabs in the first game of the North Division playoff series at the Pond.

Long Island won their fourth-ever Atlantic League championship in 2019, but then, of course, last season was canceled due to COVID.  The Ducks captured the North Division first-half flag this season with a 37-23 record, six games ahead of second-place Southern Maryland.  The second-half flag was more tightly contested and decided in the season's final weekend, with the Blue Crabs edging out the Ducks by one game.

The Ducks finished the regular season with a league-best 68-52 overall record, while Southern Maryland finished with a 63-57 record.

Southern Maryland Bullpen Locks Down the Flock in Series Opener

GAME ONE pits Southern Maryland right-hander Kyle Murphy against veteran Darin Downs for the Ducks.

After two scoreless frames, the Blue Crabs opened the scoring in the visitor's second.  Shortstop Michael Baca doubled home a run and scored on a bunt base hit.  Long Island answers with one in the bottom of the frame on Chris Shaw's home run to right field.

The team then traded single runs in the fifth.  Left fielder Matt Hibbert singles in a run for the Crabs, and Duck shortstop Vladimir Frias knocks in Chris Shaw.

Downs is relieved after the fifth.  After allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts, he exits on the losing side.  Right-hander Anderson DeLeon takes over in the sixth.

Kyle Murphy exits after yielding two runs on just four hits and three walks after 5.2 innings pitched.

Afterwhich, four Blue Crab relievers join together in limiting the Ducks to no runs on just three hits and one walk over the final 3.1 innings of the game.

Kyle Murphy earns the win, Darin Downs the loss.  




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