L.I. Ducks: Monday Swim 7/18; Mark Minicozzi Genrating Needed Power

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Sweep Series vs. Patriots 3-0

I - LID 6; SOM 3

II - LID 7; SOM 0

III - LID 7; SOM 5

Long Island Ducks: Bruce Kern Just What the Doctor Ordered.

No Jack Snodgrass; no Mark Blackmar; no problem ... Bruce Kern stepped out of the bullpen and into the starting rotation to back fill the void.

Phew!

On Sunday, Kern made his 17th appearance, and 10th start of the season in this weekend's series finale against the Somerset Patriots.  He completed 5 full innings and exiting on the winning side of a 6-2 game after allowing a pair of earned runs on two hits and two walks, with four strikeouts.  He faced 19 batters, and threw 72 pitches with 41 (57%) going for strikes.

The eventual 7-5 Ducks victory improved Kern's record to 4-1, with a 2.39 ERA.

In two seasons with the Ducks, Kern has made 57 regular season appearances and 23 starts, posting a 13-7 with a 3.12 ERA, 47 walks and 158 strikeouts.

Coach Baez utilized four relievers the rest of the way, giving them all an inning apiece.  Todd Coffey pitched the ninth, allowed three hits and a run, but nonetheless registered his 15th save of the season.

Long Island Power Surge

Cody Puckett's three run home run in the fourth inning gave Long Island a 6-0 lead at the time, but Somerset would not be denied, climbing back to within 6-4 in the top of the eighth off the bullpen.

• Puckett had four RBI for the game.

First baseman big Mark Minicozzi's lead-off home run in the bottom of the frame, however, provided the Ducks all the insurance they'd need en route to a 7-4 victory, and weekend sweep over their chief rival Somerset Patriots.

• Minicozzi, 33, is 9/33 (.273) with 4 four home runs and seven RBI in nine games since joining the Ducks.  Two home runs came against the Patriots.

• The Ducks hit six home runs in three games against the Patriots.

Transactions

General Manager Michael Pfaff has been busy reinforcing the pitching staff since losing Snodgrass and Blackmar.

7/13 - Ducks trade Frank de Jiulio Jr. to Bridgeport for rhp Scott Shuman.

7/15 - Ducks sign relief pitcher rhp Kyle Hansen.

7/15 - Ducks sign relief pitcher rhp Danny Burawa.

L.I. Ducks: Open Season at the Pond

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

The Atlantic League ... Land of Opportunity,

but not without occasional, untimely, 

and certainly frustrating moments for fans.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Jack Snodgrass Plucked from Flock by Texas Rangers.

The Atlantic League is a fine circuit, and indeed a land of opportunity in a manner of speaking.

Just ask Ducks fans about Mickey Jannis and Mark Blackmar, to name two, who've previously pitched very effectively for the Long Island Ducks, and in turn had their respective contracts purchased by an MLB organization - Blackmar last weekend by the Nationals and Jannis last season by the Mets.

Even Mike Loree parlayed his time in Long Island several years ago into a trip overseas.

The Ducks announced on Friday the contract of southpaw Jack Snodgrass, 28, was purchased by the Texas Rangers organization.

Through July 5, Jack was 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA, and a 1.430 WHiP in 14 starts for the Ducks, with 85 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched.  His longest outing of the season came on June 20 in which he tossed 6.2 innings against York.  He otherwise pitched six full innings in ten other starts.  Atlantic League batters were hitting .272 against him.

Congratulations to Jack, Mark, and all who've returned to the big show via the Atlantic League.

Sometimes, however, these transactions can be a little deflating, as a fan of the team that is..

So how important was winning the first half pennant looking now?

Goes without saying ...

The onus is now on remaining starters John Brownell, Darin Downs, Bobby Blevins, and Bruce Kern, to carry an even heavier load until general manager Michael Pfaff can seek out capable mound reinforcements - yes, more than one arm is necessary, especially on the heels of clinching a first half pennant.  Literally and figuratively, the Ducks have till the playoffs to rearm their staff.

• Together, Downs, Snodgrass, and Brownell formed the top three league leaders in strikeouts.

In the meantime, on Thursday, July 7, Coach Baez implemented a pitcher by committee in Long Island's series opener at Southern Maryland.  Kevin Vance made his first start of the season, charged with pitching the first three innings of the game (after making 20 prior appearances as a reliever).   Coach Baez then matriculated six other relievers through the box en route to a 5-3 victory.

On Friday, John Brownell led the Ducks in a 6-2 victory with seven innings pitched over the Blue Crabs.  He limited Southern Maryland to just one earned run on six hits and a walk, with six strikeouts.  It was Brownell's franchise record extending 41st victory as a member of the Ducks.  He is now 6-3 this season with a 2.77 ERA in 13 starts.

L.I. Ducks: Look Who's Number One ... Again

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Lead Series 2-1

I - YRK 8; LID 4

II - LID 3; YRK 1

III - LID 8; YRK 5

IV - THURSDAY

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: It's not how you start, it's how you finish ... just ask the Patriots.

The Ducks have swam these waters before, and each time handed first place back to the Somerset Patriots.  The trick now is to stay in first before the first half expires in short time.

On Wednesday, Long Island won their second straight over the visiting York Revolution, building an 8-2 lead through eight innings until the Revolution made them sweat out an 8-5 final after the ninth.

Starter Bruce Kern followed Darin Downs' Tuesday gem with a fine performance of his own, limiting the Revs to a pair of runs on seven hits and no walks, with five strikeouts though seven full innings of work.  He faced 30 batters, and threw 93 pitches with 67 (72%) going for strikes.  Kern now boasts a 1.98 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 45.1 innings this season.

Fehlandt Lentini, the league's 3rd leading hitter, paved the way going 3 for 4 with a 3-RBI triple, and four RBI overall.  Catcher Mike Dowd was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI.

LIBERTY DIVISION

Ducks       37-29

Patriots    36-30

Coupled with Somerset's 8-7 loss against the New Britain Bees, the Ducks now own a full game lead over the Patriots in the Liberty Division standings.

Somerset has lost seven of their last ten games.  They have gone 23-30 since jumping out to a 13-0 start.

The Ducks and Revolution will resume hostilities in Thursday's series finale.

L.I. Ducks: Win or Go Home; Liberty Division Finale

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Liberty Division

Showdown

FLOCK AT THE GATES!

Series tied 2-2

I - SOM 5; LID 3

II - LID 5; SOM 4

III - LID 9; SOM 4

IV - SOM 4; LID 0

V - Series Finale

GAME FIVE

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Somerset Patriots

FROM

Some Ballpark

NEW JERSEY

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Flock get feathers whitewashed by Patriots, setting up decisive Game Five showdown in Somerset.

Ducks versus Patriots is as fine a professional baseball rivalry as there is in baseball.

So when the league's top two teams square off against each other, it's only natural the Liberty Division playoff series would get pushed to its limit.

With the Patriots facing elimination, Somerset's starter Will Oliver hurled his mates into a decisive Game Five showdown against the Long Island Ducks.

Making only his 10th start as a member of the Patriots, Oliver tossed a complete game shutout over the Atlantic League's #1 offense.  Will allowed just 3 scattered hits, walked a batter, and fanned a pair for the victory.  He faced 30 batters, threw 113 pitches with 80 (71%) going for strikes, and averaged an efficient 12.5 pitches per frame.

Bruce Kern toed the rubber for Long Island, and traded zeroes with Oliver through the first 5 innings of play.  But, the regular season's top team finally broke through in the 6th.  Thomas Neal kicked things off with a 2-out double.  Then following an intentional walk to the red hot Michael Burgess, first baseman Matt Fields singled, and third baseman David Vidal doubled to help mount a 3-0 lead.

Kern did not reappear for the 7th inning after allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, and fanning 7 batters in a losing effort.

Reliever Mariel Checo hit the first batter (Ollie Linton) he faced, whom eventually scored giving the Patriots their 4-0 margin of victory.

With a win in Sunday's series finale, the Ducks would advance to their 5th ever championship series, and their 4th in the last 5 years.

A Patriots victory would give Somerset their 10th championship series appearance in their 18 year history.  They are 5-time Atlantic League champions, but not since 2009 when they capped off back-to-back titles.

In 2013, they were defeated by these very same Long Island Ducks, whom were making their third straight championship series appearance, and completing their own back-to-back title run.

Game Five is a rematch between starters John Brownell and Roy Merritt.

Brownell's 12 regular season victories tied for the league lead, while his 146 strikeouts led all pitchers.

Somerset, however, got the best of Long Island's ace in Game One, scoring 5 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks through Brownell's 6 innings of work.  Roy Merritt likewise pitched 6 innings, but limited the Ducks to an earned run on 6 hits for the victory.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs captured the Freedom Division championship 

by defeating the Lancaster Barnstormers three games to one.

L.I. Ducks: Reliever Bruce Kern Working Overtime

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks @ Barnstormers tied 1-1

I - LAN 5; LID 4

II - LID 5; LAN 0

III - Wednesday

IV - Thursday

Long Island Ducks: Reliever Bruce Kern gives his bullpen mates the night off.

The Ducks evened their series in Lancaster, as newcomer Darin Downs and reliever Bruce Kern combined on a 2-hit whitewashing of the Barnstormers.

Downs, who started just 1/3 of his 296 career minor league starts, faced 11 batters over 3 scoreless innings in his Ducks debut.  He threw 51 pitches with 29 (57%) going for strikes.  He allowed just one hit, walked a pair, and fanned 3 batters before exiting on the winning side of a 1-0 game.

Reliever Bruce Kern then delivered 6 brilliant innings for the victory.  He faced 19 batters, and threw 68 pitches with 49 (72%) going for strikes.  He allowed just one hit, issued one walk, and fanned 3 batters.

• This was Kern's 27th appearance of the season, and his second 6-inning performance in his last 3 games.  He gained a victory on July 5th with 6 innings, and 8 strikeouts.  He also put in a 5 inning effort back on June 8th.  Kern is now 5-1 this season with a 2.67 ERA, down from a 3.11 mark.  He has 40 strikeouts with an 0.960 WHiP in 43.2 innings pitched, while hitters are batting a mere .194 against Kern.

• Bruce Kern, 27, is a Stony Brook, L.I. native, whom attended St. John's University.  He came to the Ducks after 5 seasons in the Colorado Rockies lower system.

Randy Ruiz' RBI single in the 1st inning was all the Ducks needed.

A lead-off single by Jon Griffin, and doubles by Mike Blanke and Dan Lyons gave Long Island a 3-0 lead in the 7th.  Bryan Sabatella's base hit in the 9th then plated a pair of unearned runs to give the Ducks their 5-0 margin of victory.

Long Island improved to 49-26 overall, and trail Bridgeport by 0.5 games in the second half standings.  They remain 10.5 games ahead of the Sugar Land Skeeters for the Wild Card.



Mike

Long Island Ducks Look to Close Out Camden Before Showdown Against Patriots

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Last tune up before showdown against Somerset Patriots.

Long Island Ducks: Calm Before The Storm - Flock Needs a Good Game in Series Finale Against Camden to Set Tone for Showdown Versus Somerset Patriots.

Game One: John Brownell Dominates Riversharks in Series Opener

Sunday

Camden Riversharks

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

The Pond

The Ducks and visiting Camden Riversharks split a double-header Saturday, thus ending Long Island's 6-game winning streak.

In the opening game, Coach Baez tabbed Sergio Perez for another short start.  He tossed 2 innings, allowed no runs and no hits, walked 3 and fanned two before giving way to Bruce Kern.

Kern in turn, threw 3 innings, allowed no runs on just one hit, walked one and fanned 3 to earn the victory.

Camden's lone run came in the 6th inning off reliever Patrick Crider.

Delta Cleary Jr. was one man show in the 3rd inning as Long Island rallied for 3 runs off Riversharks starter Zachary Clark.  Cleary singled home Dan Lyons and Bryan Sabatella, then stole second base, and scored on Cody Puckett's RBI single.

After leading off the 4th with a base hit, Jose morales eventually scored the Ducks' 4th run on a wild pitch.  In the 5th, Cody Puckett drove in Delta Cleary Jr. for a second time to give the Ducks their final 5-1 margin of victory.

In the night cap, Camden roared back to post their 15th victory of the season, and snap Long Island's winning streak at 6 games.

Ian Marshall made 109 pitches in a conventional start for Long Island, but battled with control issues. He lasted 5 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and an untenable 7 walks, while fanning 5 batters.  Eric Niesen entered the game in the 6th in relief of Marshall and surrendered another 3 earned runs, but the damage had already been done.

Long Island only managed a run in the 4th, and an unearned run in the 9th, in bowing 7-2 to the Riversharks.  Dan Lyons and Mike Blanke delivered the run scoring hits.

Lew Ford Tracker:
4th in batting - .351
3rd in OBP - .434
2nd in slugging - .577
1st in RBI - 31

The Ducks and Riversharks conclude their 4-game series this afternoon.  After which they'll get 2 days off, then head to Somerset for a 4-game showdown against the 1st place Patriots.

This will be the team's first meeting of the season.

Somerset remains the hottest team in the league.  They're the lone Atlantic League team left with single-digit losses.  They enter today's action with a 20-8 record, and are winners of 8 of their last 10 games.  The Ducks are 6-4 in their last 10 games, and enter this afternoon's game in 2nd place of the Liberty Division with a 16-13 record, 4.5 games back of 1st, and with the Bridgeport Bluefish also on hot on their tail feathers.




Mike