Staten Island Ferry Hawks Take Series From Long Island Ducks

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE and THAT RICHMOND COUNTY TEAM

EMPIRE STATE
BATTLE OF THE BIRDS

Staten Island Ferry Hawks

vs.

Long Island Ducks

Ferry Hawks Ruffle Ducks' Feathers

Long Island seemingly picked up where they left off in game two, as first baseman Jose Sermo singled home a run to give the Ducks a prompt first-inning lead.  But the Ferry Hawks preyed upon five Long Island pitchers starting with Stephen Tarpley's offerings until knocking him out of the box in the sixth.  By then, it was already too late.  Staten Island erupted for four runs in the second, two in the third, and two more in the top half of the fifth before the Ducks mustered a response with four runs in the bottom half of the frame on Deibinson Romero's grand slam home run.  Afterwhich, the Flock was held scoreless through the ninth.  Meanwhile, Staten Island kept piling on with single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, then, for a grand finale, tallied three times in the ninth to cap off a 14-5 victory and take the series two games to one.

S.I. Ferry Hawks

• 3B Bryan Gonzalez: 3 for 6, one RBI
• 2B Javier Betancourt: 2 for 6, double, home run, four RBI
• 1B Cristopher Cespedes: 2 for 3, home run, two runs batted in, three runs scored
• C Justin O'Conner: 2 for 3, three walks, home run, five runs batted in, two runs scored

Staten Island starter Matt Solter won despite yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings pitched.  The Ferry Hawk bullpen closed the game with four scoreless no-hit, no-walk innings.  BOXSCORE

 

Long Island Ducks Hurl Shutout Over Staten Island Ferry Hawks

From the desks: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE & THAT RICHMOND COUNTY CLUB

EMPIRE STATE

BATTLE of the BIRDS

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Staten Island Ferry Hawks

Stephen Tarpley, Ducks Bullpen Outduel Ferry Hawks in Series Opener on Staten Island

The battle of the birds resumed at Richmond County grounds on Tuesday.  

Left-hander Stephen Tarpley climbed the hill for Long Island, and seven-year independent league veteran Dakota Freese started for the host Ferry Hawks.  Both pitchers held the opposition scoreless through the first four innings, each allowing just two hits, respectively.

The Ferry Hawks threatened in the fifth, but with runners on the corners and one out, catcher Bryan Gonzalez bounced into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

Long Island finally broke through in the sixth.  Recently acquired Phil Caulfield drew a one-out walk and soon scored on Alejandro De Aza's fielder's choice to second.

Staten Island threatened again in the home sixth with three consecutive singles to load the bases.  But with one out, Stephen Tarpley struck out center fielder Ricardo Cespedes for out number two, then fanned Dilson Herrera on five pitches to end the frame.

Ferry Hawk manager Edgardo Alfonzo handed the ball over to reliever Eddy Reynoso in the seventh.  

Starter Dakota Freese allowed one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings. 

The Ducks promptly put two runners on base on an E-5 and a hit-by-pitch.  Reynoso gathered himself and struck out Dustin Woodcock for out number two.  Shortstop Vladimir Frias popped out to Dilson Herrera in foul territory to end the threat.

Flock skipper Wally Backman summoned right-hander Nick Goody from the bullpen for the bottom of the seventh.  

Starter Stephen Tarpley allowed six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings pitched.  He faced 23 batters while throwing 90 pitches, with 57 (63.3%) going for strikes.

Alejandro De Aza was hit with a pitch in the eighth and left the game.  It was the second batter hit by Eddy Reynoso.  It gave the Ducks runners on first and second with no outs.  With Sam Travis at the plate, L.J. Mazzilli got thrown out at third on the front end of an attempted double steal.  Travis then bounced back to the pitcher.

Southpaw Tyler Webb entered the game in the bottom of the eighth in relief of Nick Goody.

Right-hander Joe Kuzia pitched a scoreless top half of the ninth for Staten Island.

Former Arizona Diamondback farmhand Kai-Wei Lin was tasked by Wally Backman with closing out the ninth, and he did not disappoint, retiring the side in order and striking out the last man looking.

Three Staten Island pitchers limited the Ducks to just three hits.  Dakota Freese took the loss.  

Stephen Tarpley improves to 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA.

The Ducks and Ferry Hawks have now played ten games this season, with Long Island winning seven and Staten Island three.  However, the teams are even at 3-3 over their last six meetings.

• BOXSCORE