L.I. Ducks ~ On Lonely Pond; York Wins Title

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

2011

Atlantic League Champions

AtlanticLeague.com ~ Revs Repeat

YorkRevolution.com

LongIslandDucks.com

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:   The REVOLUTION Was Too Much!  The Webbed Spikes' Bats Go AWOL.


THE LONG ISLAND DUCKS WERE DONE IN BY WHAT THEY DID BEST ALL SEASON.


Mike Loree gave the Ducks everything a team could ask of their ace pitcher this season.  Then Mike Loree gave his team a little more.  Upon having his contract purchased by the Pirates organization late in August, he requested that he be able to return to Long Island in order to finish the great season he and his Duck team mates started together.  With permission granted, he returned to become the team's regular season MVP after already setting a new franchise record for wins in a season.  He wound up being by far the League's dominant pitcher in almost every category.  And oddly enough, he didn't make the Ducks' rotation coming out of Spring.  Almost by default, he was given a second chance to crack the rotation when Lenny DiNardo's contract was sold as the season commenced.


Sunday, making his final start of 2011, Mike Loree emptied out his tank for the team pitching as deeply as he could on short rest.  After 100 pitches, he departed on the winning side after six innings of Game Four of the Championship Series.  It wasn't his smoothest start as he surrendered seven hits with few strikeouts by his standards.  He fought through the first five innings before finally retiring the side in order in the sixth.  But he did limit the York Revolution to one run.  That made one run allowed over 13 innings pitched in two appearances for him this series.  But through six innings, all the Ducks' line-up could muster were two runs.  However, Mike Loree ensured the slim lead would be good enough....again; as he needed to shut-out York over seven innings in Game One after the Ducks could only secure one run in that game.  But on this day, the Ducks' fortunes only lasted as long as Mike remained on the mound.


On York starter Chris Schumacher?  He was nearly as stingy against Long Island as he was in Game One when he and Mike Loree last squared off against each other.  As a matter of fact, Schumacher recorded one more out than Loree did and gave up four less hits than Long Island's ace this game.


The Ducks came across their marginal lead in rather un-formidable fashion.  Their first run came in the third inning.  After a base hit, Kraig Binick advanced to third on Kennard Jones' double.  Binick then scored on a passed ball.  But the Revolution tied the game at one in the bottom half of the inning.  The Ducks then went back up with a run in the top of the fourth when John Rodriguez scored from third on a put-out to first base.


The situation remained thus; through six full innings in Game Four of the Atlantic League Championship Series, the Ducks held a precariously slim 2-1 lead with three innings now standing between them and successfully staving off elimination and forcing an all-deciding Game Five.


Then, for a unit the Ducks relied on with supreme confidence all season long; as if reluctantly; the Ducks placed the balance of this crucial game into the hands of their bullpen who incidentally had been getting taxed and tattered over the last three games; and the last two in particular.  All Mike Loree could do for the Ducks then, in a season in which he had done so much, was wait around and see if his team mates could hold on; or better yet, add to their lead.


For the seventh inning, Bubbie Buzachero was called upon to man the hill, and immediately put the tying run in scoring position when the first batter he faced slammed a double that bounced one hop off the wall.  The very next batter; Jose Herrera; drag bunted safely towards first base as Bubbie Buzachero fell down in his attempt to field the ball.  First and third with no outs came upon the Ducks quickly.  And I guess you can say they did well to limit the damage.  The Ducks allowed a run to score for sake of completing a double play.  But the game was now tied at two runs apiece.  Bubbie Buzachero struck out the last batter of the seventh, looking.


The eighth inning awaited with both teams locked in a 2-2 tie.  But only one team was in a position to bear the loss.  The Ducks needed to win the final two innings of this contest in order to force another game on Monday.  Jon Hunton, the strikeout pitcher signed late in the regular season; who was brought in to replace Bubbie Buzachero as the team's closer; was tasked with pitching Long Island's two most important innings of the year and with hopes they wouldn't be the Ducks' last.


He couldn't even get through one.


By rule of thumb, when you walk the first batter of any inning, the odds say that runner usually scores.  Jon Hunton did just that, and the runner did indeed score.  But what the Ducks' hadn't anticipated with that lead-off base on balls, was that just beyond the hill Jon Hunton stood upon, a full frontal charge by the York Revolution awaited the Ducks' and their new closer.


An inning?  Jon Hunton didn't even record an out.  After allowing a walk to the lead-off batter; a single; and one hit-by-pitch later, the bases were loaded.  A single made the score 3-2 York with the bases still loaded.  Jon Hutnton then walked his second batter to force in another run making it 4-2 York.  And that was the end of Jon Hunton's night, and unfortunate to say, the Ducks' hopes for ending their season with a championship.


Jeremy Hill was brought in to relieve Jon Hunton of his nightmare, and see if he could stop York's breakout.  The infield-fly-rule was invoked against the first batter he faced.  A single by old pro Jose Herrera made the score 5-2 and kept the bases loaded still.  A RBI sacrifice fly and an out later, the score stood at 6-2 in York's favor.


There was a run for the Ducks in their top half of the ninth, thanks to the former York Revolution player and 2010 Long Island acquisition; Matt Esquivel.  He doubled to drive home J.R. House with Long Island's third and final run of the game.  If it were not for Matt Esquivel; who played with the York Revolution in 2008-2009; the Ducks would have had virtually no offense at all this series.


In Long Island's last at-bat against what was clearly becoming a successful Revolution, York tabbed their strikeout specialist; Matt DeSalvo; with finishing off the Liberty Division Champs.  The Ducks were held to just the one run in the ninth and therefore left no need for the Revolution to take a turn at bat.  The game ended with a 6-3 final score.  The series was over.  Long Island's Battle in York was done. 


The York Revolution repeated as Atlantic League Champions.  They received and celebrated the rising of their trophy in front of the home crowd.  For the second consecutive season, Cannonball Charlie, got to go Boom! - on the last day of the Atlantic League season.  Concluding their fifth year of operations with a second consecutive title, congratulations go out to a great Revolution team; a fine organization supported by great York fans; for accomplishing so much; and doing it so well; in a very short time.


And for the gamely Long Island Ducks, a long bus ride home lay ahead.


Could things have gone differently for the Ducks if they hadn't lost Mike Parisi and Shane Youman from the starting rotation earlier this season? 


Now that the season and the Finals are complete, lets first deal with answering yes to that question.  With Mike Parisi and Shane Youman still here, perhaps Josh Banks doesn't get kicked around like a Bruce Lee practice dummy in Game Two of the divisional series, and in Game Two of the championship round.  Maybe one of those two former Duck hurlers follow-up Mike Loree's two gems with wins in Game Two of either series.  Maybe they don't give up ten runs in two playoff starts like Josh Banks did.  And perhaps with them around, the bullpen doesn't get as taxed as it did over Games Two through Four. 


Bob Zimmermann pitched gamely in both his Game Three playoff starts.  He won his first round game and battled back to a no-decision in Game Three of the Finals.  But with Josh Banks preceding him, the bullpen was pressed into very early work each time, and then still needed to take over for Zimmermann the following night.  Long Island's dilemma of the, even still yet, next day's questionable starter after Zimmermann, always loomed over the Ducks' heads as well.  The Ducks starting rotation wasn't nearly as deep and reliable than they were with Parisi and Youman complementing Mike Loree.  It wound up compromising the bullpen.  It also took an initial rain-out of Game Four to help the Ducks along and providing them a chance to have their ace pitcher stave off elimination on short rest.


But that doesn't account for Jon Hunton's eighth inning meltdown in Game Four.  And there's no disguising it; two walks; a hit-by-pitch; and two hits; facing five batters, is just that for a closer; A Melt-Down.  He was not pressed into overtime like his pen mates were over the series.  Jon Hunton made a save appearance in Game One.  Game Four was his second appearance of the series.  When you look at the job York's Matt DeSalvo did in Game Three; shutting-down the Ducks for three innings; nine batters; with four strikeouts; while making his first appearance in the series, there is no defense for Jon Hunton being too strong; and thus his lack of control during that fateful eighth inning.


Bubbie Buzachero had the bad habit of making the final innings of a game too interesting; to the point Long Island brought in Jon Hunton after losing patience with Buzachero, and also because opportunity to sign the hard thrower presented itself.  He was thrust into the closers role as Long Island effectively stripped Buzachero of that job description.  In his few appearances for the team this year, things worked out well.  In this game?  The results were for all interested parties to witness.


But that doesn't explain the Ducks getting shut-out in Josh Banks' Game Two start.  The Ducks lost Game Two of the Championship Series 9-0.  The score could have ended 1-0; the result still remains.  After winning Game One 1-0, the Ducks were authors of exactly one run after two games.


After all, the tangible problem with Long Island over the course of the Championship Series was a lack of hitting; any kind of hitting.  There was no consistent hitting; no timely hitting; no clutch hitting; much less hitting for any power.  York flexed far more muscle in that regard with five home runs in the series to Long Island's one.  What had proven to be a most formidable offense in the Atlantic League over the entire regular season and through the first round of playoffs, suddenly, mysteriously, went AWOL.


In four games, the Ducks were outscored twenty-five runs to ten.  Strip the Ducks of a five run outburst in the fifth inning of Game Three, and you can see the power outage was much more severe than just a margin of twenty-five runs against ten.  In thirty-six innings played over four games, the Ducks were held scoreless in thirty of those innings.  And of the other five innings in which they did score, all they could manage was one run each time.


So does the 2011 Long Island Ducks season end with Duck minded people asking themselves the proverbial - "What If?"


What if Mike Parisi and Shane Youman were still pitching for this team?  It's fair to ask.  What if the Ducks could have just found their stroke; or not have lost it at all?  That is a more fairer question to ask.


The Duck bats were stymied by Chris Schumacher twice; Lorenzo Barcelo; and Jino Gonzalez.  At no time in this series did the Ducks ever have to face York's ace pitcher; Corey Thurman.  York's rotation after the Divisional round worked out that way.  In the four games of a championship series, the Revolution ace was never really needed.


And the defining moment of the series goes to a York Pitcher as well.  Matt DeSalvo's three inning Long Island shutdown in Game Three knocked-out what appeared to be a mighty Ducks awakening from their two game plus old slumber.  DeSalvo took any momentum the Ducks may have felt surging through their veins; and stopped them cold.


It's a shame the Ducks should lose this championship.  They had the best over-all record in the League and won their division title in both halves of the season.  It was a year filled with milestones for players like Ray Navarrete, and milestones for the organization itself; like welcoming their five-millionth fan to the park.

Regardless of Sunday's result in York, Pennsylvania, following the Long Island Ducks this summer in this blog has been my unconditional pleasure.  I hope I represented the Long Island Ducks fairly; and and for their fans; appropriately;  -  or was met with your fan interested approval.



To readers of  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE, thanks for taking time out to read me.  To the Long Island Ducks, thanks for a great season and a lot of fun.





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Your Liberty Division Champions!

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Liberty Division Champions!

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:

Eliminate Wild Card Team.

Next Stop; Atlantic League Championship Series.

Related Posts:

Season Ends With Dual Division Titles ~ BTB

It's Playoff Time ~ BTB

Ducks Take Game One ~ BTB

Game Two Final; Off to Southern Maryland ~ BTB

Aiming to Clinch Sunday ~ BTB




Ducks defeat Blue Crabs in Game Four; Win Series 3-1.


The Ducks' offense scratched and clawed as best as their little Webbed Spikes could after their bullpen was rushed into near immediate action Sunday.  The Ducks were pressed for a response to Southern Maryland's alarmingly early onslaught against starter; Valerio De Los Santos; in Game Four of the Liberty Division Championship Series.




The day was looking promising when Kinard Jones led off the game with a triple and scored, giving the Ducks a 1-0 first inning lead.  But in their first turn at bat, Southern Maryland sent De Los Santos to the showers before he was able to complete a full inning of work.  After just 0.2 inning(s); four hits; a walk; and allowing four runs, Coach Baez was forced to remove his starter because this is not June when you can just let your starter correct himself on the fly.  At this time of year, time is of the essence and getting outs from your pitcher is paramount.  So deservedly, give Coach Baez heaps of credit for managing Sunday's outcome and maneuvering six pitchers throughout the game.


Four consecutive singles by Freddy Thon; Danny Lyons; Kinard Jones; and Ray Navarrete plated two more runs for Long Island in the top of the second.  That made it a 4-3 game.  However, just removing Valerio De Los Santos from the game didn't alleviate Long Island's problems.  The Blue Crabs continued their offensive against the next Ducks' pitcher; Chris McCoy.  The Crabs matched Long Island with another two runs in their half of the second making it a 6-3 game.


The Ducked remained quiet over the next three innings.  But in the bottom of the fifth, Southern Maryland tacked on another run against Chris McCoy to make the game 7-3; Crabs.


In the sixth, Blue Crabs' starter; Nick Green; prepared his exit from the game.  He faced four batters.  Matt Padgett singled; Matt Esquivel walked; and Freddie Thon singled to load the bases.  Dan Lyons worked out a walk to force in a run, and Nick Green was outta there.  Another run scored when Kinard Jones drew yet another walk with the bases loaded.   And Ray Navarrete then bounced into a double play with the third run of the inning scoring on the play.


The Ducks were within one run again in a 7-6 game after six completed innings.  In the next frame, the teams traded runs again.  J.R. House hit a solo home run for the Ducks.  But the Crabs still maintained an 8-7 lead after scoring against Tyler Walker.


But that's all they'd get; the Crabs that is.  The Ducks bullpen combined on a marvelous job keeping Southern Maryland sedated after their opening outburst.  Jason Monti; Tyler Walker; Bubbie Buzachero; and Jon Hunton combined on 4.1 innings pitched; one run; one hit; four walks; and six strikeouts.  Tyler Walker allowed the last run Southern Maryland would score.  Bubbie Buzachero was responsible for three of those walks allowed and which directly leads to the reason why it was up to the newly anointed Long Island closer; Jon Hunton; to ultimately shut the door on the Blue Crabs.  He struck out the last two batters of the game to end the night in grand style for the visiting Long Islanders.


Bubbie Buzachero, amusingly gets credited with Sunday's win.  Jon Hunton earned the save.


Indeed, it was the bullpen that kept the Ducks around long enough; enabling a comeback Long Island persistently mounted throughout this game.  They were still down 8-7 after seven.  But in the eighth inning, Mr. Long Island Duck himself; Ray Navarrete; continued his Swan Song of sorts, by launching a home run to tie the baseball game at eight runs apiece.  The All-Time Ducks' Home Run King may have never hit one bigger than this.  That remains to be discussed.  But coming when it did, where it did, there's nothing quite like making another team's crowd go silent.  It's the golden silence of rounding second base in the course of the home run trot, and the only audible noises are coming from your team mates in the dugout.  That's sweet.


And like a dominoes display falling perfectly as designed, the latest in a long line of Duck heroes this season; Freddie Thon; stepped in and finished off Southern Maryland with a two-out RBI double to score Erick Monzon (singled) with the go ahead; the game winning; and the Liberty Division Championship winning run.


Many team members have stated this Ducks team is a very tightly-knit group with a genuine affinity for one another.  And so it was, together as a team, they just didn't save themselves from having to play a decisive Game Five on the road by winning Sunday afternoon.  The Long Island Ducks mounted a comeback that laid to rest some second guessing; like deciding to potentially play three games on the road with just two games at home.  And choosing to do so when the Ducks have gone 0-7 since their last playoff win on the road; not to mention not playing very well in Southern Maryland this season either.  I questioned that.  The Long Island Ducks answered by winning two straight in Southern Maryland after splitting the first two games in Long Island.


They are moving on because offensively, the Ducks are relentless.  Sunday's win is a classic example of that.  But pitching was everything for Long Island in their three wins this series.  Mike Loree did his part by winning Game One.  And no, Josh Banks didn't have the success all parties concerned were looking for.  But it presented another moment to be seized upon.  That came in Game Three via Bob Zimmermann who pitched six, really superb innings Saturday night.  He allowed the Blue Crabs only one unearned run off three hits, while striking out six.  And then of course, Long Island's bullpen work in Game Four Sunday was, as it has been all season long; solid as a rock.


And now the Ducks get what the Ducks' players want; a chance to win a title..., Together.

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Aiming To Clinch Sunday Afternoon

From the desk of :  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Webbed Spikes Win First Road Playoff Game In Seven Years to Go Up 2-1 in Best of Five Series Against Southern Maryland.

Can Clinch Liberty Division Championship Sunday Afternoon.


The Ducks picked up a sorely needed road win in the first game down in Southern Maryland.  In winning their second game of this series, the Ducks need only win one more game with two chances to wrap up the right to play for the Atlantic League Championship.


The Long Island Ducks hadn't won a playoff game on the road since 2004.  Since then they've posted an 0-7 road playoff record until tonight's win over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in Game Three of the Liberty Divisional Championship.


But tonight's Long Island starter; Bob Zimmermann; gave the Ducks exactly what they needed; exactly when they needed it.  He was stellar in 6.0 innings pitched and helped the Ducks avoid a must win situation in Game Four.  In the third inning, he allowed one run which was unearned.  Otherwise he kept the Blue Crabs quiet; limiting Southern Maryland to three hits; two walks; while striking out six batters.  He left the game with the Ducks clinging on to a 2-1 lead.


The Ducks' scored first on an opening inning home run by Ray Navarrete.  Later, with Javier Colina up in the third inning, Kraig Binick was awarded home on a balk call against Blue Crabs' starter; David Trahan.  But the Crabs picked up a run in the bottom of the third to make it a one run game; 2-1 in Long Island's favor.


Long Island added to their lead four innings later.  Lew Ford hit the second Ducks' home run of the game.  Freddie Thon singled, and made it all the way to third base on a pair of wild pitches.  Kraig Binick then singled to drive him home making it a 4-1 Long Island advantage.


Southern Maryland scored off the very reliable Jeremy Hill in the home seventh inning.   Two doubles plated the second Blue Crabs run.  But Jeremy struck out two batters in avoiding any more damage.


Then Coach Baez called upon this year's traditional team closer; Bubbie Buzachero; to pitch the eighth.  It's obvious the coaching staff has lost a level of patience with his maddening way of protecting leads and closing games.  After securing the first out of the eighth, Bubbie walked the following two batters.  And that was all Coach Baez would allow.  Coach summoned his newest arm; Jon Hunton; to finish this game.


And he did just that.  Hunton got out of Bubbie's one out, two on jam, by inducing a ground ball out and striking out the third out in the eighth.  In the ninth, he allowed two hits with just one out, then struck out the last two Blue Claws to end the game.


With Friday's rain out, the Ducks are better prepared to bring Mike Loree back on short rest in a possible game five if need be.  But for now, the Ducks own a two games to one lead with two opportunities to win one.

SUNDAY

Atlantic League

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Game Four

LONG ISLAND DUCKS (2-1)

vs.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (1-2)

From

A Ballpark in Waldorf

Maryland

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ A Quack Attack in Lancaster

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Big John "STUD" Rodriguez Goes Boom as the Webbed Nine Roar Back in Biggest Comeback of the Season.


Long Island just sent the rest of the League a message of sorts.  They will not be denied.


The Ducks came back...; all the way back, from a 7-0 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning against the Barnstormers and then won it 13-10 in even more dramatic fashion than already provided.  In winning their fifth game in a row, and in defeating the Lancaster Barnstormers who were leading the Freedom Division before Saturday's game, in the first two games of this weekend series, the Long Island Ducks must have the rest of the League wondering, what will it take to slow this team down?


Point made.


With their starting pitching getting depleted by untimely contract purchases, this is what the Ducks will have to do from time to time in order to compensate for their staff losses.  Joselo Diaz wasn't exactly Cy Young out in Lancaster in game two; giving up seven runs to Lancaster over the first two innings of the game.  But the offense rose to the occasion to bail him out and take him off the loss column.


Valerio De Los Santos made a huge fielding gaffe when he didn't cover first base on a ground ball to Matt Padgett in the bottom of the seventh.  He almost got bailed out but Javier Colina couldn't turn a softly hit ball into a double play in time for the second out.  It was part of a bottom half inning in which the Ducks allowed the Barnstormers to tie the game again at 10-10 with three runs.


A booming home run in the top of the eighth by John Rodriguez gave the Ducks another lead, this time 11-10.  It was his third hit of the night; his 16th home run of the season; and his three RBI gave him 72; tops in the League.


Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Big John STUD uncorked his second home run of the game and 17th overall; a two run blast hit deep into the Lancaster night; to give the Ducks more insurance on their way to a 13-10 final.  In all, John Rodriguez was 4 for 5 on the night; 2 home runs; 5 RBI; a double; and 4 runs scored.  He upped his League leading RBI total yet again to 74 on the season.


Matt Padget went 3 for 3, with two RBI as well.  Ray Navarrete was 3 for 5, with three runs scored.  Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning earning his 16th save.  Valerio De Los Santos earned the win in relief.  To Joselo Diaz, a welcome no decision..., I'm sure.



As mentioned, that's now five wins in a row for the Ducks and are winners of eight out of their last ten.  They improved their record to 22-7 in the second half and remain 3.5 games in first place ahead of the Bridgeport Bluefish.  They increased their season record to 62-30 overall.  They'll go for the sweep Sunday in Lancaster.



Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ SIXTY

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS: The Webbed Nine Are Turning Back All Comers.

As they sit atop the Liberty Division in the second-half of the Atlantic League season, the Long Island Ducks are the first team to reach twenty wins.  They also happen to be the first team to win sixty games this season.  At thirty games over .500, the Ducks now sport a record of 60-30 which is by far a League best.


The Ducks continue to take on all comers and keep turning them away.  This time it was the surging Bridgeport Bluefish; surging until they faced the Ducks, that is.  The Ducks dropped Bridgeport to third place and 3.5 games behind them in the second-half standings by completing a three game series sweep out in Bethpage Park.


Ducks' Ace, Mike Loree, was up to his usual effectiveness Thursday evening.  In seven innings pitched, he allowed nine hits but only one earned run.  He walked one and struck out seven Bluefish on his way to a dreaded no-decision.  Both starting pitchers engaged in a seven inning pitcher's duel leaving the score tied heading into the eighth.


Dan Lyons singled home Matt Esquivel in the second inning giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead until Bridgeport tied the game in the seventh off Loree.  But then with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Ducks put this game far enough out of Bridgeport's reach.  With the bases loaded, Matt Esquivel doubled home two runs and Kraig Binick drove in another run with a sac-fly, for a 4-2 Long Island lead and ultimate final.


Although Jeremy Hill allowed Bridgeport's second run of the game, he was credited with Thursday's win; his fourth as a reliever.  Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth and secured his fifteenth save of the season.


Not bad....huh?





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Hook Bluefish With First Place on the Line

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Taking on the Surging Bridgeport Bluefish After Dropping Two of Three to Lancaster.  Heading Into Tonight, Ducks Led Bluefish By Mere Half-Game in Second-Half Standings.


Tuesday Night Final:
Ducks.......7
Bluefish....5

Second Half - Liberty Division

Long Island Ducks     18-6      *

Bridgeport Bluefish    17-8    1.5  GB

Delayed; but in one of the few games that wasn't rained-out in the local area, the Long Island Ducks hosted the Bridgeport Bluefish in a second-half battle for first place of the Liberty Division.  Both teams were 8-2 over their last ten games entering tonight.  The Bluefish were only a half game behind Long Island with a 16-7 record.  Last year's A.L. Champion is mounting a second-half surge I thought they were capable of back in June; but it was a surge which never materialized for them before the first half ended.  Before tonight's final, the 17-7 Ducks were coming off a series in which they dropped two games out of three to the Lancaster Barnstormers.


Long Island's Ruddy Lugo started in search of his fifth win of the season.  After six innings pitched, he left the game with the Ducks staked to a 7-3 lead.  He allowed the Bluefish seven hits and surrendered four earned runs.  He walked four batters and struck out four before giving way to Jeremy Hill for the seventh inning.


Bridgeport jumped on Ruddy Lugo right away.  A walk; double; and two singles plated three first inning runs on three hits for the Bluefish.


Long Island got them all back plus one in the second inning.  John Rodriguez reclaimed the League lead in RBI by leading-off the inning with his 15th home run of the season and accumulating his 69th RBI of the season.  John Rodriguez led the League earlier in the season before being sidelined by a few injuries.  He's found his way back to the top, ahead of team mate, J,R. House.  Bridgeport's Wes Bankston is third in the League.  Kraig Binick then tripled home J.R. House and Matt Esquivel who reached base on consecutive singles.  Kinnard Jones got Binick home with a sac-fly for a 4-3 Ducks lead.


Bridgeport tied the game at four apiece with a run off Ruddy Lugo in the fifth inning.  But the Ducks picked up three runs in their sixth inning allowing Ruddy Lugo to leave on the winning side of this game.  J.R. House led-off with his 17th home run of the year.  Kraig Binick reached first on an E3 to load the bases after Matt Esquivel and Matt Padgett both singled.  Esquivel scored when Dan Lyons grounded into a double-play.  And Kinnard Jones singled home Matt Padgett to make the game 7-4 Ducks.


Jeremy Hill allowed the Bluefish a run in the seventh inning to make it a 7-5 game.  In all he pitched two innings allowing only the one run.  He gave up one hit and a walk.  Three strikeouts highlighted his night.


Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning and set down all three batters he faced with strikeout to end the game.  It was his 14th save of the season.  And for Ruddy Logo, he earned his fifth win of the year against two losses.


Tuesday night's win ups the Ducks record to 58-30 over-all on the season; the League's best.




Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Fifty Reasons To Quack For Joy

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE


LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  FIRST TO FIFTY!

In the rubber game between the two first-half division champs, the Long Island Ducks won their 50th game of the season Friday night by consistently pushing across two-out runs against opposing pitcher J.D. Durbin and the rest of the Lancaster Barnstormers.

In the second inning, Matt Padgett and Tom Pennino (his first) hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game at two after Lancaster touched-up Ducks' starter Ruddy Lugo for two runs in the top half of the frame.

The Ducks went ahead 4-2 in the third on RBI singles by John Rodriguez and Lew Ford.  In the fourth inning, Long Island posted another pair of runs to make the score 6-2 Ducks.  Kraig Binick singled home Dan Lyons who doubled; then stole second.  Ray Navarrete singled to drive home Binick.

After a rain delayed start to the game, Ducks' starter Ruddy Lugo put forth a respectable effort after Lancaster got to him in the second inning.  He pitched five innings and threw eighty-five pitches.  Allowing three hits overall, he gave up the two earned runs in the second inning but no more, while walking three batters and striking out four.  Ruddy left the game on the winning side of what stood to be his fifth win against two losses.

Bob Zimmermann entered the game in relief of Lugo in the sixth inning and promptly pitched himself into trouble.  He gave up a home run, a walk, and back-to-back singles before he received a trip to the mound from his pitching coach after Lancaster made it a 6-4 game.  The meeting on the mound didn't work.  Zimmermann gave up another single to make it a 6-5 game with the tying run and go ahead run still on base.  Coach Baez came out of the dugout this time and yanked his pitcher with two outs.

Enter Bubbie Buzachero in a rather early call for him these days.  He hit the first batter he faced to load the bases.  Then, a single by Lancaster's Tommy Everidge drove home two more runs for a 7-6 Lancaster lead.  And so much for Ruddy Lugo's fifth win of the season.  He got stuck with the no-decision after a ruinous five run sixth inning for the Ducks' bullpen.  All five runs were charged to Zimmermann.

With two outs, an RBI double by Kraig Binick in the bottom of the sixth tied the score for the Ducks at seven apiece.  Then all-time Duck, Ray Navarrete, singled home Binick with yet another two out RBI by the Ducks for an 8-7 lead.  All eight runs scored by the Ducks to this point were scored with two outs.

Bubbie Buzachero managed the seventh inning after allowing the lead-off batter to reach base.  He wasn't sharp; pitching behind the count to all batters he faced.  But he kept things very quiet in the eighth inning.  And looking back on the outing, he most certainly earned the win in relief of Friday's game for his 2+ innings of work.


"New" Ducks' closer; Eric Wassermann...(and why not?  He's pitching lights-out).....  came in to pitch the ninth inning.  And in commanding Closer fashion, gave up a hit, but struck out the side to secure his 7th Save and the Long Island Ducks' 50th win of the season.


The Ducks are now the proud owners of an overall League best 50-28 record.  They remain as the only Atlantic League team above .600, playing to a .641 percentage.  In the second-half standings, they gained a game on Camden who lost Friday, and are now just one game behind the River Sharks for first place in the Liberty Division.

On July 30, 2011

vs. the ROAD WARRIORS

The Long Island Ducks Will Welcome Their

5,000,000th Fan To The Ball Park!

Congratulations to my own personal favorite, Buddy Harrelson, and to the entire

LONG ISLAND DUCKS ORGANIZATION.

And,

Congratulations to the Baseball Fans of Long Island.

Pat yourselves and each other on the back Saturday.

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Popping Corks in York

From the desk of:  A QUACK FROM BROOKLYN



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  CLINCH 1st HALF TITLE!

The Ducks' victory over the York Revolution Monday, coupled with South Maryland's loss to Bridgeport means Long Island has clinched first place in the first half Liberty Division race.  In League leading fashion, they assured themselves a spot in this year's post-season while also putting to rest last year's disappointment of not making the playoffs after an Atlantic League record six consecutive appearances from 2004 through 2009.

A pop-up just beyond second base was the last out the game and an inning Bubbie Buzachero couldn't help but put his stamp on.  But when the popped-up ball landed softly in SS-Dan Lyon's glove, any anxiety of closing the game was now energy devoted toward celebration.  All the jubilant Ducks  assembled on York's infield grass between second and third base where they exchanged congratulatory five fives; low fives; hugs; and hand shakes.

But this win did not come with out a price.   Starting pitcher Mike Lorre; having a dominant season; was pitching another strong game before he was pulled in the seventh inning with an undetermined injury.  I later heard during the York broadcast he left due to a groin strain and should be fine.  Hmmm; you know how that goes.


Mike Loree allowed a lead-off home run in the seventh inning.  Two pitches later, he must have felt something and Coach Baez wasn't about to take any chances with his ace.  He called upon his bullpen to finish the game for Long Island.  In Mike Loree's six innings and two batters of work, he allowed the lone home run and a total of only two hits.  Mike walked one batter and struck out six.  The Ducks' clincher was Loree's League leading tenth victory of the season.  He remains as the only Atlantic League pitcher with an ERA below 2.00, as he sports a 1.71 mark.


The Ducks clinched the division's first half race with a 37-21 record.  They beat out the South Maryland Blue Crabs by five games as of Monday.  Their 37 wins are tops in the League.  The Freedom Division's top two teams; Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution; have 33 victories each; good for second overall in the Atlantic League thus far.  This week (Friday) marks the end of the first half of the Atlantic League season.


Early season highlights include:


Kraig Binick batted over .400 for a substantial stretch beginning with the start of the season till right before suffering facial injuries that he's since recovered from.  His batting average is still at a lofty .366 this season which ranks him second in the League.


As part of overall solid seasons, Matt Esquivel and Javier Colina presently round out the .300 hitters for Long Island.  Matt is batting .314 and Colina is sporting a .311 average on the season.  Matt Esquivel has seven home runs and twenty-eight RBI to go along with his .300 average.


John Rodriguez has been beset by a some nagging injuries.  He missed a couple games at first with a sore thumb.  He now seems to be battling a barking shoulder and has missed quite a few games lately.  Before being side-tracked with ailments, he was leading the Atlantic League with 42 RBI.  There's a new League leader (46) now, but John is still ranked fourth in the League despite missing time.  JR House is third in the League with 43 and teammate Javier Colina has 41 to place three Ducks among the top seven RBI leaders.


Javier Colina and JR House are also creeping up on the League leaders in home runs.  The Atlantic League leader has twelve.  Colina is right behind with eleven and House has ten of his own.


The Ducks 359 runs scored lead the League.


On the mound, as mentioned, Mike Loree is quite the story this season.  Mike was named Pitcher of the Month for June.  He's the League Leader in wins and ERA and is also one strikeout short of being tied for the League lead in that category.  As great a season he's having, somewhere in the back of Duck Fan's minds, the thought that maybe it's only just a matter of time before an MLB team steps in to purchase his contract has to be creeping into one's thinking.  No?


While that would be very unfortunate in the Ducks' scheme of things, it's not today's reality.  But in that event, the Ducks' pitching is still quite capable.  Mike Parisi has been a fine Number Two guy in the rotation.  He got roughed up a bit in his last outing.  But has been nothing short of solid this season.
He's a League leader in strikeouts, and as I hinted, his ERA was inflated a bit due to his last outing.


After Loree and Parisi, it's fair to say the Ducks are lacking depth in the starting rotation.  Shane Youman may still yet emerge and be effective in the second half.  Joselo Diaz has had his problems on the hill this season. 


But that's where the bullpen has come in so well this season.  Guys like Jason Monti and Bob Zimmermann keep the opposition honest.  But Coach Baez relies on Jeremy Hill; Ehren Wassermann for the stickiest situations.    The Tennessee Thrilla' -  Bubbie Buzachero closes things out for Long Island but not without stomach-churning excitement.  He must be doing something right though, as he has a League leading 11 saves.


The Ducks continue their series tonight against the York Revolution, who are trying to overtake the Lancaster Barnstormers for first place in the Freedom Division before Friday.  York is only 1/2 game behind Lancaster.


Check out the Long Island Ducks celebration picture in the locker room:  LIDucks.com

Check out The Ducks Division Champs banner here:  AtlanticLeague.com





Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Closer To A First Half Divison Clincher

From the desk of:  WADDLING THROUGH BROOKLYN

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:

Off Day; State of the Pond Address.

The Ducks Are Well On Their Way To Wiping Away The Memory Of Missing The Playoffs in 2010.   With Less Than Two Weeks To Go, The Webbed Crusaders Are Zeroing In On a First Half Clinch.


The South Maryland Blue Crabs salvaged the last game of their series against the Long Island Ducks Sunday afternoon to avoid dropping behind Long Island by six games.  For the Ducks, the first half standings are twelve games away from being written in stone.  They lead the Liberty Division by a healthy five games over South Maryland.  Somewhere around July 9, 2011, the Atlantic League's First Half division winners will be decided as the first half comes to an end and the standings get frozen in time.


Winning the division obviously has it's advantages once the playoffs start.  But the Long Island Ducks also sport the League's best record.  And there are playoff advantages to that too.  The Ducks' record of  33-17 is tops so far.  Behind them is the Freedom Division leader; Lancaster Barnstormers; with a
30-19 record.  As division leaders, they are the only two clubs with thirty or more wins.


The Long Island Ducks disappointingly missed the playoffs last season.  This year, they have played with a near-complete balance to their game and are perhaps the most well rounded team in the League today.


Batting for average; timely hitting; and power compliment strong starting pitching, while backed up by shut-down bullpen work.  All have equalled first place and current King of the Hill status for the Webbed Spikes Nine.


Mike Loree; the League's top hurler in nearly all major categories; and his mound-partner; Mike Parisi; a League co-leader in strikeouts, have emerged as the Atlantic League's most lethal starting pitching combination this season.  While there were reasonable expectations for Mike Parisi heading into the season, Mike Loree seized the most of a second opportunity to pitch in the starting rotation. He's anchoring the staff after not earning a spot heading into opening day.  But the departure of Lenny DiNardo presented Loree with another opportunity and he nailed it.  Loree and Parisi; the Mike and Mike Show; are a combined 13-3 this season.  After Loree and Parisi, the Ducks might be considered a little thin in the rotation.  More about that towards the end of this post.


Stocked with firemen like Ehren Wassermann; Jeremy Hill; emerging Bob Zimmermann; and of course, the Bethpage Thrilla' Bubbie Buzachero; the Ducks' bullpen is well armed for long relief if necessary.  Of particular note, the work Eren Wassermann has put in so far should not go under spoken.  He and Buzachero have a combined 14 saves.  There were hopes former Met; Duaner Sanchez could be a big contributor this season.  But in only nine appearances he was largely ineffective and is presently inactive.  However, Shane Youman has come on lately, and in five appearances is yet to allow a run.


On the offensive side of things, the Ducks lead the Atlantic League in runs (308) scored.  Kraig Binick batted over .400 for a substantial time before missing a week with facial fractures.  His .352 batting average is still second overall in the League.  Javier Colina is batting .303; Matt Esquivel is at .321; and John Rodriguez is working on a .298 average.


Javier Colina is second in the League in home runs (10) and sixth in RBI.  John Rodriguez, despite missing five games recently due to a sore thumb, is still tied for the League lead with 42 RBI.  After Colina's ten home runs, there are no shortages for power in the Ducks line-up.  Ray Navarrete and J.R. House are second on the team with eight apiece.  John Rodriguez comes in next with seven.  And Matt Esquivel and Lew Ford have six each. 


John Rodriguez leads all Atlantic Leaguers in RBI, but quite a few Ducks are driving in runs also.  Javier Colina with thirty-six and J.R House with thirty-four, round out the team's top three.


Defensively, I'd only offer maybe Ray Navarrete and Javier Colina need to tighten things up a bit up the middle.  Matt Esquivel has had his moments in right field, but is doing a respectable job.  Otherwise, the Ducks are a fundamentally sound bunch.


The Lancaster Barnstormers are only 5-5 in their last ten games.  Last year's champion; the York Revolution are hot on their trail.  Winners of nine out of their last ten, they are only one game behind first place Lancaster in the Freedom Division.  As a matter of fact, York IS the hottest team in the League right now. 


Then enter the Ducks who are winners of seven out of their last ten games.  Many thought, after losing their top two sluggers, who's contracts were purchased by the Mexican League, the Blue Crabs would fade away in the Liberty Division standings..  But they stuck around and took turns occupying first place with the Ducks before Long Island finally took a firm grip on the division.  Bridgeport started to surge and I thought they'd over-take South Maryland at some point.  But they are mired at .500 and can't seem to stop running in place.  Last place Camden recently visited Long Island and gave them all they could handle with a four game series split.


After an off day Monday, The Ducks play host to the white hot York Revolution for three games.  That should be a very interesting series for the Ducks.  Joselo Diaz, who's struggled this season, and Ruddy Lugo are my guess to start two games during the series.  A third starter is harder to find.  Perhaps Shane Youman gets called to man the hill for a game.  York will escape without having to face Loree and Parisi after they pitched against South Maryland over the weekend.


ATLANTIC LEAGUE NEWS:
During the bottom of the fourth inning in a game between the Lancaster Barnstormers and the Somerset Patriots, Lancaster manager; Butch Hobson; argued over a play at first base with first base umpire; Chris Rick.

A heated Butch Hobson then gestured as if to throw the Umpire out of the game. Well, that bought Hobson an ejection. Coach Hobson then repeated the gesture throwing the Umpire out of the game again. He then removed the first base bag out of the ground and took it with him to the dugout, where he retrieved a Sharpie; signed the bag; and gave it to a young fan in the first row. The home crowd went wild as the game continued without a first base bag.




Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Burrying Blue Crabs In The Sand

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



Long Island Ducks:  Sink South Maryland Blue Crabs Deeper Into The Standings.


Another game, another winning ninth inning nail biter.  Meh..., it's all becoming rather routine for the Ducks these days.  Especially when you're the ones doing the late inning winning.


After a tremendously well pitched 1-1 duel, the ninth inning would decide everything.  Two runs for the Ducks in the top of the inning and only one run for the Blue Crabs in the bottom of the home ninth, means the Long Islanders are now firmly atop the Liberty Division after sinking South Maryland to six full games behind first.


Mike Parisi continued his co-starring role as part of the Mike and Mike (Loree) Show.  An error by third baseman Matt Padgett resulted in an unearned run in what was the only mar on Parisi's stellar line.  He pitched six full innings; allowing six hits; no walks; while striking out eight Crabs.  He got a no-decision but his five wins still makes him sixth best in the League.  Mike Loree is number one with eight.  Mike Parisi lowered his season ERA to 3.11 which is fourth best in the League.  And with eight more strikeouts Saturday night, Mike Parisi tied his team-mate Mike Loree for the League lead with sixty-four apiece.


The bullpen was up to the task again.  Jeremy Hill took care of the seventh and eighth innings.  He allowed two hits and struck out three to keep the Ducks in this contest until they managed to score in the ninth.


That's when Bubbie Buzachero came in.  And he made things interesting.  Blue Crabs' lead-off batter Yunesky Sanchez greeted Buzachero with a triple.  Buzachero struck out the next batter.  Then Sanchez would score on a sac-fly to center field.  Bubbie took care of the last batter on three pitches for the Ducks win and Bubbie's eleventh Save of the season.


In the third inning, Ray Navarrete (single) scored from third on Matt Esquivel's single.  And after Maryland tied the game with a run in the fifth inning, they traded donuts till the ninth.


J.R. House and Freddie Thon led off the top of the ninth with back-to-back singles.  They both advanced on Kraig Binick's put out.  Kinnard Jones was intentionally walked to load the bases for Ray Navarrete who was hit by a pitch to move everyone up one base and the Ducks second run of the game, home.  With the bases still loaded, Freddie Thon scored when Javier Colina hit a sac-fly to center.


The Blue Crabs came up a run short during last-licks.  Final score; DUCKS 3;  BLUE CRABS 2.


The series finale is Sunday.



Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ In Search of Blue Crabs

From the desk of:  A BROOKLYN QUACK





Long Island Ducks:  Off To South Maryland For A Liberty Division Showdown With The 2nd Place Blue Crabs.

SPLIT TOUGH FOUR GAME SERIES WITH CAMDEN.

FINISH HOMESTAND 5-2.


The Liberty Division's last place club; the Camden River Sharks; came into Long Island Sound and bit at the Ducks throughout this four game series. 


After a ninth inning bloop, walk-off infield hit by Ray Navarrete won a tight game Tuesday, Wednesday night,  Long Island let a 6-0 lead get away....  Then blew a 7-4 lead in the ninth inning.  Only to lose it all in the fourteenth inning.


In the ninth inning of Wednesday night's game, Bubbie Buzachero sabotaged his own cause when he threw wide of first base with an errant pick-off throw , allowing a runner to score.  He gave up three runs in all, allowing Camden to tie the game in the course of blowing his first game of the season.


The Ducks played great defense in the extra innings to keep them alive until the fourteenth and final inning.  FINAL SCORE;  8-7  Camden over Long Island.


With Camden enjoying a two games to one series lead, the teams headed into Thursday night's game.
Camden's Eddy Camacho and Long Island's Shane Youman went at each other pitch for pitch over the first six innings of the game before Long Island made the game's first move to the bullpen.


In Youman's six innings of work, Shane allowed only three hits; no runs; walked one and struck out two.  In 5 games and 12.1 innings pitched this season, he has yet to yield a run.  Camden's Eddy Camacho kept the Ducks quiet for seven full innings.  Three hits and one walk were all he allowed while striking out three.


The winning pitcher of this game was Jeremy Hill who pitched marvelously over three innings in relief of Youman.  Two hits; two walks; and two strikeouts was his line against Camden.  His three inning shift on the mound was much needed after Wednesday night's 14 inning affair in which the Ducks used five pitchers out of the pen.  Jeremy Hill chipped in with one inning Wednesday also.


The Ducks won their second game in walk-off fashion in their last three played.  First it was Ray Navarrete delivering a game winning RBI Tuesday.  Thursday, JT House took a turn at being 9th inning hero by driving home John Rodriguez from third base with his own game winning RBI single against a five-infielder shift, for a 1-0 final and a series split with the Sharks.


John Rodriguez returned to action after being given a few days off to nurse a sore thumb.  This was his first game back after sitting out the last five games.  The League's still reigning RBI leader scored the Ducks' winning run but was 0 for 4 in the game.


The Ducks finished their home stand with a 5-2 record.  Both losses came against Camden.  They improved to a now League's best 31-17 record.  They maintain a four game lead over the second place South Maryland Blue Crabs.  And it just so happens, that's where the Long Island Ducks are headed; to South Maryland for a three game weekend series against the Blue Crabs.







Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Jumping the RiverShark

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



Long Island Ducks:  9th Inning Win Gives Ducks Four Game Lead In Liberty Division.


The Ducks got right back on track after losing a 2-1 pitchers duel to the Camden River Sharks Monday.  Last night, Ray Navarrete knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a pop-up that dropped in between an indecisive Camden infield for a 4-3 Ducks victory. 

Bubbie Buzachero picked up his third win in relief of starter, Joselo Diaz, and Ehrin Wassermann.


The Ducks' and the Atlantic League's top RBI man; John Rodriguez missed his fifth straight game.

The win increased Long Island's division lead to four games over second place South Maryland.  The Ducks are now 30-17 for the season and winners of eight out of their last ten games.

The two teams have split the first two games of this four game series in Long Island.  Tonight is Game Three.

TONIGHT

Camden River Sharks

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

From Bethpage Park

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Aiming For A Father's Day Sweep

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Cruising Past The Road Warriors At High Speed.


The first place Ducks will try and make today a Happy Father's Day for all the Long Island Pops out there, as they go for a series sweep against the Road Warriors in Bethpage Park.


Winners of their last two in a row, the Ducks have maintained their 2.5 game lead over the South Maryland Blue Crabs in the Liberty Division first half standings.  With last night's win over the Road Warriors, Long Island upped their record to a division best 28-15.  The are 8-2 in their last ten games.


In yesterday's second game of this series, Long Island broke a one all dead-lock in the sixth inning with three runs highlighted by a Javier Colina two run single.


Ducks' starter Heath Phillips kept the Road Warriors relatively quiet in his 5.2 innings of work allowing only four hits.  But he left with the score tied at one apiece and was awarded the ol' no-decision.  Shane Youman earned the victory in relief.  He pitched 2.1 stellar innings in relief of Phillips and was the beneficiary of Long Island's three run outburst in the sixth.  He struck out four batters and surrendered no hits. 


Bubbie Buzachero nailed down his tenth save of the season.  In 18 innings pitched this year, he's allowed 17 hits; only walked 3 batters; and has 14 strikeouts.  He has a 2-1 record in relief and a minuscule 1.50 ERA.







Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Mike Loree Emerges As Atlantic League's Best Hurler

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks:  Mike Loree Continues His Domination of the Atlantic League.  Ducks Add A Full Game To Their First Place Lead.



In Lancaster, Ducks' hurler Mike Loree added another sparkling start to his 2011 resume as Long Island won the first game of a three game series against the Barnstormers by a final score of 5-3.


J.R. House homered for Long Island in the 5th inning for the first run of the game.  Kennard Jones and Ray Navarrete starting things off for the Ducks in the 6th with back-to-back lead-off singles.  Javier Colina and John Rodriguez drove them in with another pair of consecutive singles to put Long Island ahead 3-0 after six full innings.


Tying his longest start of the season, Mike Loree came out to pitch the seventh and faced three batters.  After a lead-off single and a fly out to center field, Mike Loree hit the next batter.  That prompted a visit from Coach Baez who made a move to the bullpen calling on Jeremy Hill for relief.  The Barnstormers loaded the bases against Hill, and brought a run home with a sac fly to break the shut-out.  That run was charged to Loree.  Jeremy Hill kept the Ducks out of further trouble by striking out the next batter for out number three.


Long Island picked up two insurance runs in the top of the eighth with a two out rally.  John Rodriguez drew a walk.  He scored on Matt Esquivel's double.  The next Ducks' batter, Matt Padget drove Esquivel home with a single upping Long Island's lead; 5-1.



Jeremy Hill pitched himself into trouble in the bottom of the eighth inning by allowing the first two batters to reach base with no outs.  After getting one out, Jeremy surrendered a single allowing Lancaster to plate their second run.  Lancaster's park helped the Ducks when it held a Terry Tiffee (DH-Lancaster) blast from leaving the park.  The Barnstormers were held to one run scoring on that blast off the wall but the spread on the scoreboard was closing.


Coach Baez made his way to the mound again and gave Jeremy Hill the hook with the score at 5-3.
Ehren Wasserman was called in by Coach to get the Ducks out of this jam.  Wasserman got the second out of the inning by striking out his first batter.  Wasserman completed the job by inducing the next batter into a ground out to short.


Ducks' closer, Bubbie Buzachero, was called upon to close the ninth inning.


Give the bullpen credit tonight even though they made things very interesting.  Jeremy Hill pitched the Ducks out of Mike Loree's jam in the seventh.  Ehren Wasserman got them out of Jeremy Hill's jam in the eighth.  And Buzachero made things most interesting of all.  After getting the first two outs, he allowed the next two batters to get on base.  That brought the potential winning run to the plate.  Javier Colina had trouble handling a blast to short, but composed himself to record the last out of the game and preserving a well pitched game by Mike Loree.  Mr. Excitement; Bubbie Buzachero; managed his 8th save of the season.



MIKE LOREE's LINE:
6.1 ~ innings pitched
3 ~ hits.
1 ~ run.
2 ~ walks.
9 ~ strikeouts.

SEASON RECORD: 
6 wins;  1 loss



Tonight's effort by Mike Loree now ties him for the CanAm League lead in wins with six while also lowering his already League leading ERA from 2.25 down to 2.18.  After nine strikeouts tonight, he now has 48 for the season which also now places him first in the Atlantic League.  A tremendous start to a season for a guy cashing in on a second chance continues.


Long Island and South Maryland started Tuesday evening with the Ducks in front by a mere half game.  Tonight's win coupled with the South Maryland Blue Crabs' loss to Camden increases Long Island's first place lead in the Liberty Division to 1.5 games. 



This was Long Island's third consecutive win.  They are 8-2 in their last ten games.



Bridgeport fell to 4 games back in the standings and are losing a rain delayed game 4-2 to the Road Warriors in the sixth inning as of this post time.







Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Keep Their Slim Lead Over Hot Crabs

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN


Long Island Ducks:  Win Rubber Game Against Bluefish.  But Blue Crabs Won't Go Away.

Long Island took the rubber game in their series against Bridgeport.  The problem is, South Maryland hasn't gone away yet.  They stayed in second place behind the Ducks by a mere half game even after losing their two top hitters to the Mexican League last week.  But that hasn't stopped the Blue Crabs from winning their last six games in a row to keep pressure on first place Long Island.  Sunday, they shut-out the York Revolution 3-0.


In the rubber game against Bridgeport, Ray Navarrete hit his seventh home run of the season in the third inning to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead.  The Bluefish got one back in the bottom half.  Then in the seventh, Ray skied a sacrifice fly to right scoring Dan Lyons from third base for his third RBI of the game.  The Ducks won by a final score of 4-2. 

Shane Youman picked up his first win of the season in relief of Heath Phillips, who left the game after five innings with the score tied at two.  Youman pitched two innings, allowing only a walk while striking out two.  Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning for his seventh save.


No games are scheduled for Monday.  Tuesday the Ducks start a three game series in Lancaster.





Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Waddle Back Into A Tie For First Place

From the desk of:  A BROOKLYN QUACK  (Waddling Through Brooklyn)


LONG ISLAND DUCKS:

FINAL:
Somerset Patriots......2
Long Island Ducks....5


Since getting back from a near disastrous road trip, the Ducks have been fattening up at home.  After defeating the Somerset Patriots tonight in the opening game of their series and winning their third in a row, they finally regained a tie atop the Liberty Division standings as the South Maryland Blue Crabs  lost Friday night to the Lancaster Barnstormers.


Mike Parisi made the start for Long Island tonight and kept the Patriots under wraps all night.  Outside of Somerset's Wayde Lydon, who went 3 for 3 Friday, no Patriot had an answer for Parisi.  It was a highly economic game for the Duck's pitcher.  In 7.1 innings he only threw 87 pitches and 59 of them went for strikes.  He improved his record to 3-1.


Mike Parisi's Line:
7.1 ~ innings pitched.
87 Pitches ~ 59 strikes.
6 ~ hits.
2 ~ runs/earned
2 ~ walks.
3 ~ strikeouts.
1 ~ home run allowed


The Duck's bullpen shut down the Patriots over the final 1.2 innings.  Eric Wasserman got two outs; one a strikeout, while Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth to earn his 6th save of the season.


Long Island started the scoring in the home second inning.  Matt Padget walked with one out.  With two outs, Freddie Thon singled and Padget stood at second.  Then one of the hottest hitters in the League this season, Kraig Binick, singled, scoring Padget and sending Thon to second base.  Kennard Jones drew a walk to load the bases.  Ray Navarrete then stepped to the plate who yesterday sat out his first game off this season, and who incidentally is still struggling at the plate, and hit the second pitch he saw up the middle scoring Thon from third and Binick from second.  Kennard Jones was caught trying to steal third base and killed Long Island's two out rally cold.


Hasn't anyone ever taught him you don't make the first or third out at third base?


Moving on.


In the third inning the Ducks added more.  John Rodriguez doubled with one out.   The next batter, Lew Ford, double him home.   Then Matt Padget singled for the Duck's third consecutive hit.   Ford scored on the play giving Long Island a 5-1 lead.


The New York Federals scored one run in the third and one run in the sixth inning; but nothing else. Long Island pitching held them to six total hits Friday night.


Kraig Binick got his batting average back to .400 on the nose again after going 1 for 2 Friday night.


In Lancaster, starting in the first inning, the Barnstormers just kept tacking on runs against the Blue Crabs.  The Barnstormers scored three runs in the first; one in the second; four in the fourth; and another two in the seventh inning as they romped over South Maryland by a score of 10-4.


The Ducks win, coupled with the Crabs loss, means both teams get to share first place together for at least a day until games resume again Saturday.


a/o 6-4-2011

LIBERTY DIVISION ~ First Half Standings:
1) - Long Island Ducks.......................18-12   .600   --
2) - South Maryland Blue Crabs.......18-12   .600   --








Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ 12th Opening Day For Ducks

From the desk of:  A Brooklyn Quack

LONG ISLAND DUCKS BASEBALL CLUB

est. 2000

OPENING DAY

12th at Bethpage Park

TONIGHT

Bridgeport Bluefish (1-3)

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS (4-2)

First Place; Liberty Division

After starting the season on the road in Bridgeport and Camden, the Ducks open up their 12th season at renamed Bethpage Park.  The Ducks have taken their first two series two games to one and have won two in a row.  They'll go for three tonight in front of their own fans for the first time this season, and as usual a full house of 6,000+ is expected to welcome back the Ducks.

Atlantic League

Long Island Ducks

Bridgeport Bluefish

As Of  ~ Thursday, May 5, 2011
LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Defeat Camden In Series Final.  Head Home For Opening Day.

The Ducks took the rubber game of their series against the Camden River Sharks before heading back to Long Island for their Home Opener against Bridgeport.  They have now won their first two series of the season.

Winning pitcher for the Ducks, Joselo Diaz, pitched a superb game until he unravelled a bit in the 9th inning in an attempt to secure a shutout.
8.1 ~ innings pitched
7 ~ hits; all singles
1 ~ runs/earned
1 ~ walks
4 ~ strikeouts
**Perfect game broken up in the 6th inning.  Raul Pedron of Camden broke up the bid at perfection.
Bubbie Buzachero relieved Diaz to finish out Camden.

For The Ducks:
2nd Inning ~ Matt Padget started off the scoring for Long Island with a home run.  1-0; Ducks
4th Inning ~ Freddie Thon hit a solo home run.  2-0; Ducks
5th Inning ~ Kraig Binick scored on a wild pitch; Matt Padget scored on a Freddie Thon single.
4-0 Ducks.
7th Inning ~ JR House scored on a Jon Kourie double.  5-0; Ducks

FINAL
DUCKS  5
River Sharks  1



Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Stop Two Game Skid In Camden

From the desk of:  The Brooklyn Quacker

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Quack Attack Erupted For Five Runs In First.  Even Series Against River Sharks.


The Ducks jumped out to a five run lead in the first inning by sending ten men to the plate and the pitching made it hold up.  Tonight's final score in Camden N.J. was Ducks 5; - River Sharks 2.


Mike Parisi picked up the win in his Ducks' debut; pitching six innings while giving up six hits; allowing one run; three walks and striking out three.  Ehren Wasserman came on to pitch in the seventh inning.  He promptly pitched himself into a second and third base situation but escaped with only one run scored.  Valerio De Los Santos and Bubbie Buzachero finished things out for Long Island.  For Buzachero, it was his first save in three appearances this season.

1B-Freddie Thon drove in two runs for Long Island tonight and was 2 for 4 in the game.  LF-Kraig Binick was 3 for 5 (three singles) on the night.  Ray Naverret had his second consecutive three-hit night (3 for 5) with a run scored.  John Rodriguez, Matt Padget, and Dan Lyons had an RBI each for Long Island.

The Ducks avoided losing their third game in a row while gaining their third victory of the season.  They are now 3-2 for the season.  Tomorrow they'll play the rubber game of the series against the Camden River Sharks before going home for the first time this season and having their Season Opener on Friday against Bridgeport.

The Von Hayse managed Camden River Sharks are now 1-4 to start the season.




Mike.BTB