Long Island Ducks Retake First Place From Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island leads Southern Maryland; 2-1

I - SMD 1; LID 0

II - LID 5; SMD 4

III - LID 4; SMD 3

GAME FOUR

BLUE CRABS

vs.

DUCKS

MONDAY

Look Who's Number One, Again!

With the weekend series tied at one entering Sunday's action, a first-place standing continues hanging in the balance.  The formerly first-place Ducks surrendered their perch to the Southern Maryland Blue Claws.  Still, with yesterday's victory in game two, the Ducks began Independence Day just 0.5 games behind Southern Maryland.

The Blue Crabs score single runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings for a 3-0 lead through the first five and a half innings of play.  In the meantime, Blue Crabs starter Mike Devine holds Long Island scoreless through the fifth.  

However, Devine becomes unraveled in the home sixth when first baseman Deibinson Romero, backstop Hector Sanchez, and right fielder Daniel Fields wield consecutive doubles for two runs.  Afterwhich, center fielder Breland Almadova singled home Daniel Fields with the tying run.

• BOXSCORE

• Atlantic League
  

After a scoreless seventh, the Ducks push across the game's decisive run in the eighth on a Hector Sanchez home run over the right-field fence, his seventh this season,

... and the packed house of 7,200 fans goes crazy!

Daniel Fields leads the Ducks going 3 for 4 with a double and three runs batted in.

Right-hander Michael Tonkin tosses a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save.  Starter Clint Freeman escapes with a no-decision upon yielding three earned runs on five hits and six walks with five strikeouts through5.2 innings pitched.  Brady Dragmire strikes out two in two scoreless innings for the win in relief.

Southern Maryland reliever Andrys Briceno takes the loss.

With a second straight victory over the Blue Claws, the Long Island Ducks reclaim first place by one-half game over Southern Maryland.  The teams conclude their series on Monday at the Pond.

Long Island Ducks: The Pond Is Open For Business

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

OPENING SERIES

Long Island Ducks def. Lexington Legends; 3-1

I - LID 5; LEX 0

II - LEX 9; LID 8

III - LID 4; LEX 3

IV - LID 5; LEX 2

THE 2019 ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS FINALLY RETAKE THE FIELD

The Atlantic League defending champions are back.  This past Saturday, the Long Island Ducks returned to the playing field hosting for the first time in Atlantic League history the Lexington Legends, formerly of the South Atlantic League.  The Legends, like the Ducks, are defending 2019 champions of their former circuit.

5/29/2021

GAME ONE - Long Island wins their first game of the season, defeating the Legends 5-0 in the front end.  Starting for the Ducks, Akeel Morris allows just one hit and two walks with six strikeouts through four innings pitched.  In relief of Morris, right-hander Jose Cuas earns the victory pitching a scoreless fifth.  Johnny Hellweg tosses a scoreless sixth, and southpaw Justin Kelly secures the shutout with a scoreless seventh.  Three of Long Island's five runs were unearned.  Left fielder LJ Mazzilli, shortstop Ryan Jackson, and pinch-hitter Juan De La Cruz drive in runs for the Ducks.

GAME TWO - Try as they might, the Ducks come up short in game two.  Trailing 9-3 heading into the last half of the seventh, Long Island scores five runs to no avail.  Starter Mike Bolsinger allows three runs in two innings.  Afterwhich, Lexington strikes for another five runs off Anderson DeLeon pitching in relief of Bolsinger.  Ryan Jackson finishes 4 for 4 with a run scored and one run batted in, and catcher Sal Giardina drives home three runs.

Jupiter Pluvius caused a postponement of Sunday's game, forcing the Ducks and Legends to play another twin bill on Monday.

5/31/2021

GAME ONE - Trailing 3-0 after four and a half innings, Long Island answers with four runs in the home fifth for the win.  Starter Joe Iorio battles through his first start, allowing three runs, two earned, on just two hits, but walks five.  The Legends' only other hit comes off Mike Tonkin in the seventh and final frame.  With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Ducks catcher Hector Sanchez connects for a grand slam home run against Lexington's Liam O'Sullivan for a one-run margin of victory.  Devin Raftery earns the win in relief of Iorio.

GAME TWO - What did Yogi say, "it's deja vu all over again?"  The home crowd gets two thrillers for the price of one.  With the Ducks trailing 2-1 after eight and a half innings, a collective and rather excellent pitching duel comes to an end.  With two outs and the bases jammed with Ducks, crowd favorite Steve Lombardozzi connects off Lexington reliever Shawn Blackwell for a walk-off grand slam home run.

• Lexington Legends
• Long Island Ducks

TUESDAY

Long Island Ducks

vs.

West Virginia Power

FROM

Appalachian Power Park

In their first road trip of the season, the Long Island Ducks arrive in Charleston, West Virginia, where on Tuesday they opened a three-game series against the Power.  West Virginia is a former affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and most recently the Seattle Mariners.  Like the Lexington Legends, the Power are formerly of the South Atlantic League.

Game One

Ducks    3

Power    4

Final/Box

Catcher Sal Giardina opens the scoring with a home run in the third.  But the Power gives Ducks starter Brendan Feldmann a jolt with three runs in the fourth.  Right fielder Daniel Field's two-run home run in the eighth tied the game at three.  But West Virginia retakes the lead in the bottom half of the frame against Devin Raftery.  Long Island goes down in order in the top half of the ninth.  The first game at Appalachian Power Park between the Ducks and newly independent Power goes to the hosts.

L.I. Ducks Sweep First Two Road Games at High Point

From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Ducks lead Rockers; 2-0

I - LID 8; HPR 7

II - LID 8; HPR 1

FRIDAY

High Point Rockers

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

THE POND

DUCKS STARTER VIN MAZZARO TOSSES GEM

Unlike Tuesday's harrowing experience, the Long Island Ducks have an easier time handling the Rockers on Wednesday, rolling to an 8-1 victory and completing a two game road sweep at BB&T Point.  The series now shifts 600 miles away to Bethpage Ballpark on Long Island where the Ducks beginning Friday will have three chances to win one game and punch a fourth straight ticket to the Atlantic League championship series.

A hit by Richie Shaffer leading off the second, a one-out hit by Myles Schroder, and a throwing error by Ducks catcher Hector Sanchez lead to High Point's first (unearned) run of the game.  It would also be High Point's last.  Long Island starter Vin Mazzaro faces 30 batters, throwing 109 pitches with 68 going for strikes.  He allows no earned runs on just two hits and four walks with ten strikeouts in a brilliant eight inning winning performance.  Reliever Brian Matusz pitches a scoreless ninth inning to close out Long Island's second straight victory on the road.

L.J. Mazzilli is 2 for 5 with a home run and two runs batted in.  The ageless Lew Ford goes 3 for 5 with a double and to runs batted in.  Steve Lombardozzi triples in four at-bats, and rounds out a trio of Ducks with two runs batted.  Rey Fuentes and Dan Fields each drive in a run apiece.

L.I. Ducks: Monday Swim 7/29/2019

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks defeat Patriots 2-1

I - LID 1; SOM 0

II - SOM 8; LID 3

III - LID 4; SOM 1

Par for the course ... the Ducks waddle into their Monday break with an 8-8 record, which for the moment is good enough for first place of the Liberty Division.  The High Point Rockers trail Long Island by 1.5 games, while the New Britain Bees and Somerset Patriots lay two games back.

In the latest showdown between the Ducks and Patriots, Long Island takes two of three.  If you recall Long Island overcame perfection in extra innings of game one on Friday.  Somerset bounces back with an 8-3 victory on Saturday.  The Ducks take Sunday's rubber game in comeback fashion with a burst of runs late in game three.

Somerset opens the scoring in the first when shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez tags from third on catcher Mike Ohlman's sac-fly to left.  They cling to their one run lead through the seventh.  Long Island finally breaks through with three runs in the eighth on a two run home run from T.J. Rivera, and an RBI single from Daniel Fields.  With two outs in the top of the ninth Rey Fuentes connects on his eighth home run of the season giving the Ducks a 4-1 final margin of victory.

Making his fourth start Seth Simmons yields one run on just two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts through six innings pitched, but departs on the losing side of a one run affair.  Rob Rogers earns the victory in relief of Simmons with two scoreless innings of three hit ball with two strikeouts.  Michael Tonkin fans two in a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.

• Steve Lombardozzi is presently on the 10-day IL as of 7/23.
• Ducks closer Enrique Burgos had his contract purchased by Leones de Yucatan.  Burgos made 29 appearances for the Ducks, posting a 4-2 record and 2.43 ERA, with 13 saves and 49 strikeouts through 29.2 innings pitched.

Next stop on Long Island's road trip is New Britain where a three game series awaits against the Bees.

Look What the Ducks Did to the Lancaster Barnstormers, Again

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Lead Series 3-0

I - LID 9; LAN 5

II - LID 2; LAN 1

III - LID 5; LAN 4

GAME FOUR

Lancaster Barnstormers

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

THE POND

Showing no signs of letting up the Ducks close out their third straight victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers - and in doing so nudge the High Point Rockers from their brief stay atop the Liberty Division.  Now back in first, the Flock seeks to complete a sweep of Lancaster at Bethpage Ballpark on Sunday

Long Island wins game one of Friday's doubleheader by a slim 2-1 margin.  All scoring takes place in the fourth.  Facing Ducks starter Darin Downs, Lancaster manufactures a run on a double by Joey Terdoslavich who later comes around to score on a fielder's choice.  Recent Long Island newcomer T.J. Rivera leads off the bottom of the frame with a hit.  One out later, Rivera scores on Lew Ford's triple to right.  Lew Ford soon scores on third baseman Terdoslavich throwing error for a 2-1 lead and final margin of victory.  Downs yields just one run on four hits and no walks with six strikeouts through six innings pitched for his second victory of the season.  Michael Tonkin pitches a scoreless seventh for his first save as a member of the Ducks.

With game two tied at five entering the final frame, Long Island reliever Zack Weiss completes his second inning of scoreless work.  In the home seventh, Lancaster reliever Alejandro Chacin walks the bases loaded.  With two outs, in steps Daniel Fields who greets Chacin with a knock over the right/center field wall for a game ending walk-off grand slam home run.

*            *            *

On Saturday the Ducks win their third straight.  A three run home run from Hector Sanchez in the third, and RBI from Vladimir Frias and David Washington stake the Ducks to a 5-0 lead after four innings.  Starter Joe Iorio allows no runs on just three hits and three walks with two strikeouts through six innings pitched.  Long Island almost unravels when Lancaster rallies for four runs in the eighth off reliever Cody Mincey.  Manager Wally Backman then calls upon relievers Rob Rogers and Michael Tonkin to douse the fire.  The Flock hold on for a 5-4 victory, and stand poised to sweep the Barnstormers with one more victory on Sunday.

L.I. Ducks: Revolution Spoil Flock's Home Opener

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

OPENING DAY

20th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

YORK REVOLUTION

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

Long Island Ducks: Flock Overcome Five Run Deficit But Fall in Extra Innings.

Following a triumphant (6-1) season opening road trip through York and Lancaster, the Flock arrived at an unseasonably dank Bethpage Ballpark where they opened their 20th anniversary season against the Revolution on Friday.

York initiated the scoring against Ducks starter Darin Downs with five runs through the first three innings of play.  Coach Backman watched 15 Revolution batters levy a 64-pitch tax upon Downs, and was forced into utilizing his bullpen by the fourth.

Long Island commenced their counter in the fourth when David Washington connected on a two run home run off Revs starter Daniel Minor.  That's the way things stayed until the eighth when York reliever Jeffrey Rosa plunked both Steve Lombardozzi and Lew Ford leading off the inning.  With David Washington at the plate, Rosa unleashed a wild pitch advancing the runners, then unleashed a second errant pitch allowing Lombardozzi to score from third.

With York's Josh Judy pitching in the ninth, Daniel Fields connected on a one out home run to bring the Ducks to within one.  With two outs, Rey Fuentes singled, then promptly scored the game tying run on Steve Lombardozzi's double to left.

Into extra innings they would go ... but not for long.

Under new age rules, York's Ryan Dent would start the top of the tenth as a base runner on second base.  With one out, center fielder J.P. Sportman singled to left; Dent advanced to third, then scored on second baseman Alexi Casilla's ground ball out to second.

The Ducks went down in order in the home tenth, as York reliever Julio Perez fanned the final two batters of the game.

L.I. Ducks: Flock Forge First Place Tie With Somerset

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Flock At The Gates!

Ducks Lead Series 2-0

I - LID 7; SOM 2

II - LID 10; SOM 7

WEDNESDAY

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Somerset Patriots

FROM
New Jersey

Long Island Ducks: Surging Flock Now Tied With Somerset Patriots for Liberty Division Lead.

With Monday's 7-2 victory over the Patriots, the Long Island Ducks closed within one game of first place Somerset.  Right-hander Chris Pike - a new addition out of the Tampa Bay Rays system - starts for Long Island, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks before being relieved with one out in the fourth.  Coach Baez then treats Somerset to a Long Island bullpen bonanza, doling out an inning apiece to six different pitchers.  It worked, as the sextet joined in limiting the Patriots scoreless on seven hits and just one walk, with seven strikeouts.  Lorenzo Barcelo earned the victory for his scoreless work in the fifth.

Long Island powered up with another three home runs against Somerset.  Taylor Ard strikes early with a two run shot in the first.  Cody Puckett connects on a solo blast in the fifth, and David Washington caps off the night with his team leading 16th home run in the eighth.

With a follow-up victory over the Patriots in Game Two, the Ducks could finally achieve a tie for the  Liberty Division lead with Somerset.

... and they did just that.

The Ducks hit Patriots starter Kyle Davies hard and often.  Both Daniel Fields and David Washington greet him with home run blasts in the first inning; Fields' a solo shot, and Washington's a three-run strike.

In the top of the second, Patriots' Kyle Davies walks the first four batters faced.  A base hit from Travis Snider plates two Long Island runs for a commanding 7-0 Ducks lead.

Rest assure, Somerset does not go down quietly, posting two runs in the third, one in the fourth, and another pair in the fifth.  However, Daniel Fields provides the Ducks with an important insurance run in the sixth when he triples home Dan Lyons.  Ramon Cabrera later gives the Ducks a 9-5 lead with a home run leading-off the eighth.  Resilient Somerset claws back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame off Ducks reliever Colton Murray, but no more.  The Flock score yet another insurance run in the top of the ninth helped by a throwing error by Chase Hutchingson, allowing Dan Lyons to score, and give Long Island a 10-7 lead, and final margin of victory.

Francisco Rodriguez closes out the game for Long Island, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts for his 20th save of the season.

The Ducks are winners of five straight, and have now defeated Somerset in five straight as well.  Earlier this season, they were down 3-9 in head-to-head gams.  But with one more victory on Wednesday, Long Island will achieve a second straight sweep over Somerset and ensure a split of the season series.

L.I. Ducks: John Brownell Sets Atlantic League All-Time Strikeout Record

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

John Brownell Sets Atlantic League 

All-Time Strikeout Record

Long Island Ducks: Flock Keep Pressure On Somerset With 10-0 Whitewashing of Road Warriors; Remain Two Games Back.

Three Long Island pitchers join forces in Saturday's 10-0 whitewashing of the Road Warriors at Bethpage Park.  Starter John Brownell takes charge of the first seven innings, allowing just three hits and three walks, and striking out four en route to his eighth victory of the season.  He faces 29 batters while throwing 114 pitches with 65 going for strikes.  Relievers Fernando Abad and Chris Pike close out the eighth and ninth respectively, allowing a combined two hits, a walk, and striking out three.

At the plate, the Ducks are powered by home runs from Jordany Valdespin, and Travis Snider (whose 66 RBI are second in the league), and four other extra base hits off the bats of Daniel Fields, Anthony Vega, Ramon Cabrera whom goes 3 for 5 with three RBI, and Lew Ford whom was recently recognized as the Atlantic League Player of the Month for July.

In the top of the third, John Brownell notches his first strikeout of the game against Road Warrior lead-off batter Daniel Aldrich.  More significantly, it marks the 738th strikeout of his Atlantic League career, thus setting the league's all-time record.  He adds three more before his night is through.

Long Island all of a sudden is the hottest team in the league, winning eight of their last ten, and nine of their last twelve.  They also remain within striking distance of the Patriots, just two games behind first place.

L.I. Ducks: Home Sweep Home

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks sweep series 3-0

I - LID 11; SOM 5

II - LID 2; SOM 1

III - LID 6; SOM 4

Long Island Ducks: Flock Closes Within Two Games of First Place Somerset Patriots.

Backed by home runs from David Washington, Cody Puckett, and Daniel Fields, the Long Island Ducks power past the Somerset Patriots in Wednesday's series finale at Bethpage Ballpark, thus completing a three game sweep of the Liberty Division leaders.

The Ducks inflict all their damage against Patriots starter Duane Bellow, who allows six earned runs on twelve hits, a walk, and strikes out three.

David Washington stakes starter Tyler Badamo and the Ducks to an early 1-0 lead in the second with his team leading 13th home run of the season.  After the Patriots tie the game in the top of the fifth, Cody Puckett homers with one on in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 Ducks lead.  An inning later, Daniel Fields increases their lead to 5-2 upon hitting his fifth home run of the season (Taylor Ard scores).

After trading runs in the seventh, Somerset threatens with two runs in the top of the ninth, but would score no more.  Francisco Rodriguez is called upon to record the final out, and converts for his 19th save of the season.

Making his sixth start for Long Island, Tyler Badamo (who this season also pitched for Sugar Land and New Britain) allows just one earned run on eight hits, no walks, and strikes out three over six innings pitched en route to his third victory against two losses.

With Wednesday's 6-4 victory, the Ducks improve to 13-8 in the second half, and close within two games of the division leading Somerset Patriots.