Long Island Ducks Win Third Straight Against Staten Island Ferry Hawks

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

BATTLE of NEW YORK

Staten Island Ferry Hawks

vs.

Long Island Ducks

Ducks Complete Three-Game Sweep of Ferry Hawks

The Ducks jumped out to an early lead.  Designated hitter Johnni Turbo led off the home first with a single and stole second base.  A single by right fielder Dustin Woodcock put runners at the corners.  Left fielder L.J. Mazzilli reached safely on an E-5, and Turbo scored on the play.

Long Island added a run in the third.  L.J. Mazzilli led off with a hit through the middle, and Deibinson Romero singled to left field putting runners at the corners.  Romero then scored on a Sam Travis 

sacrifice-fly to left.  The Ducks' rally ended abruptly when Alejandro De Aza bounced into a 4-6-3 double-play.

In the fourth, Long Island wielded four hits, two for extra bases, and drew two walks as part of a four-run inning and a 6-0 lead.  Staten Island right-hander and losing pitcher Alex Vargas got knocked out of the box, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks in 3.2 innings pitched.  The Ferry Hawk bullpen then threw 4.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts.

Ferry Hawk left fielder Ben Ruta doubled and scored in the sixth and right fielder Rymer Liriano 

connected on a two-run home run in the ninth.

Right-hander Brett Kennedy yielded one run on five hits and no walks with seven strikeouts for the win.  Closer Sandy Baez was called upon to secure the final out in relief of James Varela for his third save.

The Long Island Ducks complete their first-ever series sweep against the Staten Island Ferry Hawks with the victory.  BOXSCORE

 

Long Island Ducks Outlast Staten Island Ferry Hawks in Wild Contest at The Pond

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

BATTLE of NEW YORK

Staten Island Ferry Hawks

vs.

Long Island Ducks

Flock Stages Stunning Comeback at The Pond

The Ferry Hawks appeared well on their way toward tying the series out on Long Island.  They broke out with three runs in the first inning against Ducks starter Stephen Tarpley, who would fail to pitch out of the third.  After allowing three runs on three hits and one walk in just 2.1 innings pitched, he was relieved.  

Right-hander Hunter Claudelle likewise allowed three runs on three hits and four walks in relief of Tarpley, and the Ferry Hawks led 6-0 through three and a half innings of play. 

But Staten Island would soon regret leaving the bases loaded in the top of the fourth.  

Long Island stunningly rallied for ten runs in the bottom half of the frame, highlighted by Johnni Turbo's three-run home run giving Long Island a 7-6 lead and another three-run home run off the bat of Sam Travis, making it a 10-6 game.

Staten Island recovered a single run in the fifth and added two more in the seventh but ultimately finished a run short.

Second-year Duck Dylan Peiffer earned the win with 1.1 innings pitched, and Tyler Webb pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.  

Ferry Hawk starter and Bronx native Anthony Rodriguez allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks in 3.0 innings pitched but escaped with a no-decision.  Right-hander Eddy Reynoso 

yielded both Long Island home runs and got tagged with the loss.  

Staten Island right fielder Rymer Liriano went 2 for 4 with a double and four runs batted in.  Second baseman Alfredo Reyes was 3 for 6 with a triple, one run batted in, and twice scored.  BOXSCORE

Long Island Ducks Bow To Honey Hunters In First Ever Visit to Gastonia

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

GAME ONE

Gastonia Honey Hunters   13

Long Island Ducks             11

FINAL/BOX

Home Team Holds Their Ground Against Long Island Invaders

After losing two of three on their home turf, the Flock makes their first-ever venture to Gastonia, North Carolina, where this weekend they open a three-game series against the expansion Honey Hunters.

Not a game for the faint of heart, Long Island starter Jhoendri Herrera allows seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks in just 2.2 innings pitched.  Gastonia starter Jeff Gause fares no better, surrendering seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk in only 4.1 innings pitched.  He yields home runs to Ryan Jackson, first baseman Clint Freeman, and Johnni Turbo.  

With two runs in the top of the fourth, Long Island ties the game at seven.  However, facing Corey Howard in relief of Herrera, the Honey Hunters pull away with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.  

Before being dispatched to the showers, Jeff Gause surrenders his eighth run in the fifth.  Facing Carl Brice in relief of Gause, Ryan Jackson's sac-fly in the sixth brings the Ducks within one.  That is until Gastonia takes an 11-9 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

But you knew it wouldn't stop there.  After all, through the first six innings, Long Island scored in every inning but the second, and Gastonia scored in every inning but the fifth.  Be that as it may, Juan De La Cruz singles home Clint Freeman, and Steve Lombardozzi drives home another with a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the game at eleven.

However, Long Island's bullpen does not hold its ground.  Hector Cervenka surrenders the go-ahead run in the seventh, and Anderson DeLeon gives up an insurance run in the ninth en route to Gastonia's 13-11 win.  Cervenka takes the loss.

Clint Freeman leads Long Island with four hits, and Ryan Jackson leads Long Island with four runs batted in.

The first place Ducks still own a one-game lead over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

Long Island Ducks Lose Series To York Revolution

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

York defeats Long Island; 2-1

I - LID 6; YRK 0

II - YRK 3; LID 1

III - YRK 4; LID 2

Long Island Loses Rubber Game At York

GAME ONE BOX 6/11/2021 - That's NEW York to you ... Making his third start, Long Islander Joe Iorio allows no runs on just four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings pitched for the win.  Relievers Chris Reed hailing from across the pond, native Brooklynite Anderson DeLeon, fellow Long Islander, and St. John's alum Anthony Rosati each toss an inning apiece to preserve the shutout.  Center fielder Charlie Tilson and third baseman Sal Giardina join together for four hits and four runs batted in.  Steve Lombardozzi and Johnni Turbo drive in a run apiece.

GAME TWO BOX 6/12/2021 - Long Island opens the scoring in the first.  Steve Lombardozzi scores on L.J. Mazzilli's sacrice fly to right field.  But the Ducks would score no more.  York starter  Austin Nicely yields just three hits and four walks with three strikeouts through 6.2 innings for the win.  The Revolution tie in the fifth then goes ahead in Melky Mesa's two-run home run in the sixth.  Making his third start, Brendan Feldmann faces 28 batters and throws 103 pitches, with 60 going for strikes.  He allows seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in a losing effort.  Sal Giardina accounts for two of Long Island's five hits.

GAME THREE BOX 6/13/2021 - York wastes no time against Long Island starter Chris Reed.  An opening error by third baseman Jesse Berardi and a base on balls set the stage for a couple of extra-base hits and a 3-0 lead.  Revolution's starter Austin Steinfort keeps Long Island off the board through the fifth.  Ducks' center fielder Charlie Tilson singled home two runs with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth.  But York shortstop Yan Sanchez drives home a run in the seventh, giving the Revs a 4-2 lead and the final margin of victory.  Chris Reed takes the loss.  The bullpen surrenders only one run in six innings to no avail.  York takes the series, two games to one.

• The contract of Akeel Morris was purchased by the San Francisco Giants.
• ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Long Island Ducks Take Rubber Game From High Point Rockers

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

The comeback Quacks win a thriller at the Pond and take the series against High Point, two games to one.

On Tuesday, the Ducks were limited to just two runs on four hits in a series-opening loss against the Rockers.  Starter Mike Bolsinger took the loss.  Right fielder Johnni Turbo was 2 for 3 with a double and triple.  

• FINAL: Long Island 2; HIGH POINT 7

Long Island wins Wednesday in a rout, twelve runs on twelve hits, highlighted by a seven-run fifth.  The Ducks get home runs from Ryan Jackson and Jesse Berardi.  LJ Mazzilli goes 2 for 5 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.  Starter Akeel Morris yields no runs on just three hits and two walks with six strikeouts through seven innings for the win.

• FINAL: Long Island 12; HIGH POINT 2

High Point opens the scoring with a run in the first and two more in the second in Thursday's affair.  But Long Island responds with two runs in the bottom half of the second.  Right fielder Rey Fuentes and  Hector Sanchez each drive in a run apiece.  The Rockers rally for a fourth run in the visitor's sixth for a three-run edge.  With two runners in scoring position in the sixth, Ryan Jackson's sacrifice fly scores Mazzilli; first baseman Brock Stassi scores on a fielder's choice tying the game at four.  The Rockers retake the lead with two runs in the eighth.  Then with the bases loaded in the home ninth. Brock Stassi's single drives home two runs for the tie.  With one out and Mazzillii at third and Stassi at first, and Ryan Jackson at the bat, Long Island executes a successful double-steal.  Stassi takes second while Mazzilli slides home with the winning run.

• FINAL: Long Island 7; HIGH POINT 6

L.I. Ducks: The Monday Swim 6/7/2021

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island def. Southern Maryland; 2-1

I - SMD 7; LID 0

II - LID 19; SMD 3

III - LID 5; SMD 1

Sunday, 6/6/2021 - On the heels of Saturday's 19 run rampage, the Long Island Ducks are limited to just four scattered hits through the first six innings of Sunday's affair.  Southern Maryland takes a 1-0 lead in the fourth on catcher Jake Marshall's run-scoring base hit.  But Long Island hurlers would yield no more.  Facing Blue Crabs reliever Patrick Baker in the seventh, Johnni Turbo is hit by a pitch, and two walks loaded the bases.  Catcher Hector Sanchez then clears the bases with a double to left field.  With two outs in the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Ben Farias drives home two more runs giving the Ducks a 5-1 victory and two games to one series win.  Starter Clint Freeman surrenders one run on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts through five innings.  He exits on the losing side but is taken off the hook for the no-decision.  Jose Cuas earns the win in relief of Freeman, with three scoreless innings pitched and five strikeouts.  Michael Tonkin closes out the victory with a scoreless ninth.  Long Island gets back above .500 with a 5-4 record and trails the first-place Lancaster Barnstormers by just one-half game in the North standings.

⚾

With the departure of the Somerset Patriots, Sugar Land Skeeters, and New Britain Bees, so went the respective Liberty and Freedom division format.  Somerset was the last remaining charter member of the Atlantic League.  Their departure now makes the Long Island Ducks the senior-most member club.  The defending 2019 champions now share the North Division with the Lancaster Barnstormers, York Revolution, and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  In the South Division, the High Point Rockers were established in 2019, while the Lexington Legends, West Virginia Power, and Gastonia Honey Hunters are all first-year members. 

The Ducks open a short three-game homestand against the High Point Rockers on Tuesday before heading back out on the road to York, Pennsylvania.