L.I. Ducks ~ Continue Home Cooking Against Somerset

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

L.I. Ducks

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Webbed Ones Continue to Dominate The Pond.

Game One ~Friday Final:
Somerset       7
Long Island  9

Pond Sweet Pond.  Back from Sugar Land, Texas, after splitting a six game series with the Skeeters, the Ducks returned to The Pond and continued their home winning streak that began on Opening Day.  After last night's opening series win over the Somerset Patriots, the Ducks are now winners of seven in a row at home.  Also winners of seven of their last ten, the Ducks will enter tonight's second game against the Patriots 1.5 games in first place ahead of their Liberty Division rivals.  And in spite of last night's loss, the Somerset Patriots are still tied for first in the Freedom Division along with the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The Ducks have been marching on without their former renaissance man; Lew Ford, who was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles.  Previous to Ford's departure, Ryan Garko's sizzling bat was purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays.  That's a bunch of offensive production the Ducks will have to somehow make up for.  Compounding the Ducks line-up issues, heavy hitting Brandon Sing last played on May 11th.  And in one another transaction, the rights to Javier Colina were traded to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for a player to be named later.

To bolster the roster, Long Island welcomed back Matt Esquivel, who started last night's game as the team's DH.  Last night, Ray Navarrete played first base in Brandon Sing's continued absence.  Jake McOwen was in left where Lew Ford often patrolled.

Last night, Ducks' starter, and ace, Mike Loree, struggled through a second consecutive rough start.  Only this game, he suffered a little more than usual.  He was accidentally hit in the head by his catcher, Josh Johnson, on an attempted throw down to second base in the third inning.  Mike stayed in the game, but was removed the following inning.  He lasted four innings, and surrendered three runs; two earned; on five hits.  He walked three and struck out three before giving way to reliever Jason Monti.

Ray Navarrete's RBI single put the Ducks up by one after the first.  Somerset tied the game in the top half of the third, only to give the run back in the bottom half of the inning when Jake McOwen doubled home Kraig Binick with the go ahead run.

Mike Loree encountered trouble in the fourth.  After two runs and three hits, his day was done with the Ducks behind 4-3 at the time.  In the sixth inning, Somerset pounded out three more runs against Jason Monti.  The Patriots scored on a two run triple, and plated another run on a dropped strike three by Josh Johnson, for a 7-3 lead.

After a good crowd stretch, the Ducks stormed back with four runs in the home half of the seventh.  Bryant Nelson had an RBI single.  Ray Navarrete's bases loaded base hit drove in two more, and Shawn Williams scored the fourth run on a wild pitch.

After Somerset scored one run in the top of the eighth, the Ducks took their turn again, and scored three more.  Dan Lyons had an RBI single.  Bryant Nelson doubled Lyons home.  And Jake McOwen followed with a single to plate Nelson.

Connor Graham, Jeremy Hill, and Jon Meloan combined to pitch the final three innings and preserve Ducks' victory number thirteen on the season in their twentieth game played.


SPECIAL NOTE:
Earlier this season, nine year Somerset Patriots veteran, Jeff Nettles, became the Atlantic League's All-Time Career Hits leader.  Atlantic League Story Link





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Waddling Off to Sugar Land, Texas

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  No Revolution For You!  Ducks Win Measure of Revenge Versus York in Rematch of 2011 Finals.

Ducks Sweep Thursday Double-Header, and the Series.

Any early season concerns the Ducks might have trouble replicating last season's offensive output, are steadily being put to rest.  For the third time against their last two opponents, the Ducks topped double-digit scoring, and in doing so, secured their sixth consecutive win by sweeping their first two opponents at home.

York was just the latest.  There would be no revolution out of them this time, only heavy losses.  After getting rained out on Wednesday, the teams played a twin bill in Bethpage Ballpark on Thursday to conclude the three game rematch of last season's league finals.  The Ducks defeated the back-to-back champs in back-to-back games to compete a three game sweep and gain a measure of revenge against the Revs.


Game One Final:
Revs     2
Ducks  4


In Game One of the twin bill, starting pitcher Bob Zimmermann gained his second win in three starts.  He limited the Revs to single runs in the fourth inning and the sixth before being relieved.  Over six innings, Bob allowed five hits, only one earned run, walked two, and struck out five York batters.  Jon Meloan pitched a scoreless seventh inning to finish the shortened double-header style seven inning game.


The Ducks jumped on York's starting pitcher, Chris Cody, early.  In the bottom of the first, Ryan Garko continued to sizzle with a home run, plating Brandon Sing for a 2-0 lead.  Long Island added another run in the second on Dan Lyon's RBI single.  They added their fourth and final run of the game in the fourth when Lew Ford scored on a passed ball.


Game Two Final:
Revs 9
Ducks 16


Both club's pitching had troubles taming each other In Game Two.  For the Ducks, Jason Monti was asked to make a spot start.  In three and a third innings, he allowed five earned runs on six hits.  He gave way to four more Long Island hurlers, who combined to pitch another win over the Revolution.  In his second appearance this season, Wynn Pelzer faced four batters to pick up the victory.


Through the first three innings, the Ducks jumped out to 2-0, 5-0, then a 9-3 lead over York.  Ryan Garko and Lew Ford both drove in runs in the first.  With the bases loaded, an E-3 opened the door for three more Duck runs in the bottom of the second.  In the third, the renaissance man, Lew Ford, jacked a lead off home run.  An RBI double by Wilberto Ortiz, an RBI single by Dan Lyons, and a sac-fly RBI by Kraig Binick gave Long Island a 9-3 lead.


The major fireworks came in the fifth inning.  After RBI singles by Kraig Binick and Bryant Nelson, Brandon Sing crushed his league leading fifth home run of the season bringing the Ducks to thirteen runs.  And they would score three more unearned runs in the inning on singles by Wilberto Ortiz and Dan Lyons before they were through.


That's six in a row for the 9-4 Ducks, who find themselves a mere half-game behind the Bridgeport Bluefish for the Liberty Division lead.

And now, it's time to - Go West Young Men!  There's Skeeters to be played in Texas.  Soon after quieting the Revolution, the Ducks hit the road and will arrive in Sugar Land, where they will play the Sugar Land Skeeters; the Atlantic League's newest expansion team.  The Skeets have been a big hit with their fans so far, but on the field, and specifically on the road, the Skeeters have had more troubles than an armadillo crossing Interstate-Ten.  Sugar Land is 1-9 in their last ten games, and hope playing in front of their big home crowds gets them moseying in the right direction again.

Should be a good time in Texas.

TONIGHT

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

Sugar Land Skeeters

From

CONSTELLATION FIELD

in Big Texas

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Off "Two" a Good Start

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Atlantic League

of Professional Baseball

Fifteenth Anniversary Season

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  March of the Ducks Is On.

So far, two games, two wins.  That's how Duck fans like it.  The march towards another division title is on.

Long Island helped the Somerset Patriots open their 15th season of Atlantic League Baseball by handing their hosts a pair of defeats.  Game Three of their Opening Day four game series is tonight with the series concluding Sunday.

Last night, the big bat of Brandon Sing finally said hello with a double off the center field wall.  The knock was his first hit as a Long Island Duck.  And his RBI count is now up to three. Ryan Garko was the only Duck with multiple hits in the game, and Lew Ford hit his first home run for the visitors.

Coach Baez tabbed Dan Meyer as starter number two.  Last night he threw five innings of four hit ball.  Dan allowed one earned run, walked three, and struck out four to earn his first win of the season.  Making his second appearance, John Meloan pitched a shaky ninth inning, but still posted his first save in a 6-4 final.

On Thursday, Long Island opened the season with a resounding 9-4 win over the Patriots as Ray Navarrete started his 2012 campaign with a boom.  Long Island's long time second baseman went 5 for 5, with a double, two RBI, and a ninth inning home run to put the Ducks' first win of the season safely out of Somerset's reach.

Mike Loree resumed his role as staff ace, and pitched 5.1 innings in the opener.  He struck out six batters and only walked one, but got touched for six hits and three earned runs.  Loree was removed in the sixth inning with the score tied at three apiece.  He'd get a no decision for his efforts.  Jeff Lyman entered the game and kept Somerset where they were.  He earned his first win in doing so.  Jeremy Hill was touched for a run in the eighth, while Jon Meloan finished the game in a non-save situation.

TONIGHT

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

SP - Joe Esposito

vs.

Somerset Patriots

From

Somewhere in New Jersey

ATLANTIC LEAGUE:   Welcome to Texas Gentlemen.

Fans in Sugar Land didn't have to wait too long for their first taste of victory over Atlantic League competition.  The organization's first ever victory came Friday night via an overwhelming effort against the York Revolution.  The Sugar Land Skeeters inaugurated their season and new ballpark with a split of two games played so far.  But the tremendous fan turn out has made their weekend an outstanding success already.  On both Opening Night and Friday as well, 7,500 fans packed brand new Constellation Field each time.

In Texas fashion, the Skeeters went about their first victory in a big way.  The League's newest team corralled the visiting Revolution and gave the defending Atlantic League champs a good ol' 10-1 branding.

With a 3-0 lead, starting pitcher; Ryan McKeller was relieved after four innings.  He surrendered no runs, one hit, one walk, and struck out one.  For trivia sake, he is credited with the Skeeters' first win.  Will Startup and the bullpen took over, covering the remaining five innings.

The long-time Somerset Patriots' stand-out and crowd favorite; Josh Pressley; is now a member of the Sugar Land Skeeters.  Friday night, he said hello to his new home crowd with a two run home run in the first inning.  Josh then singled in the fourth, and scored on Colt Morton's home run.  Things went down hill fast for York after that.

Congratulations to Gary Gaetti and the Sugar Land Skeeters on their first every victory.

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ The Pond Hurlers; 2012 Ducks Pitching

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks

2012 Positional Players - Preview

Long Island Ducks; Gearing Up For Another Run at Title

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Ducks' Ace Pitcher and 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, Returns for a Second Season in the Pond.



Last season, if there were questions regarding the Ducks' pitching, it centered around Mike Parisi and Mike Loree.  And the question was - How long would they last?  With the fine seasons both were having, it was only a matter of time before affiliated baseball came seeking their services.  And sure enough, Mike Parisi was the first to go.  Mike Loree followed.  Only, Mike Loree came back for the playoffs, and pitched Long Island into the championship round against York.


After Mike and Mike, the Ducks were desperately thin at starting pitching last season.  But Long Island possessed a rather remarkable bullpen that over came many deficiencies in the starting rotation.  In the end, Long Island's pitching held up.  It was the offense that disappeared against the York Revolution in the Finals.


That's all behind us now.  The 2012 season is here.



Last season's Atlantic League Pitcher of the Season; Mike Loree; returns to the Long Island Ducks for his second season.  He won the League's pitching triple crown last season with 14 wins, 131 strikeouts, and sported a league low 1.98 era.  Mike will start the season off against the Somerset Patriots this evening.


Gustavo Chacin will most likely serve as the number two starter behind Loree.  In 2005, he went 13-9 with the Toronto Blue Jays.  Over 58 major league starts, the 31 year old owns a 27-17 overall record.  Last year, he split time between AAA-Buffalo, and Oklahoma City of the Pacific Coast League.


Jason Monti returns to the club after pitching in 20 games out of the bullpen for the Ducks last year. He did not start a game last season, but in his two previous seasons; one with Somerset, and one spent in the Frontier League, he made 36 starts in 45 appearances.


Eric Niesen is no stranger to me.  Drafted by the New York Mets, he played his first season in Brooklyn with the Cyclones; A-NYPL.  Raised through the Mets' system as a starter, in 2011, he appeared in 51 games, all in relief.




Randy Keisler is a 36 year old lefty.  He played for Long Island in 2010, and is a veteran of 13 seasons mostly in AAA.  Last season he played in the L.A. Dodgers organization.  He made 19 starts and posted a 7-7 win/loss record.


Joe Esposito started 14 games for Reading of the Eastern League last season.  But the 33 year old is most likely headed for the Ducks' bullpen.  In 375 career minor league innings pitched, he has amassed 405 strikeouts.


Connor Graham spent the last two seasons playing for the Cleveland Indians' affiliate in AA-Akron.  He appeared in 43 games last season; 39 came in relief.  In 79 innings, he struck out 65 batters, and posted a 3.43 era.



Jeff Lyman started the 2011 season playing Rookie Ball, and eventually made his way to AA-Springfield.  The 25 year old made 35 appearances, all in relief.  In 49 innings pitched, he struck out 39 batters, but also walked 32 batters as well.


Jon Meloan comes to the Ducks with loads of AAA experience.  This may be Long Island's closer this season.  Over 372 innings pitched in his 6 year minor league career, he has amassed 433 strikeouts, while issuing 180 base on balls.


Dan Meyer will be another potential high strikeout pitcher.  But he walks far too many batters.  He has 103 games, and 113 innings pitched worth of MLB experience.


Travis Minix appeared in 11 games for the Somerset Patriots last season.  He also pitched for Somerset's 2008 and 2009 championship teams.  He has 6 seasons of AAA experience.


Retuning from last season to bolster the bullpen once again, will be the dependable duo of Jeremy Hill and Bob Zimmerman.  Hill, the ten year baseball veteran posted an 8-2 record with a 2.91 era for the Ducks out of the pen last season.





Mike.BTB