L.I. Ducks: Flock Outburst Salvages Twin Bill Split With Lancaster

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

FROM

THE POND

As the first-half Liberty Division race begins winding down in earnest the Ducks are tasked with regaining a measure of separation from Somerset and High Point.  Just in time the schedule makers hand the Ducks a second division team as Lancaster enters this weekend series at the Pond with a sub par 19-32 record.

But alas even the best laid plans go awry.  Lancaster pulls out a last inning victory in game one of Friday's scheduled double-header.  Twice Long Island takes the lead, and twice the Barnstormers tie the game.  As such the teams enter the seventh and potentially last inning (abbreviated game) all knotted up at three.  Manager Wally Backman hands the ball to reliever Josh Lueke whom promptly issues a lead-off walk.  An out and a stolen base later and Lueke issues a second walk.  With two outs, Lueke then yields a hit to Lancaster second baseman Dan Gamache plating the go-ahead run.  In the bottom of the seventh the Barnstormers' Cody Eppley strikes out the side en route to his ninth save of the season.

After five innings of game two, the Ducks appear headed for a second straight loss.  They trail Lancaster 8-1 with but six outs left to spare.  In the bottom of the sixth however the game changes on a dime.  Long Island sends 16 batters to the plate.  Seven base hits, one home run, three walks, a hit batsman, and an E-6 later, and the Ducks post eleven runs in the inning and win by a stunning 12-8 final.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis is big man on campus, going 2 for 4, with a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored.

With the victory the Ducks also gain a half-game advantage over the Somerset Patriots whom were defeated on Friday by the York Revolution.

• UPDATE:  Starter Alec Asher becomes the latest (and the ninth) pitcher to get plucked from the Flock.  His contract was purchased by the Chinese professional league.

L.I. Ducks Open High Point Series With Victory Over Rockers

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Lead High Point; 1-0

I - LID 5; HPR 3

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

HIGH POINT ROCKERS

FROM

North Carolina

The Flock Tightening Grip on Liberty Division.

After taking two of three from the Patriots, a confident Flock migrate to North Carolina where they turn back the division's third place competitor in the opening game of a crucial four game weekend series against the High Point Rockers.

Remarkably, Long Island continues getting strong pitching from the proverbial next man up.  Having had seven starters pilfered by MLB organizations, recently acquired Travis Banwart climbed the hill making only his second start as a member of the Ducks.  After allowing just a run on four hits en route to a seven inning no-decision during his first appearance with Long Island, Banwart turned in another seven inning effort in which he blanked the Rockers on just three hits and two walks with three strikeouts to earn his first victory.  Making only his fourth appearance for the Ducks, Josh Lueke earned his fourth save of the season.

David Washington drove in his league leading 38th RBI of the season with his league topping 16th home run of the season.  Ezequiel Carrera was 3 for 4 and hit his first home run of the season.  L.J. Mazzilli went 2 for 4 with two RBI and is hitting .321 for the season.

With Friday's series opening victory the Ducks improve to a league best 30-16 record, and open a 4.5 game lead over the Rockers.  Somerset defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to stay within 2.5 games of the Ducks.  All four Liberty Division competitors are presently playing above the .500 mark.  The same can not be said of the Freedom Division where only the Sugar Land Skeeters are playing above par.

L.I. Ducks: Kirk Nieuwenhuis 8th Inning HR Turns Back Patriots

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION SHOWDOWN

Ducks Lead Series 1-0

I - LID 3; SOM 2

6/12 - SOM @ LID

6/13 - SOM @ LID

Flock Gain Some Elbow Room: Ducks open up 1.5 game lead over Somerset Patriots.

The Patriots lead the Ducks 2-1 after seven full innings of play.  Somerset starter Brett Oberholtzer limits the Ducks to just one run on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts through seven solid innings pitched.  Long Island starter Joe Iorio likewise allows one earned run on seven hits and two walks over five innings pitched.  Both starters exit to no decisions.  In relief of Iorio, Cody Mincey yields one run on two hits (a home run by right fielder Michael Fransoso in the sixth) with four strikeouts through two innings.

Manager Wally Backman then turns to reliever Enrique Burgos who pitches a scoreless eighth.  With two outs in the bottom of the frame and Ezrquiel Carrera representing the tying run at third, Kirk Nieuwenhuis connects on his eighth home run of the season giving the Ducks a sudden 3-2 lead.

Josh Lueke in relief of Burgos then retires the Patriots in order in the ninth to earn his second save in only his fifth appearance since joining the Ducks.

• Lueke, a 34-year old right-hander with 72 games of MLB experience, came to the Ducks after posting a 4.64 ERA with 20 strikeouts though 21.1 innings over 20 relief appearances this season for Puebla of the Mexican league.

The Ducks improve to a league best 28-15 mark, with 26 games remaining before the break.  They also snap Somerset's six game winning streak.