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.

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.

Long Island Ducks Unleash Offensive Maelstrom at Southern Maryland

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks vs. Blue Crabs; 1-1

I - SMD 7; LID 0

II - LID 19; SMD 3

SUNDAY

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

The Ducks accomplished several things Saturday night.  They evened their series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at one, achieved par with a 4-4 record, and essentially ruined anyone's scorecard who might have been keeping a formerly neat account of the game.

Long Island erupts for 19 runs on 17 hits, eight of which go for extra bases and tally no less than two runs against any of six different Maryland pitchers.  Shortstop Ryan Jackson is 3 for 6, with a double, home run, three runs batted in, and three runs scored.  Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi goes 4 for 4 with two doubles, four runs batted in, three runs scored, and Brock Stassi also drives home four.  Right fielder Ronni Turbo has two hits, homers in the ninth, and drives in three runs.  

Starter Joe Iorio wins his first game upon yielding two runs, one earned, eight hits and no walks with three strikeouts through six innings pitched.  In relief of Iorio, Justin Kelly surrenders a run in the seventh.  But Johnny Hellweg and Michael Tonkin secure the victory with a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.

This victory comes on the heels of Long Island getting whitewashed 7-0 by the Blue Crabs on Friday.  The rubber game is scheduled for Sunday.

Long Island Ducks Forge First Place Tie With High Point Rockers

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION SHOWDOWN

Ducks @ Rockers tied 1-1

I - HPR 6; LID 1

II - LID 4; HPR 2

GAME THREE

Long Island Ducks (18-16)

vs.

High Point Rockers (19-17)

FROM

BB&T Point Ballpark

Were it not for High Point yielding an unearned run in game one, the Ducks get shut out.  Even then recently acquired Ducks starting pitcher Brian Matusz fails to put fourth a quality start, surrendering three earned runs on three hits (including a home run) and five walks with three strikeouts through four innings pitched.  Third baseman Deibenson Romero accounts for three of Long Island's six game hits during Friday's 6-1 loss to the Rockers.

On Saturday Joe Iorio toes the rubber and is opposed by High Point starter Dominic DeMasi.  Staked to a 2-0 lead, the Rockers hurler keeps Long Island off the board through five.  But the Ducks break through with a pair in the sixth on Clint Freeman's double, D'Arby Myers hit, and an RBI each from L.J. Mazzilli and Lew Ford.  Dominic DeMasi exits a tie game after yielding two runs on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts through eight full innings pitched.  With two on and one out in the top of the ninth, a throwing error by High Point first basemen clears the way for two more Long Island runs and eventual 4-2 final margin of victory.  Paul Clemens pitching in relief of DeMasi is charged with the loss.  Long Island's bullpen trio of Cody Mincey, Pedro Beato, and Michael Tonkin, join together on 3.2 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with one walk and two strikeouts.  Beato wins his third game, and Tonkin earns his seventh save.

With the victory Long Island both evens their weekend series and forges a first place tie with their hosts, the High Point Rockers.  The Ducks also snap a personal four game losing streak against the Rockers.  In fact, it is only their fifth victory over High Point this season in fifteen meetings to date.  Yet, the winner of Sunday's rubber game claims sole possession of first place, even if only for a day.  These team meet a final time for the last three scheduled games of the regular season at Bethpage Ballpark. 

Need I say more ...

Long Island Ducks: Monday Swim 8/12/2019

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

A Second Half Slog

The first half Liberty Division champs enter their day off with a 14-15 second-half record through 29 games with 41 games remaining to play.  In the meantime the Ducks are presently caught circling in a holding pattern of inconsistency since the onset of August thus making them 5-6 for the month.  But they might be looking to keep that trend going for at least one more game considering Sunday's loss against Lancaster as they open a three game series against the York Revolution Tuesday evening at Bethpage Ballpark.  For their part York has planted their flag atop the Freedom Division with a 20-10 second half record, and a 1.5 game lead over Sugar Land.

After facing York the Ducks travel to North Carolina where there awaits a three game showdown against the second-half leading High Point Rockers whom in the first half demonstrate just how competitive down the stretch they will ultimately be.  Meanwhile Somerset continues struggling with an 11-19 record, six games out of first place.

Where are the Ducks without starters Joe Iorio and Darin Downs?  Iorio is 5-2 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.14 WHiP through 94 innings pitched over 24 appearances and 14 much needed starts.  Downs meanwhile is 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.11 WHiP with 98 strikeouts through 15 starts and 79.1 innings pitched.  Recent arrival Brian Matusz has so far posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHiP through his first two starts and ten innings pitched for Long Island.  Jake Fisher on the other hand is struggling along with a 4-6 record and 4.99 ERA and 1.45 WHiP through 13 starts and 70.1 innings pitched.  Long Island's 4.01 team ERA ranks fifth in the Atlantic League.  Their 1.32 team WHiP is third best.  The High Point Rockers lead the circuit in both team ERA and WHiP.

In the absence of Enrique Burgos, Josh Lueke, and George Kontos, reliever Michael Tonkin owns an 0.36 ERA with six saves through 24.2 innings.

On the other side of the ball the Ducks rate bottom third in many of the league's offensive categories.  David Washington still leads the team with 19 home runs and 49 RBI.  L.J. Mazzilli also remains their top hitter with a .283 average.

• Transactions:  Ducks sign free agent right-hand pitcher Ismael Cabrera.  He fills the void left behind by the retirement of Kevin McAvoy.  It comes a week after the free agent signings of right-hander Brandon Beachy and southpaw Brandon Sherman.

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.

L.I. Ducks Overcome Perfection in 10th Against Somerset Patriots

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

We Interrupt this Perfect Game to Bring You This

FRIDAY

Ducks    1

Patriots  0

10 innings

Somerset Patriots starter Rick Teasley faces 27 Long Island batters and retires them all in order.  No runs, no hits, no walks, no errors; the man pitches a perfect game through nine full innings with seven strikeouts.  He throws 110 pitches with 75 going for strikes.  Problem is neither the Patriots nor the Ducks manage any runs within the game's first nine frames.  The scoreless deadlock necessitates extra innings which unfortunately tags Rick Teasley with a hard luck no decision.

Vladimir Frias is the obligatory runner at second base to begin the tenth.  Ezequiel Carrera successfully bunts Frias to second.  Center fielder D'Arby Myers then singles off Somerset's Tyler Cloyd plating Frias from third.  Ducks relievers Cody Mincey and Michael Tonkin close out the Patriots in the bottom half of the frame walking one and striking out three.  Mincey earns the victory for pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts, and Tonkin earns his third save of the season.

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.