L.I. Ducks: 2018 Liberty Division Champions

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Win Liberty Division Series, 3-2

I - LID 9; SOM 2

II - LID 11; SOM 1

III - SOM 8; LID 4

VI - SOM 5; LID 3

V - LID 3; SOM 2*

*10 innings

Long Island Ducks Outlast Somerset Patriots; Win Liberty Division Crown; Advance to Atlantic League Championship Series.

For the moment, this concludes an otherwise epic season-long battle against the Patriots.  The teams split their regular season series down the middle, with each gaining nine victories apiece.  Somerset clinches the first-half division title while posting a 6-3 record over Long Island.  But the Ducks turn the tables in the second-half, likewise taking six of nine from their rival and clinching the division by two games over Somerset.

The Liberty Division championship series opens at Bethpage Ballpark, where the Ducks pummel visiting Somerset in games one and two by a combined 20-3 margin.  As the series shifts to TD Bank Ballpark, the Patriots strike back with victories in games three and four.  In the fifth and decisive game at Somerset, the teams remain deadlocked at two through nine innings of play.

Naturally ...

With two outs in the top of the tenth, Ducks third baseman Taylor Ard singles to center.  David Washington follows with a single to right, advancing Ard to third.  Catcher Ramon Cabrera then lofts a fly to right/center that drops in, scoring Ard from third with the go-ahead run.  Closer Francisco Rodriguez had previously been called upon by Coach Baez to pitch the ninth.  For the bottom of the tenth, Coach calls upon veteran starter Matt Larkins.  After fanning lead-off batter Craig Massey, Larkins greets Somerset shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez with an inadvertent pitch to the ribs.  Undeterred, Larkins retires Endy Chavez on a pop-out to short, then induces first baseman Jayce Boyd into a game ending fielder's choice.

Entering the series, I noted in my preview Long Island's offensive production would not necessarily be the problem.  And it wasn't.  The Ducks wound up outhitting the Patriots 53-41, and outscoring them by a 30-18 margin. 

However, I insisted the Ducks would need to somehow out-pitch Somerset, a team which ranked first/second in most major pitching categories alongside Sugar Land.  The Ducks, who during the regular season ranked fifth/six in most pitching categories, did just that.  Through five games plus one inning, Somerset starters allowed 18 earned runs through 26.2 innings pitched for a 6.18 ERA.  Their bullpen surrendered another nine earned runs in 17.1 innings for an ineffective 4.73 ERA.  Meanwhile Ducks starters allowed just 13 earned runs through 29.1 innings pitched for a 4.02 ERA.  The bullpen was stellar, allowing just three earned runs in 14.2 innings for a 1.90 ERA. 

Closer Francisco Rodriguez earns the victory in Long Island's clinching game, and veteran starter Matt Larkins earns the save.

Well done, Duck!

ATLANTIC LEAGUE 

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Long Island Ducks

vs

Sugar Land Skeeters

FROM

The Lone Star State

That makes three straight Liberty Division titles for Long Island, thus marking their third straight trip to the Atlantic League Championship Series.  The Ducks have previously appeared in six league championships in their history and have won three league titles, but none since their back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.  In each of the last two years, the Ducks were swept first by the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2016, then again last season by the York Revolution.  The Skeeters (1-1) are making their third ever trip to the championship series.

May the wind be at your backs  ...

Next stop is Sugar Land, Texas, where the Skeeters await the Flock's arrival.

L.I. Ducks: K-Rod Closes Out Flock's Fifth Straight Win

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

First Place Flock Tie Sugar Land 

With Most Second Half Wins

Long Island Ducks: Surging Flock Chewing Through Dog Days of Summer.

Long Island's victory over the Road Warriors on Saturday coupled with Somerset's loss against the Barnstormers now gives the Ducks a 4.5 game lead over the Patriots.

Tylor Ard and David Washington provide all the offense Long Island would need against the Warriors, staking pitcher Matt Larkins to a 2-0 lead in the first.  Washington's 21st home run (2nd in the league) in the third then gives the Ducks a 4-0 lead.

Matt Larkins surrenders two runs on five hits and three walks, with five strikeouts, en route to his seventh victory (7-4) of the season, with a 4.16 ERA.

Closer Francisco Rodriguez pitches a scoreless ninth to earn his 25th save of the season, tying him for second in the league.

The Flock on Sunday will play the first of their final twenty games of the regular season.  However, a gauntlet at the very end of the road awaits them.  The Flock must migrate to Sugar Land where they'll engage the formidable Skeeters in a five game series very capable of swaying any potential success, or Long Island failure.  If Somerset's extended trip earlier this month (Aug. 10-16) to Sugar Land is any indication, things may not go so well.  The Patriots dropped five of seven games to the Freedom Division leading, and first half champs.

Somerset and Long Island do not face each other for the rest of the regular season, effectively turning the Liberty Division race into a respective competition against the pack.  The Flock is trending very well of late.  They're winners of five in a row, they're 16-7 in August to date, and their 28 victories tie them for the second half lead with the Skeeters.  The Patriots, meanwhile, have lagged behind this month with an 11-10 record.

L.I. Ducks: Look Who's Number One

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Free Baseball + Long Ball = First Place

Long Island Ducks: Complete Second Straight Sweep of Rival Somerset Patriots; Take Over Liberty Division Lead.

Make that six straight wins for the Long Island Ducks, and a three game sweep over the Somerset Patriots.  In fact, the Flock complete their second straight sweep of the Patriots within the last ten days.  Even better, Long Island moves into sole possession of first place, one game ahead of always problematic Somerset.

The Ducks take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth of Wednesday's series finale at Somerset, but a passed ball charged to catcher Dioner Navarro allows the tying run to score.  And into extra innings they go.

As they've done all series, the Flock propel themselves to another victory via the long ball.  With two outs in the top of the eleventh, right fielder Anthony Vega hits only his second home run of the season off Somerset's Dustin Antolin to put Long Island ahead.  Ducks reliever Ashur Tolliver pitches himself into a jam in the bottom of the frame, but fans the final two batters of the game to secure Long Island's 4-3 victory. 

Tolliver is credited with his very first save of the season.  Dennis O'Grady gets credit for his fifth victory in relief this season for pitching a scoreless tenth inning.  In a no-decision effort, starter Matt Larkins surrenders just one earned run on five hits and two walks through five innings pitched.

Taylor Ard raises his average to .308 with a 4 for 5 day the plate with an RBI.  Despite going just 1 for 5 this day, Jordany Valdespin is second in the circuit and leads the Ducks with a .350 average.  With two more RBI, Lew Ford ranks fourth in the league with 66 RBI.

Long Island is second in the league behind Sugar Land with 83 home runs, while Somerset ranks last with just 44 home runs.  Otherwise the Ducks are number one in hits, and total bases, and rank second behind Sugar Land in runs, team batting, slugging, and OPS.

What rival Somerset lacks in hitting, they make up for on the mound.  They allow less earned runs and less hits than Long Island.  They lead the league in WHiP, strikeouts, and fewest walks allowed, and rank second in ERA and average against.

The Long Island Ducks and Somerset Patriots do not face each other for the rest of the regular season.  They both will make their own way towards capturing the division crown from here on out.
If they are to meet again for a fourth straight Liberty Division playoff, the Ducks have no choice but to win the second half division title.  The Patriots already did their part by winning the first half title. 

These teams faced off nine times in May with the Patriots winning six.  Mid July brings more of the same with Somerset sweeping a three game set for a 9-3 season series advantage.  But as July turns to August, Long Island reciprocates with a three game sweep of their own, then follow up with this latest conquest over the Patriots.  The regular season series ends locked at nine games apiece.

Did you expect anything less?

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: Jake Fisher Pitches Gem Against Somerset Patriots

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

GAME TWO

Patriots  1

Ducks    2

FINAL

Long Island Ducks: Flock Shaves Somerset Lead Down To Three Games.

Jake Fisher comes up huge, outlasting Somerset's Vince Molesky in a pitcher's duel at Bethpage Ballpark.

Game One

The Patriots strike first.  Right fielder Justin Pacchioli doubles home center fielder Mike Fransoso in the top of the fourth.  The game remains that way through the sixth, after which starter Vince Molesky is relieved by Logan Kensing.  Taylor Ard leads off the bottom of the seventh with a double, then advances to third on a put-out at first.  Ramon Cabrera's sac fly to right scores Ard from third, and ties the game.  Then with two outs in the eighth, Emilio Bonifacio singles and scores on Travis Snider's double to left.

Jake evens his record at 5-5, and lowers his ERA back below four to a 3.94 mark.  He goes eight innings, allowing Somerset one earned run on just four hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts.  He  faces thirty batters, and throws 110 pitches with 72 (65%) going for strikes.

Francisco Rodriguez pitches a scoreless ninth inning, notching his 18th save of the season.

The victory shaves the Patriots Liberty Division lead down to three games.  Long Island will attempt a series sweep on Wednesday.

L.I. Ducks: Flock Overpower Somerset Patriots in Series Opener

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

First Victory Over Somerset Since May

GAME ONE

Patriots   5

Ducks    11

FINAL

Long Island Ducks: John Brownell Ties Atlantic League All-Time Strikeout Record.

A first inning home run by Patriot shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez off John Brownell had many in the crowd at Bethpage Ballpark pondering the potential historic night ahead.  But Lew Ford put them at ease in the bottom half of the frame by singling with the bases loaded and driving in two.  Three batters later, Travis Snider scores from third on a wild pitch giving the Ducks an early 3-1 lead.

Not for long, though ...

Right fielder Justin Pacchioli's double in the top half of the second drives home Somerset's second run of the game.

Then Jordany Valdespin strikes back.  His two-run home run in the bottom of the frame gives John Brownell and the Ducks some much needed breathing room.  The Ducks score an important sixth run in the fifth when Patriots starter David Kubiak issues Ramon Cabrera a bases-loaded walk.

In the top of the sixth, two runs on four straight hits knock John Brownell out of the box.  Somerset again loads the bases against reliever Dennis O'Grady, and score on a 4-3 put out (charged to Brownell), bringing the Patriots within one.

A four run outburst featuring a pair of doubles from Taylor Ard and David Washington in the sixth give the Ducks a commanding 10-5 lead.  Later in the eighth, Ard hits his 12th home run of the season, tying him with David Washington for the team lead.  Ard goes 2 for 4 with three RBI, and lifts his average above the .300 mark.

The bullpen chips in with four innings in relief of starter John Brownell.  They allow no runs, just two hits, one walk, and strikeout six.

• John Brownell leaves on the winning side of a (then) 6-5 game after facing four batters in the sixth.  He improves to 7-8 on the season.  His line against Somerset reads five earned runs on eight hits and a walk, with two strikeouts in five innings pitched.  He faces 23 batters, and throws 90 pitches with 66 (61%) going for strikes.  In the top of the fourth John Brownell strikes out his second batter of the game.  It marks the 737th strikeout of his Atlantic League career, tying him for the all-time lead in Atlantic League history.  His next strikeout will set a new league record.  Brownell's victory over Somerset also marks the 63rd of his Atlantic League career ranking him third all-time.

Monday's series opening victory improves Long Island's record to just 4-9 against the Patriots this season, and brings them within four games of the Liberty Division lead.