Ninth inning rally earns Ducks first waddle-off win of 2016
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 3, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 3-2 in waddle-off fashion on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the dramatic victory
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Anthony Vega and Darin Downs talk about the comeback win
Lancaster opened the scoring in the third inning on a RBI groundout from Jeff Kobernus off of Ducks starter Darin Downs. It stayed 1-0 until the top of the seventh when a solo home run over the left field wall from Josh Whitaker extended the Barnstormers advantage to two.
Long Island pushed across a run in the eighth when Anthony Vega scored from third on a wild pitch by Barnstormers starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx. In the ninth, three consecutive singles, including a RBI base hit by Sean Burroughs, tied the game at two. Four batters later, Vega connected for a two-out, two-strike RBI single up the middle to win the game.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Bibens-Dirkx (2-1) pitched seven and two-thirds innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six batters. Downs tossed six innings, yielding just one unearned run on one hit and four walks with seven strikeouts. Kevin Vance (1-1) picked up the win with a scoreless ninth, and Cory Burns (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
Fehlandt Lentini, Lew Ford and Mike Blanke led the Flock with two hits apiece.
The Ducks and Barnstormers continue their three-game set on Wednesday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It's Nassau County Volunteer Firefighter/EMS Appreciation Night, and the Ducks will recognize the efforts of several volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel during a special pre-game ceremony. It's also our first Winning Inning Wednesday of the season! During the game, the Ducks will designate a specific occurrence during each inning. If the event occurs during that inning, one lucky fan will win $10,000! Simply sign up at the Ducks Ticket Kiosk prior to first pitch to be eligible to win. Right-hander Bobby Blevins takes the mound for Long Island against Lancaster righty Bryan Evans.
Tickets to the game, and all Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. It’s the “Ducks Game of the Week,” and those unable to make game can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will be also available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 34 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 05/03/2016
Lancaster Barnstormers 2 AT Long Island Ducks 3
YTD YTD
Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG
Kobernus, J 2B 4 0 1 1 .296 Lentini, F RF 4 0 2 0 .304
Witherspoon, T CF 3 0 0 0 .300 Lyons, D SS 3 0 0 0 .179
Gindl, C DH 4 0 0 0 .367 Ford, L DH 4 1 2 0 .316
Bell, J 3B 4 0 0 0 .178 Freiman, N 1B 4 0 1 0 .250
McDade, M 1B 4 0 1 0 .250 Cleary Jr., D PR 0 1 0 0 .275
Whitaker, J LF 4 1 2 1 .406 Burroughs, S 3B 4 0 1 1 .273
Ahrens, K SS 2 1 1 0 .239 Puckett, C 2B 2 0 0 0 .211
Cutler, C C 3 0 0 0 .333 Tekotte, B CF 3 0 0 0 .205
Crouse, M RF 3 0 0 0 .297 Blanke, M C 4 0 2 0 .292
Vega, A LF 4 1 1 1 .200
31 2 5 2 32 3 9 2
Lancaster 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 2 5 1
L Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 - 3 9 1
2B--McDade, M 1B (2), Whitaker, J LF (5). 3B--Ahrens, K SS
(1). HR--Whitaker, J LF (2). RBI--Kobernus, J 2B (11), Whitaker, J
LF (6), TOTALS 2 (0), Burroughs, S 3B (5), Vega, A LF
(1), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Puckett, C 2B (2).
SH--Lyons, D SS (0), Puckett, C 2B (0). SB--Kobernus, J 2B
(5), Lentini, F RF (3). CS--Ahrens, K SS (1). E--Crouse, M RF
(1), Puckett, C 2B (2).
LOB--Lancaster 6, L Island 7. DP--J. Bell(3B) - J. Kobernus(2B), C.
Puckett(2B) - N. Freiman(1B).
YTD
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Lancaster
Bibens-Dirkx, A 7.2 5 1 1 0 6 0 2.04
Gracey, S 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Burns, C (L,0-1) 0.2 4 2 2 1 1 0 2.70
8.2 9 3 3 1 8 0
L Island
Downs, D 6.0 1 1 0 4 7 0 3.45
Struck, N 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 1 14.73
De La Rosa, E 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 9.00
Vance, K (W,1-1) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.40
9 5 2 1 4 10 1
WP--Bibens-Dirkx, A (2). HB--Bibens-Dirkx, A (3). SO--Witherspoon, T 3,
Gindl, C 2, Bell, J 2, McDade, M, Whitaker, J, Cutler, C, Lentini, F,
Lyons, D, Freiman, N, Puckett, C, Tekotte, B, Blanke, M, Vega, A 2.
BB--Witherspoon, T, Ahrens, K 2, Cutler, C, Tekotte, B. BF--Bibens-Dirkx, A
28 (69), Gracey, S (21), Burns, C 7 (30), Downs, D 22 (69), Struck, N 5
(21), De La Rosa, E 4 (19), Vance, K 4 (24). P-S--Bibens-Dirkx, A 107-74,
Gracey, S 1-1, Burns, C 19-15, Downs, D 88-52, Struck, N 18-14, De La Rosa,
E 24-15, Vance, K 10-4.
T--2:47. A--3587
Plate Umpire - Matt Criss, Field Umpire #1 - John Grasso, Field Umpire #2 - Kris Engstrand 
