(Central Islip, N.Y., July 4, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Charleston Dirty Birds 5-4 on Thursday night in the rubber game of a three-game series before a past-capacity crowd of 7,059 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
Tillman Pugh’s sacrifice fly to center field in the third inning off Ducks starter Stephen Woods Jr. gave Charleston a 1-0 lead. Frank Schwindel answered in the bottom of the third with an opposite-field three-run home run to right off Dirty Birds starter Mack Lemieux. Scott Kelly’s RBI single through the left side in the fourth bumped the Ducks lead up to 4-1.
Keon Barnum drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh, closing the gap to 4-2, but the Ducks got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Chance Sisco scored on a double play. Phillip Ervin scored on an error in the eighth inning to make it two-run game at 5-3. Barnum lifted a solo homer to right in the ninth, trimming the Ducks lead to one, but the visitors were unable to pull even.
Woods Jr. (4-3) earned the win, tossing six innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out eight. Lemieux (1-4) lasted four and two-thirds innings, conceding four runs on seven hits and three walks with one strikeout. Ramon Santos picked up his third save of the year, striking out four while giving up a run on a hit.
Sisco led the Ducks offense with three hits and a run, while Bradley Jr. added two hits, an RBI and a run and Schwindel drove in three runs.
The Ducks hit the road on Friday night to open a three-game series against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Meritus Park. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Left-hander Jimmy Robbins (3-2, 5.33) gets the start for the Ducks against Flying Boxcars righty Parker Markel (1-2, 4.44).
Long Island returns home on Tuesday, July 9, to begin a three-game set with the York Revolution. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). As fans exit the ballpark following the game, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for a special offer from Francesco’s Trattoria East Islip. It’s also a Triple Play Tuesday, and if the Ducks turn a triple play during the game, one lucky fan will be a grand prize winner of $25,000. Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
The Ducks are in their 24th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, led all MLB Partner Leagues in attendance in 2023, and have sold out a record 710 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 25-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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