Long Island and Sugar Land meet in Championship Series rematch
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 30, 2019) – For the second consecutive season and third time in four seasons, the Long Island Ducks and Sugar Land Skeeters will meet in the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Ducks earned their fourth consecutive Liberty Division Championship, a league record, and eighth division title in team history by sweeping the High Point Rockers 3-0 in the first round of the postseason. The Skeeters claimed a second consecutive Freedom Division Championship, third in four years and fourth all-time by defeating the York Revolution 3-1 in the divisional playoffs. Long Island is seeking its fourth Atlantic League Championship, while Sugar Land vies for its third.
ALCS SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
| Game One | Tues., October 1 | Skeeters at Ducks | 6:35 p.m. | Bethpage Ballpark |
| Game Two | Wed., October 2 | Skeeters at Ducks | 6:35 p.m. | Bethpage Ballpark |
| Game Three | Fri., October 4 | Ducks at Skeeters | 7:35 p.m. | Constellation Field |
| Game Four* | Sat., October 5 | Ducks at Skeeters | 6:05 p.m. | Constellation Field |
| Game Five* | Sun., October 6 | Ducks at Skeeters | 7:35 p.m. | Constellation Field |
| * – If Necessary |
HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
The Ducks and Skeeters have faced one another twice previously in the Atlantic League playoffs. In 2016, Sugar Land swept Long Island three games to none to capture its first-ever Atlantic League Championship, taking Games One and Two in Texas and Game Three on Long Island. The two sides faced again in 2018, with the Skeeters earning a 3-2 series win for their second league title. Sugar Land again won Games One and Two in Texas, Long Island responded with back-to-back wins in Games Three and Four, and the Skeeters earned the decisive Game Five victory at Bethpage Ballpark.
During regular season play, the Ducks hold an 82-74 lead in the all-time series against the Skeeters. Long Island has the advantage when playing at Bethpage Ballpark, posting a 49-29 record, but Sugar Land has the edge at Constellation Field with a 45-33 mark against the Ducks. The Ducks also controlled the 2019 season series, winning 13 of the 19 games between the two teams. Long Island posted an 8-2 record against Sugar Land at home and a 5-4 mark on the road. The Ducks went 7-3 against the Skeeters in the first half and 6-3 in the second half.
ROSTERS
Below are the active Championship Series rosters for the Long Island Ducks and Sugar Land Skeeters (players listed alphabetically by position):
| LONG ISLAND DUCKS | SUGAR LAND SKEETERS | |
| PITCHERS | PITCHERS | |
| Brandon Beachy (RHP) | Dallas Beeler (RHP) | |
| Ismael Cabrera (RHP) | Chase De Jong (RHP) | |
| Felix Carvallo (LHP) | Brett Eibner (RHP) | |
| Anderson DeLeon (RHP) | Daniel Gibson (LHP) | |
| Darin Downs (LHP) | Ricardo Gomez (RHP) | |
| Brendan Feldmann (RHP) | Mike Hauschild (RHP) | |
| Joe Iorio (RHP) | Josh Martin (RHP) | |
| Brian Matusz (LHP) | Felipe Paulino (RHP) | |
| Vin Mazzaro (RHP) | Carlos Pimentel (RHP) | |
| Cody Mincey (RHP) | Matt Purke (LHP) | |
| Rob Rogers (RHP) | Dan Runzler (LHP) | |
| Seth Simmons (RHP) | Daniel Schlereth (LHP) | |
| Myles Smith (RHP) | Troy Scribner (RHP) | |
| Matt West (RHP) | ||
| CATCHERS | ||
| Ramon Cabrera | CATCHERS | |
| Hector Sanchez | Albert Cordero | |
| Cody Stanley | ||
| INFIELDERS | ||
| Clint Freeman{02aae7733b2202e1168617f4689001b2a9e9dd460b103893d306c0c4303fb195} | INFIELDERS | |
| Vladimir Frias | Blair Beck | |
| Steve Lombardozzi | Javier Betancourt | |
| L.J. Mazzilli | Jason Martinson | |
| Deibinson Romero | Juan Silverio | |
| David Washington | ||
| OUTFIELDERS | ||
| OUTFIELDERS | Wynton Bernard | |
| Daniel Fields | Zach Borenstein | |
| Lew Ford | Anthony Giansanti | |
| Rey Fuentes | Rico Noel | |
| D’Arby Myers | Denis Phipps | |
| COACHES | COACHES | |
| Wally Backman – Manager | Pete Incaviglia – Manager | |
| Rick Tomlin – Pitching Coach | Dan Runzler – Pitching Coach | |
| Lew Ford – Hitting Coach | Willy Taveras – Third Base Coach | |
| Lincoln Gumbs – Assistant Coach | ||
| {02aae7733b2202e1168617f4689001b2a9e9dd460b103893d306c0c4303fb195}: Two-Way Player | Jeff Allen – Bullpen Coach |
PITCHING MATCHUPS
The following are the probable pitching matchups for the Atlantic League Championship Series (statistics provided are 2019 Atlantic League records and ERA for regular season and playoffs):
GAME ONE
Skeeters: RHP Mike Hauschild (4-0, 2.50 | 0-1, 4.05) vs. Ducks: RHP Vin Mazzaro (11-4, 3.61 | 1-0, 0.00)
GAME TWO
Skeeters: RHP Carlos Pimentel (6-4, 3.92 | 1-0, 1.80) vs. Ducks: LHP Darin Downs (3-3, 2.63 | 0-0, 2.84)
GAME THREE
Ducks: RHP Seth Simmons (8-8, 3.86 | 1-0, 1.29) vs. Skeeters: RHP Troy Scribner (6-7, 3.68 | 1-0, 1.29)
GAME FOUR (IF NECESSARY)
Ducks: TBA vs. Skeeters: RHP Chase De Jong (4-4, 5.56 | 0-0, 4.05)
GAME FIVE (IF NECESSARY)
Ducks: TBA vs. Skeeters: TBA
FOLLOW ALONG
Those unable to make it out to the ballpark can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks’ official Facebook page, YouTube channel and at LIDucks.com. Fans can follow a pitch-by-pitch account of each playoff game as well via MLB’s Gameday Stringer by CLICKING HERE.
TICKET LINKS
Tickets to all Ducks home Championship Series games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
Those wishing to attend Games Three, Four or Five at Constellation Field can purchase tickets by visiting www.sugarlandskeeters.com, calling (281) 240-4487 or visiting the TDECU Ticket Office.
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)
With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 42 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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