Five-run third inning paves way for Flock in 7-4 victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., August 16, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 7-4 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from Long Island’s third consecutive victory
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Brandon Bantz and David Kopp talk about the win
Long Island grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third inning with five runs off Patriots starter David Harden. A RBI fielder’s choice from Lew Ford and a grand slam from Brandon Bantz highlighted the inning. Somerset trimmed the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the fourth on a two-out, two-run single from Brian Barden off Ducks starting pitcher Shaun Garceau.
The Ducks responded in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to extend their lead back to five. A run-scoring error off the bat of Brendan Harris and a run-scoring double play from Ford did the damage. The Patriots made it a 7-4 ballgame in the fifth on consecutive two-out RBI doubles from Daryle Ward and Corey Smith. However, they would get no closer.
Garceau (11-3) earned the win, yielding four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings. Harden (1-2) took the loss, allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk with one strikeout in two and two-thirds innings pitched. David Kopp earned his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
Fehlandt Lentini led the Ducks with three hits and two runs scored, while Evan Crawford and Dan Lyons each added a pair of hits.
Long Island concludes its three-game series against Somerset on Sunday evening. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 4:05. Right-hander Mitch Talbot makes the start for Long Island against Somerset southpaw Matt Zielinski. As part of a fun-filled day, Brobee, from the Nick Jr. TV show “Yo Gabba Gabba,” will be stopping by the ballpark to say hello to fans and take pictures. The first 1,500 fans in attendance at Sunday’s game will receive Ducks Cooler Bags, courtesy of EverBank. Prior to the game, Ducks 15th Anniversary Team member Ray Navarrete will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. Fans will also be able to purchase items from Navarrete’s clothing line, “Digmi,” at the Waddle In Shop on the main concourse behind home plate.
In addition, it’s a Sunday Family Funday at the ballpark! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 4:20 to 4:35. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. There will also be a special postgame concert taking place in the Hebrew National Picnic Area at Bethpage Ballpark featuring Tony K and Boardwalk. The set will last between 45 minutes and one hour and will feature hits from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Fans will be able to enjoy a Beer Garden, finger foods, snacks, soft drinks and desserts while enjoying the sounds of music under the stars.
Tickets for the game and every Ducks regular season home game are now on sale. Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling 631-940-TIXX or by CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action online, with live streaming video and audio available on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE. The game can also be heard on Long Island’s home for news, traffic and weather, 103.9-FM LI News Radio.
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Duck Tales: With three hits on Saturday, Fehlandt Lentini earned his seventh three-hit game of the season. The first-year Duck now leads the team with 40 multi-hit games this year…Dan Lyons and Evan Crawford each recorded two hits on Saturday. Lyons earned his 16th two-hit game and 18th multi-hit game of the year, while it was Crawford’s second two-hit game and third multi-hit game all of which have come in the last three games. Crawford is now 10-for-17 at the plate with two doubles, four stolen bases and four runs scored in his first six games with Long Island. The 26-year old has earned at least one hit in each of the six games…Brandon Bantz’s grand slam on Saturday was his fourth home run of the season and second in as many nights. It was Bantz’s first grand slam of the year and seventh overall for the Ducks. It marked the second grand slam at Bethpage Ballpark this season (Lew Ford, May 18 vs. Camden)…Shaun Garceau earned his 11th win of the season on Saturday. The second-year Duck has now won each of his last three starts and is now tied with Chris Schwinden of Lancaster for second in the Atlantic League in wins (John Brownell, 12). During that span, Garceau has allowed six runs over 18 innings (3.00 ERA)…Ducks starting pitchers are now 6-1 with a 1.78 ERA (15 earned runs in 75 and two-thirds innings) over their last 11 games after Garceau yielded four runs over five innings. In that span, they’ve allowed 63 hits and 14 walks while striking out 47 batters. Dating back to August 2, the starters are 8-2 with a 1.84 ERA, allowing 20 earned runs in 97 and two-thirds innings…Four different Ducks relief pitchers combined to hold Somerset scoreless on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over the final four innings of the game on Saturday. Ducks relievers have now tossed nine straight scoreless innings since the seventh inning of the homestand opener against Sugar Land on Tuesday. In the last six games, Ducks relievers have combined to allow two runs over 14 innings (1.29 ERA) on 10 hits and three walks with 12 strikeouts…Saturday’s crowd of 6,461 was the Ducks’ 10th past-capacity crowd of the season. Long Island has now hosted 637 sold out crowds all-time, an Atlantic League record.
Game Date: 08/16/2014 Somerset Patriots 4 AT Long Island Ducks 7 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Tucker CF 4 1 1 0 .265 F.Lentini CF 4 2 3 0 .313 T.Wright LF 1 0 0 0 .256 B.Harris 3B 4 0 1 1 .282 J.Dominguez 2B 4 1 1 0 .290 L.Ford DH 4 1 1 1 .331 D.Ward DH 4 1 2 1 .278 A.Bailey LF 3 1 0 0 .293 C.Smith 3B 4 1 2 1 .299 C.Puckett 2B 4 0 1 0 .275 L.Montanez RF 4 0 0 0 .273 B.Bantz C 4 1 1 4 .276 A.Donachie C 3 0 0 0 .298 E.Crawford RF 4 0 2 0 .588 B.Barden 1B 4 0 1 2 .236 J.Brodin 1B 4 0 0 0 .246 C.Harrilchak CF,LF 3 0 1 0 .230 D.Lyons SS 4 2 2 0 .268 S.Kelly SS 4 0 0 0 .192 35 4 8 4 35 7 11 6 Somerset 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 - 4 8 2 L Island 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 x - 7 11 1 2B--D.Ward (5), C.Smith (28), C.Harrilchak (7), C.Puckett (10), E.Crawford (2), D.Lyons (12). HR--B.Bantz (4). RBI--D.Ward (19), C.Smith (64), B.Barden 2 (21), B.Harris (33), L.Ford (69), B.Bantz 4 (19). E--S.Kelly (12), D.Harden (1), C.Puckett (16). LOB--Somerset 7, L Island 5. DP--C. Puckett(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Brodin(1B), B. Barden(1B) - J. Dominguez(2B) - S. Kelly(SS). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset D.Harden (L,1-2) 2.2 6 5 1 1 1 1 3.86 D.McCall 2.1 3 2 1 0 0 0 3.66 M.DeMark 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.31 D.Herrera 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.48 M.Sommo 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.47 8 11 7 2 1 3 1 L Island S.Garceau (W,11-3) 5.0 6 4 4 2 4 0 5.12 S.Perez 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 T.Organ 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 E.Niesen 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.30 D.Kopp (S,3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.09 9 8 4 4 3 8 0 WP--E.Niesen (5). SO--J.Dominguez, L.Montanez, A.Donachie, B.Barden, C.Harrilchak 2, S.Kelly 2, A.Bailey, C.Puckett, E.Crawford. BB--J.Dominguez, A.Donachie, C.Harrilchak, A.Bailey. BF--D.Harden 16 (73), D.McCall 10 (365), M.DeMark 3 (131), D.Herrera 4 (141), M.Sommo 3 (71), S.Garceau 23 (559), S.Perez 4 (17), T.Organ 4 (20), E.Niesen 4 (205), D.Kopp 3 (95). P-S--D.Harden 57-37, D.McCall 35-25, M.DeMark 11-9, D.Herrera 13-11, M.Sommo 8-6, S.Garceau 89-58, S.Perez 18-9, T.Organ 15-10, E.Niesen 14-9, D.Kopp 14-11. T--2:38. A--6461 Bottom 3: Mound visit by pitching coach...Top 5: Mound visit by manager Plate Umpire - Tom Maggier, Field Umpire #1 - Rich Maggio, Field Umpire #2 - Manolo Alejandro