Ducks earn split thanks to southpaw’s dominant start

(Bridgewater, N.J., May 30, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 3-0 on Saturday night in the finale of a four-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series finale

Both teams exchanged zeroes until the top of the fourth inning. Delta Cleary, Jr. led off the inning with a double, and then with two outs, Jon Griffin launched a mammoth two-run home run off to left field off of Patriots starter Matt Zielinski. Long Island extended the lead to 3-0 lead in the seventh on Mike Blanke’s RBI single to right.

That was plenty of support for Ducks starter Andrew Barbosa (1-0), who was dominant to earn the win. The left-hander tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters. Zielinski (1-1) took the loss, surrendering three runs on nine hits with four strikeouts in seven innings. After a perfect eighth inning from Amalio Diaz, Ryan Kussmaul worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his Atlantic League-leading ninth save.

Griffin, Bryan Sabatella and Cody Puckett each had two hits to pace the Flock offensively.

The Ducks return home on Sunday to begin a three-game series against the York Revolution. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). Right-hander Ian Marshall gets the start for the Ducks against Revolution righty Anthony Lerew.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Ray Navarrete #16 Jersey Pin as the sixth and final piece of the 2015 Collector’s Series. It will also be 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 12:50 to 1:05. Following the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

Tickets the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming video and audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE.

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 Game Date: 05/30/2015 Long Island Ducks 3 AT Somerset Patriots 0 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG B.Sabatella RF 4 0 2 0 .280 J.Tucker CF 4 0 1 0 .215 D.Cleary Jr. CF 3 1 1 0 .302 A.Eggleston LF 3 0 1 0 .305 L.Ford DH 4 0 0 0 .336 T.Neal 1B 4 0 0 0 .280 C.Puckett 3B 4 0 2 0 .303 C.Marrero RF 4 0 0 0 .318 J.Griffin 1B 4 1 2 2 .268 M.Gamel DH 4 0 0 0 .147 P.Redman LF 4 0 1 0 .225 D.Vidal 3B 3 0 1 0 .270 R.Corona 2B 4 1 1 0 .286 G.Hopkins 2B 2 0 1 0 .225 M.Blanke C 4 0 1 1 .250 R.Andino SS 3 0 0 0 .186 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .279 A.Donachie C 2 0 0 0 .238 34 3 10 3 29 0 4 0 L Island 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 - 3 10 0 Somerset 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 4 1 2B--B.Sabatella (12), D.Cleary Jr. (5), C.Puckett (9), J.Tucker (7). HR--J.Griffin (6). RBI--J.Griffin 2 (21), M.Blanke (4). HP--A.Eggleston (7). SH--D.Cleary Jr. (0), D.Lyons (0). CS--B.Sabatella (3). E--A.Collazo (1). LOB--L Island 6, Somerset 5. DP--D. Vidal(3B) - T. Neal(1B), R. Corona(2B) - C. Puckett(3B) - M. Blanke(C), D. Lyons(SS) - J. Griffin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island A.Barbosa (W,1-0) 7.0 4 0 0 2 10 0 0.60 A.Diaz 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.12 R.Kussmaul (S,9) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.16 9 4 0 0 2 13 0 Somerset M.Zielinski (L,1-1) 7.0 9 3 3 0 4 1 3.12 A.Collazo 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.57 9 10 3 3 0 4 1 WP--M.Zielinski 2 (3). HB--A.Barbosa (1). SO--L.Ford, J.Griffin, R.Corona, D.Lyons, J.Tucker, T.Neal 2, C.Marrero 2, M.Gamel 3, D.Vidal, G.Hopkins, R.Andino 2, A.Donachie. BB--G.Hopkins, A.Donachie. BF--A.Barbosa 26 (55), A.Diaz 3 (67), R.Kussmaul 3 (69), M.Zielinski 29 (142), A.Collazo 7 (33). P-S--A.Barbosa 97-62, A.Diaz 12-10, R.Kussmaul 11-9, M.Zielinski 95-63, A.Collazo 21-14. T--2:13. A--6971 Weather: High 70's; breeze r-l; NICE! Plate Umpire - Tom Gandolfo, Field Umpire #1 - Freddie DeJesus, Field Umpire #3 - Warren Nicholson