Three-run homer in eighth caps dramatic rally

(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 25, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 4-3 on Wednesday night at Bethpage Ballpark in Game One of the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Ducks now lead the best-of-five series one game to none.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the thrilling Game One win

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, John Brownell and Josh Barfield talk about the victory

CLICK HERE to read a Game One recap article and view a photo gallery from Newsday

CLICK HERE to read a Game One recap from the Atlantic League

Somerset struck first in the top of the second inning on a solo homer to left by Corey Smith off Ducks starter John Brownell. A two-out RBI single to center by Jeff Baisley in the fourth doubled the lead to two.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh when Bill Hall led off the frame with a solo homer to left-center off Patriots starter Josh Lowey. The following inning, Kraig Binick walked and Lew Ford singled, setting the stage for Josh Barfield who launched a three-run blast down the left field line, putting Long Island on top 4-2.

Cory Aldridge led off the ninth inning with a solo homer to right, but Leo Rosales stranded the tying run at first base to secure the victory.

Brownell (2-0) was outstanding again for the win, tossing eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six. Lowey did not factor into the decision, surrendering just one run on one hit with five strikeouts in six innings. Jim Hoey (0-1) suffered the loss after yielding three runs on two hits in one and one-third innings. Rosales earned his second save of the postseason despite allowing a run in the ninth.

The Ducks and Patriots continue the Atlantic League Championship Series with Game Two on Thursday night. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the ballpark gates opening at 5:35. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Ducks playoff “Title Towels” courtesy of News 12 Long Island and News 12 Traffic and Weather. Right-hander Shaun Garceau takes the mound for Long Island against Somerset southpaw Roy Merritt.

Tickets for Game Two of the series 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 attend the game can follow all the action live online, with streaming video and audio on the Ducks official YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.

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Duck Tales: With the win, the Ducks improved their record in Game One of a playoff series to 7-6, including a 6-1 mark at home in Game One. Long Island’s only Game One home defeat was in the 2008 Liberty Division Championship Series against Camden. The Ducks are also now 3-1 all-time in Game One of the Atlantic League Championship Series, with their only loss coming in the 2012 ALCS at Lancaster. Long Island has now won five of their last six Game One match-ups in postseason play…The Ducks have now won six consecutive playoff games dating back to Game Four of the 2012 Atlantic League Championship Series. Long Island also won six consecutive playoff games from Game Two of the 2004 North Division Championship Series to Game One of the 2005 NDCS. The victory improved the Ducks’ postseason record to 22-20, including a 15-9 record at home. In the Championship Series, Long Island is now 8-5 overall and 6-2 at the Duck Pond…Josh Barfield’s three-run home run was his second of the playoffs. His first was a solo home run in the seventh inning of Game Three in the Liberty Division Championship Series. The Ducks have now hit five homers as a team this postseason…John Brownell earned his second victory of the playoffs and second Atlantic League Championship Series win in two seasons as a Duck. This postseason, the righty has given up just four runs in 17 innings (2.12 ERA) and has struck out 18 batters in that span. In four playoffs starts as a Duck, Brownell has posted a 3-0 record with a 2.43 ERA, allowing just eight runs in 29.2 innings while striking out 24 and walking just six…By earning the save, Leo Rosales picked up his first Atlantic League Championship Series save as a member of the Ducks. The righty earned a win in Game Five of the 2012 ALCS. Rosales has now earned five postseason saves over his two seasons with the Ducks. Long Island’s bullpen has now allowed just one run in seven and one-third innings this postseason.

 GAME DATE: 09/25/2013 Somerset Patriots 3 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Tucker CF 4 0 1 0 .188 L.Ford CF 4 1 1 0 .357 A.Eggleston LF 4 0 0 0 .286 J.Barfield 2B 3 1 1 3 .214 Y.Sanchez 2B 4 1 1 0 .353 B.Nelson 3B 3 0 0 0 .313 C.Aldridge DH 4 1 1 1 .400 B.Hall DH 4 1 1 1 .313 C.Smith 3B 4 1 1 1 .063 A.Bailey RF 4 0 0 0 .235 J.Baisley 1B 3 0 2 1 .385 R.Castro C 3 0 1 0 .100 B.Stevens PR 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Phillips PR 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Cortes RF 4 0 0 0 .000 R.Henriquez C 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Sanchez SS 4 0 1 0 .267 R.Strieby 1B 3 0 0 0 .467 A.Donachie C 2 0 0 0 .100 K.Binick LF 1 1 0 0 .385 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .231 33 3 7 3 28 4 4 4 Somerset 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 - 3 7 1 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 x - 4 4 0 3B--J.Baisley (1). HR--C.Aldridge (3), C.Smith (1), J.Barfield (2), B.Hall (1). RBI--C.Aldridge (7), C.Smith (1), J.Baisley (3), J.Barfield 3 (5), B.Hall (1). SB--Y.Sanchez (1), P.Phillips (2). CS--A.Sanchez (1), P.Phillips (1). E--J.Hoey (1). LOB--Somerset 5, L Island 4. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset J.Lowey 6.0 1 1 1 3 5 1 1.50 J.Torres 0.2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 J.Hoey (L,0-1) 1.1 2 3 3 1 4 1 16.20 8 4 4 4 4 11 2 L Island J.Brownell (W,2-0) 8.0 6 2 2 1 6 1 2.12 L.Rosales (S,2) 1.0 1 1 1 1 2 1 3.00 9 7 3 3 2 8 2 WP--J.Lowey (1), J.Hoey (1). SO--J.Tucker, A.Eggleston, C.Aldridge 2, C.Smith, J.Cortes, A.Donachie 2, B.Nelson 2, B.Hall, A.Bailey 3, R.Castro 2, R.Strieby, D.Lyons 2. BB--J.Baisley, A.Donachie, J.Barfield, B.Nelson, K.Binick 2. BF--J.Lowey 22 (22), J.Torres 3 (4), J.Hoey 7 (9), J.Brownell 30 (64), L.Rosales 5 (14). P-S--J.Lowey 98-64, J.Torres 17-11, J.Hoey 30-21, J.Brownell 120-78, L.Rosales 26-16. T--2:57. A--3603 Umpires: Plate Ump - Marty Bauer, Field Ump #1 - Chase Edmondson, Field Ump #2 - Matt Hensel, Field Ump #3 - Matt Beaver