Five-run first not enough for Ducks

(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 10, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks fell to the Lancaster Barnstormers 9-5 on Tuesday night in the first game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: The Ducks put up a five-spot in the first inning

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Ramon Castro talk about the game

Long Island exploded for five runs in the opening inning off Barnstormers starter Derrick Loop. A two-run double by Bill Hall, a sac fly by Adam Bailey, a run-scoring wild pitch and a RBI double by Ryan Strieby highlighted the scoring. Lancaster cut the deficit to two in the fourth against Ducks starter John Brownell on a two-run homer by Ryan Harvey and a sac fly by Gustavo Molina.

The Barnstormers took the lead with five runs in the seventh inning. An Olmo Rosario two-run homer, an Anthony Contreras two-run single and a Gustavo Molina RBI single put Lancaster on top. Contreras added a RBI double in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Loop (5-6) picked up the win, allowing five runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. Brownell did not factor in the decision, letting up three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in six innings. Erick Threets (0-3) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on two hits in one-third of an inning.

Ramon Castro and Lew Ford led the Ducks with two hits, and Hall added two RBI.

The Ducks and Barnstormers continue their series on Wednesday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35. It’s 9/11 Responders Night at the ballpark, and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Patriotic Ducks Baseball Caps, presented by The WTC Health Program. Prior to the game, there will be a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and plaque dedication held on the plaza outside the ballpark beginning at 4:00 p.m. For more information regarding the ceremony, please CLICK HERE. In addition, it’s an Unused Ticket Day at the ballpark! Right-hander Bobby Blevins gets the start for the Ducks against Barnstormers southpaw Nate Reed.

Tickets for the game and all Ducks regular season home games 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 live online, with streaming video and audio on the Ducks official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.
 

###

Duck Tales: With two hits, Lew Ford has now earned at least one hit in each of the 13 games he has played with the Ducks this season. He is batting .389 (21-for-54) in those 13 games and has driven in four runs while scoring six runs. The former big leaguer had a hit in 15 of the 19 games he played with the Ducks in 2012 before getting signed by the Baltimore Orioles organization. It was also Ford’s fourth two-hit game this season and his sixth multi-hit game overall…With a single in the first inning, Bryant Nelson extended his hitting streak to eight games. In that span he’s hitting .406 (13-for-32)…Ramon Castro had two singles for his 19th two-hit game this year. He now has 23 multi-hit games overall…Bill Hall drove in two runs for the eighth time this season, making it 15 times he’s driven in multiple runs in 2013…With seven strikeouts as a staff, the Ducks have now stuck out 926 batters on the year, which leads the Atlantic League. In 2012, the Ducks pitching staff finished with 932 strikeouts, which was good for third in the league behind Southern Maryland and Bridgeport.

 GAME DATE: 09/10/2013 Lancaster Barnstormers 9 AT Long Island Ducks 5 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Owens CF 4 1 0 0 .341 L.Ford CF 4 1 2 0 .389 O.Rosario 3B 5 1 1 2 .279 J.Barfield 2B 3 1 0 0 .292 J.Thurston SS 5 1 2 0 .339 B.Nelson 3B 4 1 1 0 .294 R.Harvey RF 3 2 2 2 .256 B.Hall SS 3 1 1 2 .242 K.Russell DH 4 2 1 0 .201 A.Bailey RF 3 0 0 1 .255 T.Denker 1B 5 2 2 0 .271 R.Castro C 4 1 2 0 .260 A.Contreras 2B 5 0 3 3 .206 R.Strieby 1B 4 0 1 1 .249 G.Molina C 4 0 2 2 .221 R.Navarrete DH 4 0 1 0 .231 J.Williams LF 4 0 1 0 .150 K.Binick LF 4 0 0 0 .271 39 9 14 9 33 5 8 4 Lancaster 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 1 - 9 14 1 L Island 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 8 1 2B--J.Thurston (6), K.Russell (13), A.Contreras (2), B.Hall (17), R.Strieby (11). HR--O.Rosario (13), R.Harvey (29). RBI--O.Rosario 2 (71), R.Harvey 2 (90), A.Contreras 3 (6), G.Molina 2 (28), B.Hall 2 (59), A.Bailey (57), R.Strieby (23). SF--G.Molina (4), A.Bailey (5). E--O.Rosario (25), B.Nelson (31). LOB--Lancaster 8, L Island 4. DP--J. Barfield(2B) - B. Hall(SS) - R. Strieby(1B), A. Contreras(2B) - J. Thurston(SS) - T. Denker(1B), A. Contreras(2B) - J. Thurston(SS) - T. Denker(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster D.Loop (W,5-6) 7.1 6 5 5 1 8 0 4.11 C.Eppley 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.08 Y.Herrera 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.71 9 8 5 5 2 9 0 L Island J.Brownell 6.0 7 3 3 2 5 1 3.90 E.Threets (L,0-3) 0.1 2 4 4 2 0 1 7.71 E.Ramos 0.2 3 1 1 0 0 0 0.93 D.Herrera 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.30 J.Lansford 1.0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3.35 9 14 9 8 4 7 2 WP--D.Loop 2 (9). PB--G.Molina. SO--J.Owens, O.Rosario, J.Thurston, K.Russell, T.Denker 2, G.Molina, L.Ford, J.Barfield, A.Bailey, R.Strieby 3, R.Navarrete 2, K.Binick. BB--J.Owens, R.Harvey 2, K.Russell, J.Barfield, B.Hall. BF--D.Loop 28 (428), C.Eppley 4 (21), Y.Herrera 4 (206), J.Brownell 27 (711), E.Threets 5 (105), E.Ramos 4 (35), D.Herrera 3 (89), J.Lansford 5 (191). P-S--D.Loop 102-66, C.Eppley 16-9, Y.Herrera 15-10, J.Brownell 111-73, E.Threets 18-9, E.Ramos 8-5, D.Herrera 16-10, J.Lansford 11-7. T--3:06. A--4501 Umpires: Plate Ump - Marty Bauer, Field Ump #1 - Andrew Steinberg, Field Ump #2 - Allen Barnfield