Catcher is second 2015 Duck signed by Major League organization

(Bridgeport, Conn., May 5, 2015) – The three-time Atlantic League champion Long Island Ducks today announced that catcher Mike Blanke has been signed by the Boston Red Sox organization. He will report to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League and becomes the 74th Ducks player signed by Major League Baseball all-time.

“We are happy for Mike that he has received this opportunity with Red Sox,” says Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “We wish him the best of luck with Portland and thank him for his time on Long Island.”

Blanke started four games for the Ducks this year, compiling two RBI, two runs and one double. The backstop also appeared in four Spring Training games and had one RBI, one run and three walks. The 26-year-old was in his first season with the Ducks and was originally signed by Long Island on April 9.

The Quebec native has played six seasons of professional baseball, including five in the Chicago White Sox organization, and reached as high as Double-A Birmingham in 2013. That season, he totaled seven home runs, 43 RBI, 25 runs, and 15 doubles in 94 games and earned an All-Star Game selection. The University of Tampa alum set career highs in home runs (10), RBI (50) and doubles (24) with Single-A Winston-Salem in 2012. In 379 career games, he has a .254 batting average with 33 homers, 181 RBI, 82 doubles and has thrown out 33{d49c2f696c30b380fd9be95111ca06c2fbe3c781de671db859b96da639cc8951} of base stealers. Blanke was originally drafted by the White Sox in the 14th round of the 2010 amateur draft.

On Tuesday night, the Ducks were defeated by the Bridgeport Bluefish 10-2 in the opener of a three-game series at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the Ferry Cup Series opener

The Bluefish plated two runs in the opening inning against Ducks starter Mickey Jannis on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Jon Griffin answered back in the second with a towering solo home run to left field off of Bluefish starter D.J. Mitchell.

Bridgeport got their two-run lead back in the fifth on a RBI single to center by Nick Van Stratten. Long Island pulled back to within one at 3-2 on a two-out RBI single by Erik Komatsu in the seventh. However, a three-run double to right by Sean Burroughs in the bottom of the frame and four more runs in the eighth for the Bluefish put the game out of reach.

Mitchell (2-0) earned the win, tossing six and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Jannis (1-1) took the loss, yielding three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts in five innings.

The Ducks and Bluefish continue their three-game set on Wednesday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Right-hander John Brownell takes the mound for the Ducks against Bluefish southpaw Michael Antonini. It’s the “Ducks Game of the Week” on LI News Radio, and fans can follow all the action on the radio at 103.9-FM. Live streaming audio will also be available online by CLICKING HERE.

The Ducks will return home on Friday, May 8 to begin a four-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for season ticket holders). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Ducks Pin Pennant, as part one of the 2015 Collector’s Series. Tickets to the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.

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 Game Date: 05/05/2015 Long Island Ducks 2 AT Bridgeport Bluefish 10 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG B.Sabatella DH 4 0 1 0 .244 N.Van Stratten CF 5 1 3 2 .326 P.Redman RF 4 0 1 0 .263 S.Burroughs 3B 5 1 3 3 .371 L.Ford CF 3 0 0 0 .279 J.Simmons LF 4 1 0 0 .231 C.Puckett 3B 4 0 1 0 .310 A.Rodriguez 1B 4 0 0 0 .176 J.Morales C 4 0 1 0 .241 J.Alonso DH 3 0 0 0 .262 J.Griffin 1B 4 1 1 1 .162 W.Dotel RF 3 1 1 1 .333 B.Davis 2B 4 0 0 0 .150 R.Babineau C 4 1 2 0 .464 D.Lyons SS 3 1 1 0 .176 L.Rodriguez 2B 2 3 1 0 .133 E.Komatsu LF 4 0 1 1 .120 I.Vargas SS 4 2 2 2 .333 34 2 7 2 34 10 12 8 L Island 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 2 7 2 Bridgeport 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 x - 10 12 0 2B--S.Burroughs (2), I.Vargas (2). HR--J.Griffin (2), W.Dotel (1). RBI--J.Griffin (7), E.Komatsu (1), N.Van Stratten 2 (9), S.Burroughs 3 (6), W.Dotel (8), I.Vargas 2 (4). SH--L.Rodriguez (0). SB--E.Komatsu (1), N.Van Stratten (2). CS--S.Burroughs (1). E--L.Ford (1), J.Morales (2). LOB--L Island 8, Bridgeport 5. DP--J. Morales(C) - B. Davis(2B) - J. Griffin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island M.Jannis (L,1-1) 5.0 4 3 2 4 4 0 1.80 B.Kern 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.08 T.Organ 0.1 3 3 3 0 0 0 11.25 F.DeJiulio Jr. 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.45 C.Giardina 0.2 5 4 4 0 0 1 9.82 M.Soren 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 10.80 8 12 10 9 4 7 1 Bridgeport D.Mitchell (W,2-0) 6.2 5 2 2 2 4 1 1.62 P.Mincey 0.1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 L.Perdomo 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.69 E.Draxton 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.18 9 7 2 2 3 7 1 WP--M.Jannis (1), C.Giardina (1), D.Mitchell (2). PB--J.Morales. SO--B.Sabatella, P.Redman, J.Morales 2, J.Griffin, B.Davis, E.Komatsu, J.Simmons 2, A.Rodriguez 2, W.Dotel, L.Rodriguez, I.Vargas. BB--B.Sabatella, L.Ford, D.Lyons, J.Simmons, J.Alonso, W.Dotel, L.Rodriguez. BF--M.Jannis 21 (39), B.Kern 3 (17), T.Organ 5 (21), F.DeJiulio Jr. 2 (17), C.Giardina 7 (18), M.Soren (9), D.Mitchell 27 (67), P.Mincey 2 (16), L.Perdomo 4 (20), E.Draxton 4 (27). P-S--M.Jannis 82-45, B.Kern 11-9, T.Organ 17-14, F.DeJiulio Jr. 8-6, C.Giardina 33-17, M.Soren 3-3, D.Mitchell 109-69, P.Mincey 9-3, L.Perdomo 12-8, E.Draxton 13-10. T--2:53. A--2342 Weather: CLoudy-Warm Plate Umpire - Freddy DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Christopher Carroll, Field Umpire #3 - Warren Nicholson