Right-hander tosses third complete game, first shutout of the season
(Central Islip, N.Y., August 29, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Camden Riversharks 7-0 on Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the Ducks’ series opening win
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Bobby Blevins and Brandon Bantz talk about the victory
Long Island took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a Brandon Bantz RBI double off Riversharks starting pitcher Ryan Kulik. The Ducks extended their lead to four in the fourth on a Dan Lyons two-run single and a Fehlandt Lentini RBI single.
Adam Bailey increased the Long Island lead to 5-0 in the fifth with a RBI single to center field. The Flock later added two more runs in the seventh inning on a pair of bases loaded walks to Bailey and Cody Puckett.
Bobby Blevins (9-3) earned the win, tossing nine shutout innings, allowing just six hits while striking out five. He did not allow a hit after the fourth inning and retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced. Kulik (2-5) took the loss, yielding five runs on nine hits and two walks with one strikeout over five innings of work.
Bailey, Bantz and Lew Ford led the Ducks with two hits apiece.
The Ducks continue their four-game series against the Riversharks on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by IUOE Local 138. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans following the fireworks show. Right-hander Shaun Garceau will get the start for Long Island against Camden righty Cesar Sanchez.
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 audio and video 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: Bobby Blevins tossed his third complete game and first shutout of the season on Friday with nine shutout innings. The third-year Duck has now worked 11 consecutive quality starts dating back to July 4 against Camden. In his 11 straight quality starts, Blevins is 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA, giving up just 14 earned runs in 87 and one-third innings of work. In that span, he has yielded 73 hits and just nine walks while striking out 44. Blevins has not walked a single batter in seven of those 10 starts and has walked just four in his last 65 and two-third innings…With two hits on Friday, Lew Ford earned his 25th two-hit and team-leading 44th multi-hit game of the year. He has now hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games and 19 of his last 22 contests. Over his last 18 games, the former big leaguer is batting .389 (28-for-72) with 10 doubles, one homer, 12 RBI, 17 runs and five walks. Six of the 16 games in that span in which he recorded a hit were multi-hit contests…With two hits on Friday, Adam Bailey earned his 25th two-hit and 36th multi-hit game of the year. In addition, Bailey has now hit safely in six consecutive games, recording two hits in five of those six. During that stretch, the second-year Duck is batting .432 (11-for-23) with one double, two home runs, eight RBI and four runs scored. The Nebraska native also recorded his 13th two-RBI and team-leading 22nd multi-RBI game of the year. Bailey currently ranks second in the Atlantic League in RBI with 80, three behind Cole Garner (Lancaster) for the league lead…With a single in the seventh inning on Friday, Brendan Harris extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. During the streak, Harris is batting .408 (20-for-49) with four doubles, one home run, six RBI, 10 runs and five walks. He has multiple hits in five of the 11 games.
Game Date: 08/29/2014 Camden Riversharks 0 AT Long Island Ducks 7 YTD YTD Camden AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG B.Chaves SS 4 0 2 0 .187 F.Lentini RF 5 0 1 1 .309 P.Matera 2B 4 0 1 0 .243 B.Harris 3B 4 1 1 0 .297 B.Pounds 3B 4 0 1 0 .280 L.Ford CF 4 2 2 0 .341 J.Julio-Ruiz 1B 4 0 0 0 .307 B.Hall DH 3 0 0 0 .238 B.Van Kirk LF 4 0 1 0 .254 A.Bailey LF 3 1 2 2 .305 J.Morales C 2 0 0 0 .291 C.Puckett 2B 3 1 1 1 .287 P.Phillips CF 3 0 0 0 .179 B.Bantz C 4 1 2 1 .272 E.Perez DH 3 0 1 0 .313 J.Brodin 1B 3 1 0 0 .257 Z.MacPhee RF 3 0 0 0 .204 D.Lyons SS 4 0 1 2 .262 31 0 6 0 33 7 10 7 Camden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 6 0 L Island 0 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 x - 7 10 0 2B--B.Chaves (3), L.Ford (35), C.Puckett (11), B.Bantz (3). RBI--F.Lentini (54), A.Bailey 2 (80), C.Puckett (68), B.Bantz (24), D.Lyons 2 (35). HP--J.Morales (3), L.Ford (13). LOB--Camden 5, L Island 8. DP--C. Puckett(2B) - J. Brodin(1B), B. Pounds(3B) - P. Matera(2B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Camden R.Kulik (L,2-5) 5.0 9 5 5 2 1 0 5.21 N.DeBarr 1.0 1 2 2 2 0 0 8.44 D.Blewett 2.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.64 8 10 7 7 5 3 0 L Island B.Blevins (W,9-3) 9.0 6 0 0 0 5 0 2.85 9 6 0 0 0 5 0 HB--N.DeBarr (7), B.Blevins (7). SO--B.Chaves, B.Pounds, J.Julio-Ruiz 2, Z.MacPhee, B.Bantz, J.Brodin, D.Lyons. BB--B.Harris, B.Hall, A.Bailey, C.Puckett, J.Brodin. BF--R.Kulik 25 (206), N.DeBarr 7 (163), D.Blewett 7 (238), B.Blevins 32 (661). P-S--R.Kulik 85-52, N.DeBarr 29-14, D.Blewett 24-14, B.Blevins 120-81. T--2:39. A--4629 Plate Umpire - John Torres, Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Rich Maggio