Ninth inning rally for Long Island comes up short
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 1, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 4-2 on Thursday night in the final game of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Bryant Nelson’s sacrifice fly and Bill Hall’s solo homer
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Bill Hall talk about the series finale
Both teams traded zeroes until the fourth inning when a RBI single to left by Cesar Nicolas gave the Blue Crabs a 1-0 lead. Southern Maryland extended their lead to four in the sixth on a two-run double to left by Jake Opitz and a RBI single to right by Jose Salas.
Long Island rallied in the ninth for two runs to cut the deficit to 4-2. Bryant Nelson lifted a sacrifice fly to right, and Bill Hall launched a solo home run to left, but the Ducks could not pull even.
Michael Ballard (7-7) picked up the win, tossing eight and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four. John Brownell (9-7) started and took the hard-luck loss, allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings. Jim Ed Warden earned his 26th save by recording the final out of the ninth.
Ramon Castro and Joash Brodin each had two hits to lead the Flock.
The Ducks continue their seven-game homestand on Friday night when the York Revolution come to town for the opener of a three-game set. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2013 Team Photo, courtesy of The QuackerJack Foundation. The Ducks will also be running their Friday Night Pizza Hut K-Man Promotion. If the K-Man strikes out during the game, fans can redeem their game ticket for an order of Free Breadsticks at a participating Pizza Hut location. It’s Outback Steakhouse Fridays as well, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $5 off with the purchase of two lunch entrees at Outback Steakhouse to fans as they exit the ballpark. Right-hander Nick DeBarr toes the rubber for the Ducks against Revolution righty Nick Green.
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. Fans unable to make the game can follow all the action live on the radio home of the Ducks, 103.9-FM WRCN, and online, with streaming video and audio on the Ducks official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.
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Duck Tales: Bryant Nelson’s double in the fourth inning was his team-leading 22nd of the year while Joash Brodin’s two-bagger was his 19th of the season, good for second behind Nelson. The Ducks have now hit 181 doubles this season which leads the Atlantic League by five over the York Revolution, who entered the day with 176…Bill Hall’s solo homer in the ninth inning was his 11th of the season which tied him with Brodin, Nelson and Danny Perales for the team lead. 10 of Hall’s 11 longballs this season have come at Bethpage Ballpark…John Brownell continued a strong streak of starting pitching by the Ducks of late. In the last eight games, Ducks starters have combined to allow just 22 runs (17 earned) in 57 and two-thirds innings of work, good for a 2.65 ERA. The starters have also struck out 42 batters in that span.
GAME DATE: 08/01/2013 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 4 AT Long Island Ducks 2 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Owens CF 3 1 1 0 .230 J.Brodin LF 4 1 2 0 .317 B.Barton LF 4 0 0 0 .269 J.Barfield 2B 4 0 0 0 .308 R.Osuna SS 4 1 2 0 .305 B.Nelson 3B 3 0 1 1 .286 J.Julio-Ruiz 1B 2 1 0 0 .319 B.Hall DH 3 1 1 1 .274 C.Nicolas 3B 4 1 1 1 .211 R.Castro C 4 0 2 0 .256 J.Opitz 2B 4 0 1 2 .276 R.Navarrete 1B 4 0 0 0 .226 J.Salas DH 4 0 1 1 .259 K.Binick CF 3 0 0 0 .242 A.Colina C 4 0 0 0 .230 P.Phillips RF 3 0 0 0 .228 S.Smith RF 3 0 1 0 .230 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .217 32 4 7 4 31 2 6 2 S Maryland 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 - 4 7 0 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 2 6 0 2B--J.Owens (12), J.Opitz (9), S.Smith (11), J.Brodin (19), B.Nelson (22). HR--B.Hall (11). RBI--C.Nicolas (28), J.Opitz 2 (14), J.Salas (41), B.Nelson (51), B.Hall (42). SF--B.Nelson (3). CS--J.Brodin (5). LOB--S Maryland 4, L Island 4. DP--D. Lyons(SS) - J. Lansford(P). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland M.Ballard (W,7-7) 8.2 5 2 2 1 4 1 4.89 J.Warden (S,26) 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.29 9 6 2 2 1 4 1 L Island J.Brownell (L,9-7) 4.2 2 1 1 1 4 0 3.83 T.Hose 0.2 1 1 1 1 1 0 4.09 D.Herrera 0.2 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.18 J.Lansford 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.54 P.Budkevics 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.17 9 7 4 4 3 5 0 WP--M.Ballard (3). SO--B.Barton, R.Osuna, J.Salas, A.Colina, S.Smith, B.Hall 2, R.Castro, K.Binick. BB--J.Owens, J.Julio-Ruiz 2, B.Hall. BF--M.Ballard 31 (401), J.Warden 2 (179), J.Brownell 17 (525), T.Hose 4 (144), D.Herrera 4 (23), J.Lansford 3 (123), P.Budkevics 7 (106). P-S--M.Ballard 113-81, J.Warden 7-6, J.Brownell 56-38, T.Hose 13-8, D.Herrera 10-6, J.Lansford 11-8, P.Budkevics 19-12. T--2:45. A--5088 Umpires: Plate Ump - Allan Reyes, Field Ump #1 - Manolo Alejandro, Field Ump #2 - Hank Himmanen