Zimmermann tosses quality start in losing effort
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 4-3 on Friday night at Bethpage Ballpark in the opener of a three-game series.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the ballgame
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and C.J. Retherford talk about the series opener
Southern Maryland jumped in front 3-0 in the top of the first on a Jake Opitz three-run home run to right field off Ducks starting pitcher Bob Zimmermann. Long Island responded in the second on a solo home run to left-center from C.J. Retherford off Blue Crabs starter Daryl Thompson.
The Flock trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Joash Brodin. That score held until a C.J. Ziegler solo home run in the top of the ninth extended the Blue Crabs lead to 4-2. The Ducks answered with a bases loaded walk to Lew Ford in the bottom of the ninth, but Long Island could not push across the tying run.
Thompson (7-6) earned the win, allowing two runs over seven innings on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Zimmermann (3-3) took the loss, surrendering three runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings. Wade Korpi earned his second save of the year by recording the final two outs of the ballgame.
Retherford led the Flock with three hits in the game, while Cody Puckett and Adam Bailey each added two.
The Ducks continue their three-game series against the Blue Crabs 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 the final Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza of the 2014 regular season, presented by Flushing Bank. In addition, Duck 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 Bobby Blevins will get the start for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty Gaby Hernandez.
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 video and audio 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: With two hits on Friday, Cody Puckett has now hit safely in nine consecutive games. During the streak he is batting .429 (15-for-35) with three doubles, one homer, four RBI, four runs and three walks. It also marked the 30th two-hit and 45th multi-hit game of the year for Puckett…C.J. Retherford’s solo home run in the second inning was his second of the season with the Ducks. His first came back on September 4 in game two of a doubleheader at Sugar Land. The first-year Duck also recorded his first three-hit game and fifth multi-hit game since joining Long Island. He has now hit safely in 13 of his 16 games since joining the team on September 2…Bob Zimmermann tossed his second quality start of the season on Friday night, allowing three runs over seven innings of work. In his four starts this season, the fourth-year Duck has a 3.00 ERA, having allowed seven runs over 21 innings pitched. Over his last three starts, Zimmerman has allowed four runs over 18 innings (2.00 ERA) while giving up 15 hits and walking just three batters…The Ducks bullpen allowed one run over two innings of work on Friday. As a whole, the bullpen has now allowed four runs over their last 21 and two-thirds innings (1.71 ERA) on 15 hits and six walks with 26 strikeouts. Tommy Organ worked a scoreless inning and has now made 11 consecutive appearances without allowing a run. The first-year Duck has only allowed a run in one of his 19 appearances this season (3, 8/24 vs. Somerset)
Game Date: 09/19/2014 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 4 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG B.Stevens SS 3 1 1 0 .257 F.Lentini RF 4 0 0 0 .291 J.Mitchell CF 4 0 1 0 .279 C.Puckett 2B 4 0 2 0 .293 C.Hankerd RF 4 1 1 0 .283 L.Ford CF 4 0 1 1 .343 A.DeJesus RF 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Bailey LF 5 1 2 0 .301 J.Opitz 2B 4 1 1 3 .281 C.Retherford DH 3 1 2 1 .300 S.Moss DH 4 0 0 0 .294 B.Bantz C 2 0 1 0 .261 C.Ziegler 1B 4 1 3 1 .277 J.Brodin 1B 3 0 0 1 .257 M.Schwartz LF 4 0 0 0 .271 S.Miranda 3B 2 1 0 0 .203 A.Chavez 3B 4 0 1 0 .273 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .253 J.Skelton C 2 0 0 0 .244 B.Hall PH 0 0 0 0 .241 B.Harris PR 0 0 0 0 .288 33 4 8 4 30 3 8 3 S Maryland 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 4 8 1 L Island 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 - 3 8 0 HR--J.Opitz (16), C.Ziegler (15), C.Retherford (2). RBI--J.Opitz 3 (74), C.Ziegler (76), L.Ford (94), C.Retherford (7), J.Brodin (59). SF--J.Brodin (6). SH--J.Skelton (0), F.Lentini (0). SB--B.Stevens (16). CS--J.Skelton (5). E--B.Stevens (11). LOB--S Maryland 5, L Island 10. DP--J. Opitz(2B) - C. Ziegler(1B), J. Opitz(2B) - B. Stevens(SS) - C. Ziegler(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland D.Thompson (W,7-6) 7.0 8 2 2 2 4 1 4.76 J.Berg 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.96 J.Marban 0.1 0 1 1 3 0 0 1.29 S.Keeler 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.80 W.Korpi (S,2) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.79 9 8 3 3 7 5 1 L Island B.Zimmermann (L,3-3) 7.0 7 3 3 2 0 1 3.60 T.Organ 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.53 B.Lorin 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.65 9 8 4 4 2 1 2 WP--D.Thompson (2). SO--J.Opitz, L.Ford, A.Bailey, C.Retherford, J.Brodin 2. BB--B.Stevens, J.Skelton, C.Puckett, L.Ford, B.Bantz 2, S.Miranda 2, B.Hall. BF--D.Thompson 30 (539), J.Berg 3 (107), J.Marban 4 (29), S.Keeler (22), W.Korpi (308), B.Zimmermann 29 (202), T.Organ 3 (67), B.Lorin 4 (220). P-S--D.Thompson 110-68, J.Berg 11-7, J.Marban 20-7, S.Keeler 6-2, W.Korpi 4-2, B.Zimmermann 99-66, T.Organ 9-6, B.Lorin 15-10. T--2:52. A--4665 Bottom 8: Blue Crabs mound visit by pitching coach...Bottom 9: Blue Crabs mound visit by manager Plate Umpire - Derek Moccia, Field Umpire #1 - Dave Speranza, Field Umpire #2 - John Torres