Seven-run sixth inning dooms Long Island
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 9, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 10-1 on Tuesday evening in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series opener
PRE-GAME AUDIO: Dwight Gooden sits down for an interview with Chris King
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and C.J. Retherford talk about the game
Southern Maryland grabbed the lead in the top of the second inning off Ducks starter Bobby Blevins on a run-scoring error. Long Island tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth on a C.J. Retherford sacrifice fly off Blue Crabs starter Gabby Hernandez.
The Blue Crabs took the lead for good with seven runs in the top of the sixth inning. RBI singles from C.J. Ziegler and Mike Schwartz, along with a three-run triple from Bobby Stevens, highlighted the inning. RBI singles from Jermaine Mitchell and Steve Moss in the top of the ninth increased the Southern Maryland lead to nine and capped the scoring.
Hernandez (7-9) earned the win, yielding one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six over seven innings. Blevins (9-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs (three earned) over five and two-thirds innings on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Lew Ford led the Flock with two hits and a run scored, while Joash Brodin also chipped in with two hits.
The Ducks continue their three-game series against the Blue Crabs on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35. It will be the Great Plesser’s Giveaway Night! Throughout the game, Ducks staff members will be choosing lucky seats throughout the ballpark. If that seat is yours, you will win an appliance or electronics prize, courtesy of Plesser’s. Right-hander Shaun Garceau will make the start for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty Ian Marshall.
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.
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Duck Tales: With a single on Tuesday, C.J. Retherford has picked up a hit in seven of his eight games with the Flock. The infielder has 10 hits in his first 29 at-bats (.345 AVG) with four RBI, five runs and four walks. Three of his first eight games have been multi-hit contests…With two hits on Tuesday, Lew Ford earned his 31st two-hit and team-leading 52nd multi-hit game of the year. The former big leaguer has multiple hits in nine of his last 13 contests. During that span, Ford is batting .408 (22-for-54) with four doubles, one home run, eight RBI and 11 runs…Joash Brodin recorded two hits on Tuesday to earn his 23rd two-hit and 31st multi-hit game of the year. The second-year Duck also stole his 23rd base of the season, second-most on the team (Fehlandt Lentini, 45). The Ducks have now stolen 111 bases on the season, which ranks second in the Atlantic League (York, 175).
Game Date: 09/09/2014 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 10 AT Long Island Ducks 1 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG B.Stevens SS 4 1 1 3 .248 F.Lentini RF 5 0 0 0 .296 J.Mitchell CF 5 1 3 1 .280 B.Harris 3B 3 0 0 0 .302 C.Hankerd 1B,RF 4 1 0 0 .278 L.Ford CF 4 1 2 0 .348 J.Opitz 2B 3 0 0 0 .277 A.Bailey LF 4 0 1 0 .304 J.Walton RF 2 0 0 0 .222 C.Retherford DH 2 0 1 1 .345 S.Moss DH 4 1 2 1 .287 C.Puckett 2B 4 0 0 0 .284 C.Ziegler 1B,3B 5 2 3 1 .281 B.Bantz C 4 0 0 0 .266 M.Schwartz LF 5 1 1 1 .280 J.Brodin 1B 4 0 2 0 .257 A.Chavez 2B,3B 4 1 0 0 .280 D.Lyons SS 3 0 1 0 .251 J.Skelton C 2 2 0 0 .241 38 10 10 7 33 1 7 1 S Maryland 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 0 2 - 10 10 0 L Island 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 7 2 2B--C.Ziegler (29). 3B--B.Stevens (3), J.Mitchell (13). RBI--B.Stevens 3 (44), J.Mitchell (43), S.Moss (17), C.Ziegler (69), M.Schwartz (6), C.Retherford (4). HP--B.Stevens (12), C.Hankerd (13), D.Lyons (5). SF--C.Retherford (1). SB--J.Brodin (23). CS--J.Mitchell (5). E--J.Brodin (10), D.Lyons (21). LOB--S Maryland 6, L Island 9. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland G.Hernandez (W,7-9) 7.0 5 1 1 1 6 0 4.81 S.Keeler 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 J.Berg 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.44 9 7 1 1 2 8 0 L Island B.Blevins (L,9-4) 5.2 6 7 3 1 5 0 2.80 E.Niesen 0.1 1 1 0 1 0 0 3.31 J.Lansford 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.90 B.Zimmermann 2.0 3 2 2 1 0 0 3.86 9 10 10 5 3 6 0 WP--B.Blevins (9). HB--G.Hernandez (11), B.Blevins (9), B.Zimmermann (4). SO--B.Stevens 2, C.Hankerd, J.Opitz, J.Walton, M.Schwartz, F.Lentini 2, A.Bailey 2, C.Puckett, J.Brodin, D.Lyons 2. BB--S.Moss, J.Skelton 2, B.Harris, C.Retherford. BF--G.Hernandez 28 (621), S.Keeler 5 (9), J.Berg 4 (83), B.Blevins 26 (714), E.Niesen 3 (233), J.Lansford 3 (173), B.Zimmermann 11 (163). P-S--G.Hernandez 107-74, S.Keeler 19-10, J.Berg 14-9, B.Blevins 109-76, E.Niesen 14-6, J.Lansford 16-10, B.Zimmermann 40-22. T--3:05. A--5203 Jake Opitz ejected in the top of the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes...Top 6: Ducks mound visit by manager Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Warren Nicholson, Field Umpire #2 - Frank Leparik