Ducks drop series opener

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 24, 2013) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs defeated the Long Island Ducks 12-7 on Friday night in game one of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the game

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Bryant Nelson and Danny Perales talk about the game

Southern Maryland opened the scoring when Renny Osuna scored on an error in the top of the first inning. The Ducks answered right back with two runs in their half of the frame on a Bryant Nelson RBI single to right field and an error. The Blue Crabs tied the game on a single by Jose Julio-Ruiz in the third inning and took the lead in the fourth when Sean Smith hit a three-run home run to right field.

The Ducks cut into the lead with a Bryant Nelson two-run single to right in the fifth, but Southern Maryland answered back with three runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Nelson’s sacrifice fly in the seventh and Adam Bailey’s two-run home run in the ninth to capped the scoring for the Flock.

Kyle Zaleski (2-0) earned the win in relief for Southern Maryland, throwing two and one-third innings, letting up one hit and one unearned run. Blue Crabs starter Jeremy Sowers did not factor in the decision, giving up seven hits and four runs (three earned) in four and two-thirds innings pitched. Ducks starter Dontrelle Willis (2-2) suffered the loss, throwing five innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks with five strikeouts.

Danny Perales led the Ducks with four hits while Joash Brodin and Nelson each added two hits. Nelson also drove in four runs while Adam Bailey added two RBI.

The Ducks continue their three-game set against the Blue Crabs on Saturday. Game time 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 Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Riverhead Bay Motors. Right-hander John Brownell gets the start for Long Island against Blue Crabs lefty Wade Korpi.

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. Those 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 live streaming video and audio available on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.

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Duck Tales: Joash Brodin extended his team-high hitting streak to 14 games. His batting average has jumped from .239 to .328 during that span. He also stretched his on-base streak to 15 games, the longest for a Duck this season. His on-base percentage has risen from .309 to .412 during the streak. Brodin also posted his team-high tenth two-hit game…Danny Perales recorded his first four-hit game of the season, the second for the Ducks in 2013. Josh Barfield picked up four hits for the Flock on May 9 at Lancaster…Perales now has 11 multi-hit games overall…Bryant Nelson notched his first four-RBI game of the year and now has three multi-RBI games. Nelson also posted his fifth two-hit game of the season…The home run by Adam Bailey was his fifth of the year, good for second on the Ducks (Perales, 6). He also recorded his team leading fifth two-RBI game of the season. The Ducks have now hit 31 home runs in 2013, the most in the Liberty Division, and have gone deep in nine of their last 10 games.

 GAME DATE: 05/24/2013 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 12 AT Long Island Ducks 7 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG R.Osuna SS 6 4 3 0 .299 D.Perales CF 5 2 4 0 .279 S.Smith CF 5 3 3 3 .206 J.Brodin 1B 4 3 2 0 .328 B.Barton LF 5 1 2 1 .308 R.Navarrete DH 4 0 1 0 .250 R.Mulhern DH 5 1 1 1 .315 B.Nelson 3B 3 1 2 4 .256 C.Hankerd RF 4 2 3 1 .273 A.Bailey RF 4 1 1 2 .260 J.Julio-Ruiz 1B 5 0 2 2 .327 R.Henriquez C 5 0 0 0 .178 A.Colina C 5 0 0 0 .255 P.Phillips 2B 5 0 0 0 .216 C.Nicolas 3B 4 0 2 0 .190 R.Kiniry LF 4 0 1 0 .243 W.Sutil 2B 4 1 1 0 .260 D.Lyons SS 4 0 0 0 .241 43 12 17 8 38 7 11 6 S Maryland 1 0 1 3 0 3 2 2 0 - 12 17 2 L Island 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 - 7 11 3 2B--B.Barton (6), R.Mulhern (4), C.Hankerd (12), D.Perales (6), R.Kiniry (5). HR--S.Smith (2), A.Bailey (5). RBI--S.Smith 3 (8), B.Barton (15), R.Mulhern (17), C.Hankerd (19), J.Julio-Ruiz 2 (11), B.Nelson 4 (15), A.Bailey 2 (20). HP--J.Julio-Ruiz (1). SF--C.Hankerd (2), B.Nelson (2). SH--S.Smith (0). SB--J.Julio-Ruiz 2 (6). E--C.Hankerd (2), J.Sowers (1), J.Brodin (4), B.Nelson (3), R.Henriquez (1). LOB--S Maryland 13, L Island 9. DP--D. Lyons(SS) - P. Phillips(2B) - J. Brodin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland J.Sowers 4.2 7 4 3 2 7 0 4.54 K.Zaleski (W,2-0) 2.1 1 1 0 1 4 0 1.50 B.Vaughan 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.86 K.Mertins 1.0 1 2 2 1 1 1 5.82 9 11 7 5 4 12 1 L Island D.Willis (L,2-2) 5.0 8 5 4 4 5 1 4.26 P.Budkevics 0.0 4 3 3 1 0 0 4.66 J.Lansford 1.1 3 2 2 0 0 0 6.92 T.Hose 1.2 2 2 0 0 3 0 3.29 I.Snell 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8.44 9 17 12 9 5 9 1 WP--D.Willis (3), T.Hose (2). HB--D.Willis (1). SO--R.Osuna, S.Smith, R.Mulhern, A.Colina 3, C.Nicolas, W.Sutil 2, D.Perales, J.Brodin, R.Navarrete 3, A.Bailey 3, R.Henriquez 2, P.Phillips, R.Kiniry. BB--B.Barton, C.Hankerd, A.Colina, C.Nicolas, W.Sutil, J.Brodin, R.Navarrete, B.Nelson, A.Bailey. BF--J.Sowers 24 (166), K.Zaleski 9 (49), B.Vaughan 5 (31), K.Mertins 5 (74), D.Willis 29 (153), P.Budkevics 5 (45), J.Lansford 7 (61), T.Hose 8 (62), I.Snell 3 (47). P-S--J.Sowers 81-51, K.Zaleski 34-23, B.Vaughan 23-17, K.Mertins 20-11, D.Willis 118-66, P.Budkevics 24-13, J.Lansford 24-15, T.Hose 31-21, I.Snell 8-5. T--3:38. A--4534 Umpires: Plate Ump - Allen Barnfield, Field Ump #1 - Alex Trujillo, Field Ump #2 - Matt Beaver