Long Island erases four-run deficit but allows pair of late runs
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 7-6 on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series finale
The Ducks an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on Delta Cleary Jr.’s run-scoring groundout to third base. The Blue Crabs responded with a five-spot in the second off Ducks starter Daniel Herrera to take a four-run lead. A solo home run by Angel Sanchez, a two-run double by Eric Garcia and RBI singles from D’Arby Myers and Gary Brown did the damage.
Long Island stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the frame off Blue Crabs starter Gaby Hernandez to trim the deficit to 5-4. A two-run homer to left-center by Mike Blanke and an RBI single by Fehlandt Lentini highlighted the inning. It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when the Ducks evened the score on Mike Dowd’s RBI single.
Southern Maryland would retake the lead in the seventh on RBI singles from Michael Snyder and Jamar Walton. The Ducks closed to within 7-6 in the bottom of the frame on Cleary Jr.’s sacrifice fly to right but could not even the score.
Herrera did not factor into the decision but pitched six innings, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four. Hernandez (5-8) picked up the win after tossing six innings, yielding six runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Patrick Crider (3-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Cody Eppley earned his 25th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Lentini, Blanke and Tyler Colvin each had two hits to lead the Ducks offensively.
The Ducks continue their homestand on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the York Revolution. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m. with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Kevin Maher Bobbleheads, courtesy of News 12 Long Island. It will also be a Fowl Pole Friday at the ballpark, and if a select Ducks player hits a home run off of either foul pole, one lucky Ducks fan will win $50,000. The Ducks will be running their Pizza Hut K-Man promotion as well, where fans could receive a special offer for an order of free breadsticks if the K-Man strikes out. Finally, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons with a special offer from OK Petroleum to fans as they exit the ballpark. Right-hander Nick Struck gets the start for the Ducks against Revolution righty Tony Pena.
Tickets to the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will also be available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 35 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 08/25/2016 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 7 AT Long Island Ducks 6 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Myers, D LF 5 0 1 1 .277 Vega, A LF 3 2 0 0 .260 Brown, G 2B,CF 5 1 2 1 .243 Lentini, F RF 5 1 2 1 .325 Nelson, B 3B 5 0 0 0 .294 Cleary Jr., D CF 2 1 1 2 .322 Sanchez, A 2B 1 1 1 1 .292 Gotay, R 2B 4 0 1 0 .296 Richardson, CF,PR 0 1 0 0 .190 Dowd, M C 4 0 1 1 .300 Snyder, M DH 3 0 1 1 .319 Colvin, T 1B 4 1 2 0 .199 Wilson, Z 1B 4 1 1 0 .272 Blanke, M 3B 4 1 2 2 .258 Walton, J RF 5 1 2 1 .280 Wessinger, M SS 2 0 0 0 .193 Flores, A C 3 1 0 0 .239 Scura, C DH 4 0 0 0 .087 Garcia, E SS 4 1 1 2 .244 35 7 9 7 32 6 9 6 S Maryland 0 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 - 7 9 1 L Island 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 - 6 9 0 2B--Garcia, E SS (16), Colvin, T 1B (8). 3B--Colvin, T 1B (1). HR--Sanchez, A 2B (6), Blanke, M 3B (9). RBI--Myers, D LF (43), Brown, G 2B,CF (28), Sanchez, A 2B (25), Snyder, M DH (49), Walton, J RF (45), Garcia, E SS 2 (38), TOTALS 7 (0), Lentini, F RF (66), Cleary Jr., D CF 2 (44), Dowd, M C (38), Blanke, M 3B 2 (44), TOTALS 6 (0). HP--Snyder, M DH (3), Vega, A LF (10). SF--Cleary Jr., D CF (5). SH--Wessinger, M SS (0). SB--Myers, D LF (29), Brown, G 2B,CF (15), Richardson, CF,PR 2 (10), Lentini, F RF 2 (41), Cleary Jr., D CF (25). CS--Wessinger, M SS (2). E--Hernandez, G P (1). LOB--S Maryland 9, L Island 5. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland Hernandez, G (W,5-8) 6.0 9 6 5 1 4 1 5.25 Snodgress, S 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.03 Stem, C 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.95 Eppley, C (S,25) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.72 9 9 6 5 2 6 1 L Island Herrera, D 6.0 6 5 5 3 4 1 10.05 Crider, P (L,3-1) 0.2 3 2 2 2 0 0 1.25 Hansen, K 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.36 Diaz, A 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.27 Lomangino, J 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.18 9 9 7 7 7 7 1 WP--Crider, P (3). HB--Hernandez, G (7), Herrera, D (1). SO--Myers, D 2, Wilson, Z 3, Walton, J, Flores, A, Lentini, F, Gotay, R, Dowd, M, Colvin, T, Blanke, M, Scura, C. BB--Sanchez, A 3, Richardson, A, Snyder, M, Wilson, Z, Flores, A, Cleary Jr., D, Wessinger, M. BF--Hernandez, G 28 (532), Snodgress, S 3 (367), Stem, C 3 (117), Eppley, C 3 (215), Herrera, D 27 (71), Crider, P 7 (150), Hansen, K (46), Diaz, A 3 (168), Lomangino, J 5 (127). P-S--Hernandez, G 93-65, Snodgress, S 15-9, Stem, C 15-8, Eppley, C 16-12, Herrera, D 97-57, Crider, P 22-9, Hansen, K 6-3, Diaz, A 13-9, Lomangino, J 17-9. T--3:03. A--4946 Plate Umpire - Tom Gandolfo Jr., Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Carl Villanueva