Bridgeport plates pair of runs in final frame to earn win
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 1, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Bridgeport Bluefish 9-8 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the see-saw contest
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Dan Lyons talk about the series opener
Bridgeport got out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Ducks starter Ian Marshall. Wilson Batista hit a RBI double before Jobduan Morales plated a run with a RBI single. Long Island scored their first run off Bluefish starter David Anderson in the third on Delta Cleary, Jr.’s RBI single. The Ducks went on top 3-2 in the fourth when Cody Puckett hit a RBI single and Bridgeport second baseman Josh Prince made a throwing error that scored Mike Blanke.
The Bluefish responded with a five-run fifth to take a 7-3 lead, highlighted by a throwing error made by Ducks third baseman Cody Puckett that scored two runs. In the bottom of the inning, the Ducks scored twice on an error by Bridgeport third baseman Wilson Batista and a run-scoring double play hit into by Randy Ruiz. Long Island posted three more runs in the seventh off Bluefish reliever Sam Gervacio to retake the lead, 8-7. Dan Lyons hit a RBI triple, Ruiz earned a RBI with a double, and Sean Burroughs brought in the go-ahead run with a RBI single.
In the ninth, the Bluefish responded with two runs against closer Amalio Diaz to go back on top 9-8. Andres Rodriguez hit a RBI double before a passed ball allowed by Ducks catcher Mike Blanke allowed the game-winning run to score. Patrick Mincey kept the Ducks off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning to complete the victory.
Diaz (1-3) suffered the loss. He surrendered two runs on three hits and walked one batter in the ninth. Erik Draxton (3-1) earned the win, tossing one and two-thirds innings of scoreless hitless relief before Mincey picked up his 23rd save of the season. Both starters took a no decision. Marshall allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings while walking and striking out two. Anderson gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits in five frames. He walked one and struck out three. Nick Struck, Patrick Crider, and J.C. Romero each threw one hitless frame of relief for the Ducks.
Sean Burroughs finished with three hits and a RBI to pace Long Island’s offense. Ruiz added a pair of hits with one RBI and one run scored.
The Ducks and Bluefish continue their three-game set on Wednesday night. 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). It is our Third Annual “Bark in the Park” Night! Those who would like to bring their dog out to the game can do so by purchasing a Pooch Pass for the game. Simply visit liducksgroups.com and type in the password “pooch” when prompted to secure special seating. It will also be a Winning Inning Wednesday at the ballpark! Throughout the game, the Ducks will designate a specific occurrence for each inning. If the event occurs during that inning, one lucky fan will win $10,000! Southpaw Darin Downs will start for the Ducks against Bridgeport lefty Robert Carson.
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 of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming video and audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE.
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Duck Tales: Delta Cleary, Jr. conected for three more hits and has now hit safely in 16 consecutive games. During the streak, the outfielder is batting .429 (30-for-70) with three doubles, one triple, five RBI and 13 runs scored. The hitting streak is one game shy of the longest by a Duck this year, accomplished by Dan Lyons from August 8-24…Nelfi Zapata delivered a pinch hit RBI single in the ninth inning and has now reached base in 14 consecutive games. During the streak, he is batting .386 (17-for-44) with six doubles, seven RBI and four runs scored. The only game in which he did not reach base since joining the Flock was his first, on August 13 against Southern Maryland. Zapata also has a hit in six straight games and in 13 of his 15 games played with Long Island…Dan Lyons picked up a triple in the seventh inning for his seventh three-bagger of the year. That total is good for fourth in the Atlantic League, tied with Southern Maryland’s Jamar Walton. As a team, the Ducks have compiled 25 triples in 2015, which is tied for third in the league with Bridgeport. The Blue Crabs lead the league with 42…Sean Burroughs led Long Island with three hits in the game. He now has five three-hit games and 11 multi-hit contests in 21 games since joining the Flock. The former big leaguer has also collected three hits in two of his last three games.
Game Date: 09/01/2015 Bridgeport Bluefish 9 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG B.Sabatella LF 4 1 0 0 .277 F.Lentini RF 4 2 2 0 .289 J.Prince 2B 4 2 2 0 .273 D.Cleary Jr. CF 5 1 2 1 .307 W.Dotel RF 4 1 1 0 .336 D.Lyons SS 5 1 1 2 .308 A.Rodriguez 1B 4 2 3 1 .239 R.Ruiz DH 4 1 2 1 .339 W.Batista 3B 5 2 1 2 .252 C.Hughes DH,PR 0 1 0 0 .190 J.Morales DH 4 1 3 2 .251 N.Zapata PH 1 0 1 0 .362 J.Valdez SS 5 0 2 0 .250 S.DiMatteo PR 0 0 0 0 .176 L.Rodriguez C 5 0 1 1 .222 S.Burroughs 1B 5 0 3 1 .347 E.Chapman CF 4 0 0 0 .252 M.Blanke C 4 1 0 0 .289 C.Puckett 3B 4 0 1 1 .274 A.Vega LF 4 1 1 0 .267 E.Reyes 2B 4 0 0 0 .143 39 9 13 6 40 8 13 6 Bridgeport 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 2 - 9 13 3 L Island 0 0 1 2 2 0 3 0 0 - 8 13 2 2B--A.Rodriguez 2 (23), W.Batista (13), J.Morales (12), D.Cleary Jr. (15), R.Ruiz (9). 3B--D.Lyons (7). RBI--A.Rodriguez (44), W.Batista 2 (25), J.Morales 2 (31), L.Rodriguez (15), D.Cleary Jr. (34), D.Lyons 2 (67), R.Ruiz (36), S.Burroughs (44), C.Puckett (47). HP--A.Rodriguez (5). SH--W.Dotel (0). SB--B.Sabatella (32), W.Dotel (40). E--J.Prince (11), W.Batista (5), E.Chapman (1), C.Puckett (15), I.Marshall (4). LOB--Bridgeport 8, L Island 6. DP--S. Burroughs(1B) - D. Lyons(SS), J. Prince(2B) - J. Valdez(SS) - A. Rodriguez(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport D.Anderson 5.0 8 5 3 1 3 0 2.38 J.Patterson 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 S.Gervacio 0.1 4 3 3 0 0 0 3.56 E.Draxton (W,3-1) 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.56 P.Mincey (S,23) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.82 9 13 8 6 1 5 0 L Island I.Marshall 4.0 7 4 4 2 2 0 3.92 F.DeJiulio Jr. 1.0 3 3 1 0 1 0 2.18 N.Struck 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.42 P.Crider 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.20 J.Romero 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.10 A.Diaz (L,1-3) 1.0 3 2 2 1 0 0 1.72 9 13 9 7 3 4 0 WP--S.Gervacio (4), I.Marshall 2 (16), F.DeJiulio Jr. (3). PB--M.Blanke. HB--P.Crider (1). SO--W.Dotel, L.Rodriguez, E.Chapman 2, F.Lentini, R.Ruiz, S.Burroughs, C.Puckett, E.Reyes. BB--B.Sabatella, J.Prince, J.Morales, F.Lentini. BF--D.Anderson 24 (93), J.Patterson 3 (38), S.Gervacio 5 (198), E.Draxton 5 (216), P.Mincey 4 (188), I.Marshall 20 (576), F.DeJiulio Jr. 7 (144), N.Struck 3 (172), P.Crider 4 (206), J.Romero 3 (106), A.Diaz 7 (199). P-S--D.Anderson 78-56, J.Patterson 9-7, S.Gervacio 15-10, E.Draxton 16-12, P.Mincey 13-11, I.Marshall 77-49, F.DeJiulio Jr. 28-17, N.Struck 10-7, P.Crider 8-4, J.Romero 10-6, A.Diaz 23-15. T--2:57. A--5603 John Harris ejected in the bottom of the fourth inning by HP Umpire Fred DeJesus Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Richard Katz, Field Umpire #2 - JB Torres