Starter finishes one out shy of complete game en route to victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 4-1 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from Brownell’s masterpiece
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, John Brownell and Anthony Vega talk about the win
The Ducks opened the scoring by taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning off of Southern Maryland starter Brian Baker. Dan Lyons’ RBI ground rule double and a RBI single from Sean Burroughs put Long Island ahead. Anthony Vega extended the lead to 4-0 with a two-run homer in the fourth frame.
Craig Maddox’s RBI double off of Ducks starter John Brownell with two outs in the ninth inning made it a three-run ballgame, but Amalio Diaz was able to secure the final out one batter later.
Brownell (9-3) earned the victory, throwing eight and two-thirds innings, walking three and striking out eight. He allowed one run on three hits. Baker (5-9) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out four in seven innings. Diaz picked up his sixth save with the final out.
Lyons and Vega each finished with a pair of hits and one run scored for Long Island.
The Ducks continue their series on Friday night when they play game two of a four-game series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. 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 Ducks Notepads, courtesy of the New York State Nurses Association. It will also be a Fowl Pole Friday at the Duck Pond! If a select Ducks player hits a home run off of either foul pole during the game, one lucky Ducks fan will win $50,000. The Ducks will be running their Friday night Pizza Hut K-Man and Air Trampoline Sports Friday promotions as well. Righty Bobby Blevins gets the start for the Ducks against Blue Crabs right-hander Tim Sexton.
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’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will be available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
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Duck Tales: John Brownell earned his second consecutive win with eight and two-thirds innings of one-run ball. In his last two starts, the right-hander has allowed just two runs on seven hits and four walks in 15 and two-thirds innings while striking out 14 batters. His eight strikeouts were tied for his second-most in a start this year, equaling his total from July 25 at Bridgeport. Brownell has pitched seven or more innings in four straight starts and five of his last six outings, and he has stuck out at least five batters in all six starts…Anthony Vega’s two-run home run in the fourth inning was his first as a Long Island Duck and second of the season. His only other longball came on June 28 at Somerset while he was a member of the Blue Crabs. Vega finished with two hits and two RBI to earn his second multi-hit game and first multi-RBI contest with the Flock…Dan Lyons collected two hits in the win. He has now reached base safely in 19 of his last 20 games dating back to July 23 and is batting .361 (26-for-72) in that span. With his 56th RBI of the season, he tied his Ducks career high in RBI for a single season, equaling the mark he set in 2012. His professional career high for RBI in a season was 71, which he accomplished in 2008…Cody Puckett singled in his final at-bat on Thursday to extend his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games. During the streak, the infielder is batting .286 (12-for-42) with two doubles, one homer, five RBI and four runs scored. Dating back to July 23, Puckett has earned hits in 18 of his last 20 games.
Game Date: 08/13/2015 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 1 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG F.Lewis RF 4 0 0 0 .255 F.Lentini RF 3 1 1 0 .303 C.Stevenson 3B 4 0 0 0 .270 D.Cleary Jr. CF 3 0 1 0 .287 Z.Wilson 1B 4 0 1 0 .269 D.Lyons SS 4 1 2 1 .312 J.Rosa LF 3 1 0 0 .271 S.Burroughs 3B 4 0 1 1 .317 G.Molina C 4 0 1 0 .297 C.Puckett 2B 4 0 1 0 .271 C.Maddox DH 4 0 1 1 .246 M.Blanke DH 4 1 1 0 .284 C.Frawley SS 3 0 1 0 .255 A.Vega LF 3 1 2 2 .271 A.DeJesus CF 2 0 0 0 .199 S.McQuail 1B 3 0 0 0 .176 G.Zawadzki 2B 2 0 0 0 .190 N.Zapata C 3 0 0 0 .000 30 1 4 1 31 4 9 4 S Maryland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 4 0 L Island 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 x - 4 9 0 2B--C.Maddox (13), D.Lyons (18). HR--A.Vega (2). RBI--C.Maddox (23), D.Lyons (56), S.Burroughs (30), A.Vega 2 (14). HP--C.Frawley (7), F.Lentini (2). SH--D.Cleary Jr. (0). CS--F.Lentini (2). LOB--S Maryland 6, L Island 5. DP--J. Brownell(P) - D. Lyons(SS) - S. McQuail(1B), G. Zawadzki(2B) - C. Frawley(SS) - Z. Wilson(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland B.Baker (L,5-9) 7.0 8 4 4 0 4 1 5.12 C.Bodishbaugh 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8 9 4 4 0 4 1 L Island J.Brownell (W,9-3) 8.2 4 1 1 3 8 0 2.95 A.Diaz (S,6) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.36 9 4 1 1 3 8 0 WP--B.Baker (5). HB--B.Baker (8), J.Brownell (1). SO--F.Lewis, C.Stevenson, Z.Wilson 2, J.Rosa, G.Molina, C.Maddox 2, S.Burroughs, M.Blanke, N.Zapata 2. BB--J.Rosa, A.DeJesus, G.Zawadzki. BF--B.Baker 30 (480), C.Bodishbaugh 3 (3), J.Brownell 33 (526), A.Diaz (172). P-S--B.Baker 93-62, C.Bodishbaugh 11-7, J.Brownell 131-79, A.Diaz 2-2. T--2:17. A--5868 Plate Umpire - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #1 - Warren Nicholson, Field Umpire #2 - Tom Magier