Long Island claims matchup of former teammates on mound

(Photo courtesy of the Skeeters)

(Sugar Land, Texas, June 24, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 6-3 on Saturday night in the second game of a seven-game series at Constellation Field.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from Saturday’s victory

The Ducks put a three-spot on the scoreboard in the third inning against Skeeters starter and former Duck Bobby Blevins. Fehlandt Lentini’s RBI double and Lew Ford’s two-run double gave the Flock the early lead. It stayed that way until the seventh when Lentini doubled with two outs and came around to score on an infield single by Anthony Vega, coupled with a fielding error.

Long Island starter John Brownell began his night with six scoreless innings, yielding just two hits and a walk. Sugar Land scratched a run across against him in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Joel Guzman. Two more runs in the eighth on Bryan Pounds’ two-out, two-run triple brought the Skeeters to within 4-3. However, Henry Hirsch came on to strike out Anthony Giansanti, stranding the tying run at third base.

In the ninth, the Ducks got both of the runs back when Dan Lyons scored on a passed ball and Ford connected for an RBI double. Sugar Land brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning after collecting a single and a walk with one out. However, pinch hitter Lance Zawadzki grounded into a game-ending double play that was highlighted by a tremendous diving stop from Elmer Reyes.

Brownell (5-1) earned the win with seven and two-thirds innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four. Blevins (4-4) took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk in six innings with three strikeouts. Amalio Diaz picked up his third save with a scoreless ninth, yielding a hit and a walk with one strikeout.

Lentini, Ford, Jordan Pacheco and Giovanny Alfonzo each had two hits to lead the Flock. Ford drove in three runs, while Lentini had one RBI and two runs scored.

The Ducks and Skeeters continue their seven-game set on Sunday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT from Constellation Field. Fans can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks’ official Facebook page, YouTube channel and at LIDucks.com. Right-hander Matt Larkins (2-6, 5.12) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Skeeters righty Brett Marshall (5-3, 5.11).

Long Island returns home on Friday, June 30 to kick off a three-game series with 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). It’s a Fowl Pole Friday at the ballpark, and if a select Ducks player hits a home run off of either foul pole, one lucky fan will win $50,000. The Ducks will also be running their Pizza Hut K-Man promotion. If the Blue Crabs player that is designated as the K-Man strikes out during the game, fans will receive a FREE 1-Topping Personal Pan Pizza at a participating Pizza Hut location. 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.

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 36 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{2db62e8169997a8d599beca7d6013ac1e46056278d69ddd3df039f4c0be21f7d} of the US population.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.

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 Game Date: 06/24/2017 Long Island Ducks 6 AT Sugar Land Skeeters 3 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG Lentini, F RF 4 2 2 1 .213 Prince, J 2B 3 0 1 0 .244 Vega, A LF 4 1 1 0 .225 Ahrens, K SS 4 1 1 0 .274 Ford, L DH 5 0 2 3 .283 Scott, T 1B 3 1 0 0 .245 Goldstein, Z PR 0 0 0 0 .133 Pounds, B 3B 3 1 1 2 .183 Songco, A 1B 4 0 0 0 .288 Giansanti, A RF 4 0 1 0 .307 Reyes, E 2B 5 0 1 0 .304 Guzman, J DH 3 0 0 1 .195 Pacheco, J C 4 0 2 0 .189 Olivera, H LF 4 0 2 0 .262 Alfonzo, G 3B 5 0 2 0 .322 Rodriguez, W C 3 0 0 0 .289 Cleary Jr., D CF 4 1 1 0 .225 Miller, D CF 3 0 1 0 .233 Lyons, D SS 3 2 1 0 .246 Zawadzki, L PH 1 0 0 0 .242 38 6 12 4 31 3 7 3 L Island 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 - 6 12 0 Sugar Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 - 3 7 2 2B--Lentini, F RF 2 (14), Ford, L DH 2 (3), Giansanti, A RF (8), Olivera, H LF (3). 3B--Pounds, B 3B (2). RBI--Lentini, F RF (10), Ford, L DH 3 (14), TOTALS 4 (0), Pounds, B 3B 2 (19), Guzman, J DH (20), TOTALS 3 (0). HP--Pacheco, J C (1). SF--Guzman, J DH (3). SH--Lentini, F RF (0). SB--Prince, J 2B (13). CS--Miller, D CF (1). E--Ahrens, K SS (5), Pounds, B 3B (6). LOB--L Island 10, Sugar Land 6. DP--E. Reyes(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - A. Songco(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Brownell, J (W,5-1) 7.2 5 2 2 2 4 0 3.07 Lannan, J 0.0 1 1 1 1 0 0 3.86 Hirsch, H 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.05 Diaz, A (S,3) 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.69 9 7 3 3 4 6 0 Sugar Land Blevins, B (L,4-4) 6.0 6 3 3 1 3 0 4.62 Treibt, C 1.0 2 1 0 0 1 0 2.65 Maine, S 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.15 DePaula, J 1.0 2 2 2 2 1 0 5.91 9 12 6 5 3 5 0 PB--Rodriguez, W. HB--DePaula, J (1). SO--Songco, A, Reyes, E 2, Alfonzo, G, Lyons, D, Prince, J, Giansanti, A, Guzman, J, Olivera, H, Rodriguez, W 2. BB--Vega, A, Songco, A, Lyons, D, Prince, J, Scott, T, Pounds, B, Rodriguez, W. BF--Brownell, J 29 (312), Lannan, J 2 (12), Hirsch, H (61), Diaz, A 4 (103), Blevins, B 25 (278), Treibt, C 5 (75), Maine, S 5 (38), DePaula, J 8 (54). P-S--Brownell, J 105-64, Lannan, J 7-3, Hirsch, H 6-4, Diaz, A 18-11, Blevins, B 88-54, Treibt, C 12-9, Maine, S 14-11, DePaula, J 21-12. T--3:00. A--5577 Weather: Cloudy, 83, Wind SE 8 mph Plate Umpire - Reggie Liggons, Field Umpire #1 - 1B Eric Thompson, Field Umpire #2 - 3B John Sevier