Dominant start moves Ducks into sole possession of first place in division

(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 20, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 5-1 on Thursday night in the finale of a four-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series finale

Somerset took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI groundout to second by Ricky Claudio off of Ducks starter Bruce Kern. Long Island responded with three runs in the third off of Patriots starter Lucas Irvine. RBI double by Carlos Hughes and Anthony Vega, along with a RBI single by Dan Lyons, highlighted the inning.

Two more runs in the fifth on a RBI single by Delta Cleary, Jr, coupled with a fielding error by Claudio, extended the advantage to 5-1. Somerset threatened in the eighth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but David Vidal flew out to right to end the rally.

Kern (7-3) earned the win, tossing eight innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out six. Irvine (6-7) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts in eight innings. Donnie Veal worked a scoreless ninth and struck out the side to finish the game.

Hughes and Nelfi Zapata led the Flock with two hits apiece. Hughes added a run batted in and two runs scored.

The Ducks return home on Friday to begin a three-game series with the Camden Riversharks. 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 will 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 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.

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 also be available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

###

 

 Game Date: 08/20/2015 Long Island Ducks 5 AT Somerset Patriots 1 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG A.Vega LF 4 2 1 1 .281 N.Spears 2B 4 0 0 0 .252 D.Cleary Jr. CF 5 0 1 1 .296 A.Eggleston LF 2 0 0 0 .309 D.Lyons SS 4 0 1 1 .313 D.Vidal 3B 4 0 0 0 .262 S.Burroughs 1B 4 0 0 0 .331 M.Burgess RF 3 0 1 0 .247 C.Puckett 3B 4 0 1 0 .277 R.Andino SS 4 1 1 0 .250 M.Blanke DH 4 0 0 0 .288 M.Gamel 1B 4 0 1 0 .199 N.Zapata C 4 1 2 0 .421 R.Claudio CF 4 0 1 1 .313 S.DiMatteo RF 4 0 1 0 .250 A.Donachie DH 3 0 0 0 .225 C.Hughes 2B 4 2 2 1 .227 J.Skelton C 3 0 1 0 .210 37 5 9 4 31 1 5 1 L Island 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 5 9 0 Somerset 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 5 1 2B--A.Vega (6), N.Zapata (3), S.DiMatteo (1), C.Hughes (1), M.Burgess (17). RBI--A.Vega (16), D.Cleary Jr. (31), D.Lyons (60), C.Hughes (2), R.Claudio (4). E--R.Claudio (1). LOB--L Island 6, Somerset 6. DP--C. Hughes(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - S. Burroughs(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island B.Kern (W,7-3) 8.0 5 1 1 2 6 0 3.16 D.Veal 1.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1.17 9 5 1 1 3 9 0 Somerset L.Irvine (L,6-7) 8.0 8 5 5 1 5 0 3.14 K.De La Cruz 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9 9 5 5 1 6 0 WP--L.Irvine 2 (10). SO--A.Vega 2, D.Cleary Jr., D.Lyons, S.DiMatteo 2, D.Vidal, R.Andino, M.Gamel 2, R.Claudio, A.Donachie 3, J.Skelton. BB--A.Vega, A.Eggleston 2, M.Burgess. BF--B.Kern 30 (311), D.Veal 4 (62), L.Irvine 34 (527), K.De La Cruz 4 (7). P-S--B.Kern 103-67, D.Veal 16-11, L.Irvine 115-83, K.De La Cruz 11-9. T--2:26. A--6106 SOM, T3, PC to mound; LI, B8, PC to mound Weather: 80's, overcast, breezy Plate Umpire - Joe Cruz, Field Umpire #1 - Steve Leonardo, Field Umpire #3 - JB Torres