Three-run sixth puts Ducks up 2-0 in series
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 3-2 on Thursday night at Bethpage Ballpark in Game Two of the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Ducks now lead the best-of-five series two games to none.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from Long Island’s second straight comeback win
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Shaun Garceau and Lew Ford talk about the victory
CLICK HERE to read a Game Two recap article and view a photo gallery from Newsday
CLICK HERE to watch highlights and postgame sound from News 12
CLICK HERE to read a Game Two recap from the Atlantic League
Somerset scratched across the game’s first run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly to center by Angel Sanchez off Ducks starter Shaun Garceau. A RBI single to left-center by Jeff Baisley in the fourth pushed the lead to two.
It stayed 2-0 until the sixth when Dan Lyons was hit by a pitch with one out. Lew Ford followed with a two-run home run to left off Patriots starter Roy Merritt to tie the game at two. Josh Barfield’s ground-rule double and a RBI single by Bryant Nelson following the homer put Long Island on top 3-2.
Eddy Martinez-Esteve led off the ninth inning with a single, but Leo Rosales stranded the tying run on third to end the game.
Garceau (1-0) earned the win, tossing seven innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out six. Merritt (1-1) suffered the loss, yielding three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. Rosales earned his third save of the playoffs with a scoreless ninth inning.
Ford led the Flock with two hits and two RBI.
The Ducks and Patriots continue the Atlantic League Championship Series on Friday night when the series shifts to Bridgewater, New Jersey for Game Three. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. from TD Bank Ballpark. Right-hander Bob Zimmermann toes the rubber for Long Island against Somerset righty Erik Arnesen.
Fans wishing to attend the game in Somerset can purchase their tickets by calling (908) 252-0700 or by visiting www.somersetpatriots.com. Those unable to attend the game can follow all the action live on the radio home of the Ducks, 103.9-FM WRCN, and online by CLICKING HERE. Fans can also follow the game pitch-by-pitch via the Pointstreak Mobile GameLive App or online by CLICKING HERE.
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Duck Tales: With the win, the Ducks have now won a franchise record seven consecutive playoff games dating back to Game Four of the 2012 Atlantic League Championship Series. Long Island had previously won six consecutive playoff games from Game Two of the 2004 North Division Championship Series to Game One of the 2005 NDCS. The Ducks also remained perfect in the 2013 postseason as they have now won all five games they have played…The victory improved the Ducks’ postseason record to 23-20, including a 16-9 record at home. In the Championship Series, Long Island is now 9-5 overall and 7-2 at the Duck Pond…Lew Ford’s two-run homer was his first homer of the playoffs and his second postseason home run as a Duck. Ford hit a solo homer in Game Three of the 2011 Liberty Division Championship Series at Southern Maryland. The Ducks have now hit six home runs in the 2013 playoffs…Bryant Nelson earned the go-ahead RBI with his single in the sixth inning. In his Ducks playoff career, the third baseman has now collected 12 RBI and 10 runs in 19 games…Ducks starter Shaun Garceau allowed just two runs, making it back-to-back starts in the series in which Ducks pitchers have allowed only two runs. In the 2013 postseason, Ducks starters are now 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA and have struck out 34 batters while walking only five in 36.2 innings.
GAME DATE: 09/26/2013 Somerset Patriots 2 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Tucker CF 5 0 1 0 .190 L.Ford CF 4 1 2 2 .389 A.Eggleston LF 4 0 1 0 .278 J.Barfield 2B 4 1 1 0 .222 Y.Sanchez 2B 4 0 2 0 .381 B.Nelson 3B 4 0 1 1 .300 C.Aldridge RF 4 0 1 0 .368 B.Hall DH 3 0 0 0 .263 C.Smith 3B 4 2 2 0 .150 A.Bailey RF 3 0 0 0 .200 J.Baisley 1B 4 0 1 1 .353 R.Castro C 2 0 0 0 .083 E.Martinez-Este DH 4 0 1 0 .364 P.Phillips PR 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Stevens PR 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Henriquez C 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Sanchez SS 2 0 1 1 .294 R.Strieby 1B 3 0 0 0 .389 A.Donachie C 3 0 0 0 .077 K.Binick LF 3 0 0 0 .313 J.Cortes PH 1 0 0 0 .000 D.Lyons SS 2 1 1 0 .267 35 2 10 2 28 3 5 3 Somerset 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 10 0 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 x - 3 5 1 2B--Y.Sanchez (2), C.Smith (1), J.Barfield (2). HR--L.Ford (1). RBI--J.Baisley (4), A.Sanchez (1), L.Ford 2 (2), B.Nelson (3). HP--D.Lyons (1). SF--A.Sanchez (1). SH--A.Sanchez (0). SB--B.Nelson (1). CS--P.Phillips (2). E--D.Lyons (1). LOB--Somerset 8, L Island 3. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset R.Merritt (L,1-1) 6.0 4 3 3 0 7 1 2.70 F.Hernandez 1.2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 C.Bowers 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8 5 3 3 1 8 1 L Island S.Garceau (W,1-0) 7.0 8 2 1 0 6 0 3.95 J.Lansford 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 L.Rosales (S,3) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.25 9 10 2 1 0 8 0 WP--R.Merritt (2). HB--R.Merritt (1). SO--A.Eggleston, C.Aldridge 2, C.Smith 2, J.Baisley, E.Martinez-Esteve, A.Donachie, J.Barfield, B.Hall, A.Bailey, R.Castro 2, R.Strieby 2, D.Lyons. BB--R.Castro. BF--R.Merritt 23 (52), F.Hernandez 6 (8), C.Bowers (5), S.Garceau 29 (59), J.Lansford 4 (12), L.Rosales 4 (18). P-S--R.Merritt 91-61, F.Hernandez 22-17, C.Bowers 3-1, S.Garceau 101-77, J.Lansford 19-12, L.Rosales 14-9. T--2:42. A--3546 Umpires: Plate Ump - Chase Edmondson, Field Ump #1 - Matt Hensel, Field Ump #2 - Matt Beaver, Field Ump #3 - Marty Bauer