Grand Slam caps ninth-inning rally for Flock

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 21, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 8-4 on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the waddle-off win

POSTGAME VIDEO: Tyler Colvin, John Brownell and Mark Minicozzi talk about the dramatic victory

Solo home runs from Jose Cuevas and Jose Gil gave Bridgeport a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but the Ducks tied the game in the bottom of the frame on Mike Blanke’s two-run single. Long Island took a 3-2 lead in the third on Delta Cleary Jr.’s sacrifice fly, and Mark Minicozzi’s RBI infield single gave the Ducks a 4-2 advantage in the fifth.

Bridgeport closed to within one in the eighth on Adron Chambers’ run-scoring single and tied the game in the ninth on a passed ball that scored Jonathan Galvez. However, with two out and the bases loaded in the ninth, Tyler Colvin launched a first-pitch grand slam off Bluefish reliever Jose Veras to win the game.

Neither starter factored into the decision. John Brownell gave up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in seven and one-third innings for the Ducks. Mike Antonini allowed four runs on five hits for the Bluefish. In five and two-thirds innings, the left-hander struck out seven and walked four. Todd Coffey (2-4) collected the win, despite surrendering one unearned run on two hits in one inning. Veras (2-2) took the loss, yielding four runs on four hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning.

Anthony Vega, Fehlandt Lentini, Blanke and Colvin had two hits apiece to lead the Ducks.

The Ducks hit the road on Friday to open a three-game series with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. from Regency Furniture Stadium. Fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming audio will also be available online by CLICKING HERE.

Long Island returns home on Monday, July 25 to start a three-game series with the New Britain Bees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s Irish Night at the ballpark, presented by Shandon Court. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Stadium Cups. In addition, it’s a LaVida Massage Monday. Free massages will be available on the concourse during the game, and one lucky fan will go home with a special massage package, courtesy of LaVida Massage of Smithtown, the official massage therapy and skin care center of the Ducks. 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 35 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{508e0238204740d3d9c141f5965096b8721e890fc8446b80b243ba5070871f7e} of the US population.

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

###

 Game Date: 07/21/2016 Bridgeport Bluefish 4 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Hernandez, L SS 3 0 0 0 .296 Vega, A LF 5 1 2 0 .278 Chavez, E DH 3 0 0 0 .306 Lentini, F RF 5 2 2 0 .317 Dotel, W RF 4 0 0 0 .339 Cleary Jr., D CF 4 1 1 1 .326 Cuevas, J 3B 4 1 2 1 .283 Puckett, C 3B 4 0 1 0 .282 Galvez, J 1B 4 1 1 0 .292 Minicozzi, M 1B 3 2 1 1 .273 Gil, J C 4 1 2 1 .353 Colvin, T DH 5 2 2 4 .248 Nunez, L 2B 4 0 0 0 .244 Gotay, R 2B 3 0 0 0 .281 Giansanti, A CF 4 1 1 0 .219 Blanke, M C 3 0 2 2 .245 Chambers, A LF 4 0 1 1 .235 Wessinger, M SS 3 0 0 0 .203 34 4 7 3 35 8 11 8 Bridgeport 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 4 7 0 L Island 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 - 8 11 1 2B--Cuevas, J 3B (19), Gil, J C (6), Giansanti, A CF (7), Vega, A LF (8), Colvin, T DH (5). HR--Cuevas, J 3B (9), Gil, J C (1), Colvin, T DH (3). RBI--Cuevas, J 3B (46), Gil, J C (5), Chambers, A LF (10), TOTALS 3 (0), Cleary Jr., D CF (22), Minicozzi, M 1B (8), Colvin, T DH 4 (21), Blanke, M C 2 (32), TOTALS 8 (0). HP--Blanke, M C 2 (2). SF--Cleary Jr., D CF (4). SH--Hernandez, L SS (0). SB--Lentini, F RF (27), Wessinger, M SS (2). E--Wessinger, M SS (8). LOB--Bridgeport 5, L Island 8. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport Antonini, M 5.2 5 4 4 4 7 0 2.87 Patterson, J 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.21 Gervacio, S 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Carpenter, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.50 Veras, J (L,2-2) 0.2 4 4 4 1 0 1 7.84 8.2 11 8 8 5 11 1 L Island Brownell, J 7.1 5 3 3 0 6 2 2.91 De La Rosa, E 0.2 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.81 Coffey, T (W,2-4) 1.0 2 1 0 0 1 0 3.45 9 7 4 3 1 9 2 WP--Antonini, M (2), Carpenter, D (1). PB--Blanke, M. HB--Antonini, M (2). SO--Hernandez, L, Dotel, W, Cuevas, J 2, Galvez, J 2, Gil, J, Giansanti, A, Chambers, A, Lentini, F, Cleary Jr., D, Minicozzi, M 2, Colvin, T 2, Gotay, R 3, Wessinger, M 2. BB--Chavez, E, Puckett, C, Minicozzi, M 2, Gotay, R, Wessinger, M. BF--Antonini, M 27 (350), Patterson, J 4 (333), Gervacio, S (17), Carpenter, D 4 (74), Veras, J 6 (46), Brownell, J 28 (425), De La Rosa, E 3 (134), Coffey, T 5 (125). P-S--Antonini, M 100-60, Patterson, J 11-8, Gervacio, S 4-3, Carpenter, D 16-14, Veras, J 14-9, Brownell, J 96-64, De La Rosa, E 20-13, Coffey, T 12-10. T--3:09. A--4889 Plate Umpire - Tom Magier, Field Umpire #1 - Skip Dietz, Field Umpire #2 - Tom Gandolfo Jr.