Two-run rally in ninth gives Ducks dramatic victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., June 19, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 3-2 in walk-off fashion on Sunday afternoon in the final game of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the come-from-behind win
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Delta Cleary Jr. and Kevin Vance talk about the victory
The Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when a two-out pop-up from Ruben Gotay fell in the middle of the infield, scoring Matt Wessinger from third. It stayed that way until the seventh inning when Lancaster scored twice against Ducks reliever Nick Struck. RBI singles from Josh Bell and K.C. Hobson did the damage.
Long Island rallied back though with two runs in the ninth to come away with the victory. With two outs and two strikes, Delta Cleary Jr. chopped a grounder up the middle for an infield single. Carlos Hughes came home with the tying run, and Fehlandt Lentini scampered in with the winning run after a throwing error.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Ducks starter Bruce Kern pitched six scoreless innings, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out five. Barnstormers starter Bryan Evans tossed six innings of one-run ball, yielding four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Kevin Vance (2-1) earned the win with two perfect innings of relief, striking out one. Cory Burns (0-2) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Cleary Jr. and Wessinger each had two hits to lead the Flock offensively.
The Ducks hit the road on Monday to open up a three-game series against the York Revolution. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m. from PeoplesBank Park. Fans can follow all the action live online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming audio will be available by CLICKING HERE. Left-hander Jack Snodgrass gets the start for the Ducks against Revolution righty Micah Owings.
Long Island returns home on Monday, June 27 to open a four-game set against the Revolution. 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 the 10th Annual Health Night at the ballpark, presented by Northwell Health, and the first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive Commemorative T-Shirts. In addition, it’s the first LaVida Massage Monday of the season! 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 34 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{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 06/19/2016 Lancaster Barnstormers 2 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Cutler, C C 5 0 0 0 .274 Lentini, F RF 5 1 1 0 .331 Ahrens, K SS 4 1 1 0 .304 Cleary Jr., D CF 5 0 2 1 .276 Gindl, C CF 4 0 0 0 .309 Gotay, R 2B 4 0 1 1 .303 Whitaker, J LF 4 1 1 0 .278 Johnson, D 1B 3 0 1 0 .222 Bell, J 3B 5 0 3 1 .271 Puckett, C 3B 4 0 0 0 .288 Halton, S RF 3 0 0 0 .259 Tekotte, B DH 2 0 0 0 .225 Hobson, K DH 4 0 2 1 .286 Blanke, M PH 1 0 0 0 .245 McDade, M 1B 4 0 0 0 .268 Dowd, M C 4 0 0 0 .276 Zawadzki, L 2B 3 0 1 0 .263 Vega, A LF 3 0 1 0 .287 Wessinger, M SS 4 1 2 0 .218 Hughes, C PR 0 1 0 0 .250 36 2 8 2 35 3 8 2 Lancaster 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 - 2 8 2 L Island 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 3 8 0 2B--Wessinger, M SS (7). RBI--Bell, J 3B (36), Hobson, K DH (5), TOTALS 2 (0), Cleary Jr., D CF (9), Gotay, R 2B (16), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Whitaker, J LF (4). SB--Hobson, K DH (1), Lentini, F RF (16), Vega, A LF (11). E--Ahrens, K SS 2 (8). LOB--Lancaster 12, L Island 9. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster Evans, B 6.0 4 1 1 3 8 0 3.75 Gracey, S 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.49 Reynolds, M 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.71 Burns, C (L,0-2) 0.2 3 2 1 0 0 0 3.38 8.2 8 3 2 3 9 0 L Island Kern, B 6.0 6 0 0 3 5 0 2.32 Struck, N 0.2 2 2 2 1 1 0 5.75 DeJiulio Jr., F 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Vance, K (W,2-1) 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.88 9 8 2 2 4 7 0 WP--Kern, B 3 (4). HB--Struck, N (2). SO--Cutler, C, Ahrens, K, Gindl, C 2, Whitaker, J, Bell, J, Hobson, K, Lentini, F, Gotay, R, Puckett, C, Tekotte, B, Blanke, M, Dowd, M, Vega, A 2, Wessinger, M. BB--Ahrens, K, Gindl, C, Halton, S, Zawadzki, L, Johnson, D, Tekotte, B, Vega, A. BF--Evans, B 26 (260), Gracey, S 4 (100), Reynolds, M 3 (79), Burns, C 5 (102), Kern, B 28 (139), Struck, N 6 (69), DeJiulio Jr., F (49), Vance, K 6 (79). P-S--Evans, B 104-67, Gracey, S 12-9, Reynolds, M 9-6, Burns, C 17-12, Kern, B 108-70, Struck, N 28-16, DeJiulio Jr., F 3-2, Vance, K 21-11. T--3:06. A--5432 Mike Blanke ejected in the bottom of the eighth inning by Frank Iurilli for arguing balls and strikes. Plate Umpire - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #1 - David Speranza, Field Umpire #2 - Richard Katz