Long Island rallies late for second straight night

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 1, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 10-8 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from the eight-run eighth inning outburst

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Dan Lyons and Lew Ford talk about the thrilling comeback

Long Island took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Lew Ford. Southern Maryland tied the game at one in the third on Brian Bistagne’s sac fly to right.

The Blue Crabs jumped in front with two runs in the sixth on an RBI double by Devon Rodriguez and a wild pitch that scored Michael Snyder. A four-run seventh inning extended the lead to 7-1. L.J. Hoes’ RBI double, Snyder’s RBI single and a two-run single by Rodriguez did the damage.

Ruben Gotay launched a solo homer to right-center in the seventh to close the gap to five. The Ducks then sent 11 men to the plate and scored eight runs in the eighth inning to take a 10-7 lead. Ford’s RBI single, a two-run double by Marc Krauss and a two-run triple by Dan Lyons highlighted the inning.

Southern Maryland got to within 10-8 in the ninth on Cory Vaughn’s RBI groundout. However, Edwin Garcia popped out with the bases loaded to end the game.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Alfredo Simon pitched five and one-third innings for the Ducks, yielding three runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Daryl Thompson tossed seven innings for the Blue Crabs, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. Zac Treece (6-1) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning, and Cody Eppley (1-3) suffered the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Rob Rogers collected his second save despite yielding a run on two hits and two walks in the ninth. Ford, Angelo Songco and Delta Cleary Jr. each had two hits to lead the Flock.

Ford, Krauss, Gotay and Lyons each drove in a pair of runs.

The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their three-game set and the first half of the season on Sunday night. 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). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular, presented by The Rinx at Hidden Pond Park. It’s also a Sunday Family Funday! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 5:50 to 6:05. Right-hander Dennis O’Grady (3-5, 4.86) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty Drew Hayes (3-2, 3.88).

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 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.

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{fe96d6e17d87505a1465284f96a4c69c9ad7d7051973bed0757ffc13536530ff} of the US population.

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

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 Game Date: 07/01/2017 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 8 AT Long Island Ducks 10 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Lozada, J 3B 1 0 0 0 .273 Vega, A RF 4 1 1 0 .220 Bistagne, B 2B 1 0 0 1 .186 Reyes, E 2B 5 1 1 0 .297 Wiggins, R C,PH 2 0 0 0 .151 Songco, A DH 4 1 2 0 .284 Hoes, L 2B,3B 5 1 3 1 .273 Ford, L LF 3 1 2 2 .267 Wilson, Z DH 5 3 3 0 .285 Krauss, M 1B 4 1 1 2 .256 Snyder, M 1B 4 2 1 1 .280 Pacheco, J C 4 0 1 0 .176 Vaughn, C CF 5 0 0 1 .265 Goldstein, Z PR 0 1 0 0 .158 Rodriguez, D LF 3 0 2 3 .404 Burg, A C 0 0 0 0 .236 Cone, Z RF 4 0 2 0 .279 Gotay, R 3B 4 1 1 2 .200 Alen, L 3B,C 4 1 1 0 .242 Alfonzo, G 3B,PR 0 1 0 0 .323 Garcia, E SS 5 1 3 0 .250 Cleary Jr., D CF 3 1 2 0 .224 Lyons, D SS 4 1 1 2 .238 39 8 15 7 35 10 12 8 S Maryland 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 0 1 - 8 15 2 L Island 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 x - 10 12 1 2B--Hoes, L 2B,3B (3), Wilson, Z DH (8), Rodriguez, D LF (13), Alen, L 3B,C (6), Garcia, E SS (7), Songco, A DH (8), Krauss, M 1B (12). 3B--Lyons, D SS (1). HR--Gotay, R 3B (1). RBI--Bistagne, B 2B (10), Hoes, L 2B,3B (3), Snyder, M 1B (46), Vaughn, C CF (30), Rodriguez, D LF 3 (35), TOTALS 7 (0), Ford, L LF 2 (19), Krauss, M 1B 2 (33), Gotay, R 3B 2 (3), Lyons, D SS 2 (12), TOTALS 8 (0). SF--Bistagne, B 2B (3), Ford, L LF (1). SB--Wilson, Z DH (1), Snyder, M 1B (2). CS--Garcia, E SS (2). E--Hoes, L 2B,3B 2 (2), Rogers, R P (1). LOB--S Maryland 10, L Island 4. DP--E. Reyes(2B) - R. Gotay(3B) - M. Krauss(1B), L. Hoes(2B) - M. Snyder(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland Thompson, D 7.0 6 2 2 0 3 1 3.91 Carson, R 0.1 4 4 4 0 1 0 5.25 Eppley, C (L,1-3) 0.2 2 4 2 2 0 0 2.30 8 12 10 8 2 4 1 L Island Simon, A 5.1 7 3 3 2 3 0 7.71 Hirsch, H 1.0 3 3 3 0 1 0 4.96 Lannan, J 0.2 2 1 1 1 1 0 4.50 Treece, Z (W,6-1) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.46 Rogers, R (S,2) 1.0 2 1 1 2 0 0 2.78 9 15 8 8 5 5 0 WP--Eppley, C 2 (3), Simon, A (3), Hirsch, H 2 (3), Lannan, J (1). PB--Pacheco, J. SO--Lozada, J, Wiggins, R, Wilson, Z, Vaughn, C 2, Vega, A 2, Reyes, E, Cleary Jr., D. BB--Snyder, M, Rodriguez, D 2, Cone, Z, Alen, L, Vega, A, Cleary Jr., D. BF--Thompson, D 27 (366), Carson, R 5 (113), Eppley, C 6 (125), Simon, A 24 (73), Hirsch, H 6 (77), Lannan, J 5 (22), Treece, Z 3 (127), Rogers, R 7 (134). P-S--Thompson, D 87-65, Carson, R 22-17, Eppley, C 22-10, Simon, A 78-47, Hirsch, H 19-13, Lannan, J 20-9, Treece, Z 11-8, Rogers, R 23-11. T--3:09. A--5426 Jose Lozada ejected in the top of the first inning for arguing balls and strikes. Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Matt Kane, Field Umpire #2 - J.B. Torres