Ard’s two-homer, six-RBI night leads Long Island in series opener
(Central Islip, N.Y., July 6, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 12-4 on Saturday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
Sugar Land took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on Colin Walsh’s two-run home run to right field off Ducks starter John Brownell. Long Island closed to within one in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Ramon Cabrera.
The Ducks offense then exploded for five runs in the fifth inning off Skeeters starter Konner Wade to take a 6-2 lead. Travis Snider’s three-run home run to right-center field and Taylor Ard’s two-run homer to left highlighted the inning.
Six more runs came across for Long Island in the sixth to balloon the lead to 10. Back-to-back bases loaded walks to Snider and Lew Ford, along with a grand slam to left by Ard, did the damage.
Brownell (4-7) earned the win, tossing eight innings of two-run ball, allowing eight hits and five walks while striking out four. Wade (4-2) suffered the loss, surrendering 10 runs on 13 hits and three walks over five and one-third innings with two strikeouts.
Jordany Valdespin led the Flock with four hits and scored a pair of runs. Ard added three hits, six RBIs and two runs, while Bonifacio collected three hits and Snider drove in four runs.
The Ducks and Skeeters continue their three-game set on Saturday 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 Flushing Bank. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods as fans exit the ballpark following the fireworks show. Right-hander Tyler Badamo (2-5, 4.68) takes the mound for the Ducks against a Skeeters starter to be determined.
Tickets to the game, and all 2018 Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make it to 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 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 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.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 07/06/2018 Sugar Land Skeeters 4 AT Long Island Ducks 12 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Barnes, B RF 4 2 2 0 .266 Valdespin, J 2B 5 2 4 0 .360 Walsh, C 2B 5 2 2 2 .273 Bonifacio, E CF 4 2 3 0 .313 Chavez, M 1B 5 0 1 1 .329 Snider, T RF 4 2 1 4 .279 Hawkins, C LF 4 0 2 1 .260 Ford, L DH 3 3 2 1 .276 Giansanti, A CF 5 0 1 0 .287 De La Hoz, R PH 0 0 0 0 .000 Norris, D C 4 0 0 0 .263 Ard, T 3B 5 2 3 6 .281 Cordero, A 3B 3 0 1 0 .281 Washington, D 1B 4 0 1 0 .221 Phipps, D DH 3 0 0 0 .268 Cabrera, R C 3 0 0 1 .231 Rondon, A SS 3 0 2 0 .283 Fields, D LF 4 0 0 0 .224 Lyons, D SS 4 1 2 0 .198 36 4 11 4 36 12 16 12 Sugar Land 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 4 11 0 L Island 0 0 0 1 5 6 0 0 x - 12 16 1 2B--Barnes, B RF (12), Hawkins, C LF (13), Valdespin, J 2B (14). HR--Walsh, C 2B (1), Snider, T RF (10), Ard, T 3B 2 (10). RBI--Walsh, C 2B 2 (15), Chavez, M 1B (38), Hawkins, C LF (45), TOTALS 4 (0), Snider, T RF 4 (49), Ford, L DH (40), Ard, T 3B 6 (26), Cabrera, R C (9), TOTALS 12 (0). HP--Cordero, A 3B (4). SF--Cabrera, R C (2). SB--Rondon, A SS (17). E--Washington, D 1B (4). LOB--Sugar Land 11, L Island 7. DP--C. Walsh(2B) - A. Rondon(SS) - M. Chavez(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - D. Washington(1B), C. Walsh(2B) - A. Rondon(SS) - M. Chavez(1B), A. Cordero(3B) - C. Hawkins(LF) - A. Rondon(SS). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land Wade, K (L,4-2) 5.1 13 10 10 3 2 2 3.94 Wimmers, A 1.2 3 2 2 1 2 1 10.80 Domel, C 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.00 8 16 12 12 6 4 3 L Island Brownell, J (W,4-7) 8.0 8 2 2 5 4 1 3.96 Dunning, J 1.0 3 2 2 0 1 0 7.96 9 11 4 4 5 5 1 HB--Brownell, J (5). SO--Barnes, B, Giansanti, A, Phipps, D 2, Rondon, A, Washington, D 2, Fields, D 2. BB--Barnes, B, Hawkins, C, Norris, D, Phipps, D, Rondon, A, Bonifacio, E, Snider, T, Ford, L, De La Hoz, R, Washington, D, Cabrera, R. BF--Wade, K 30 (258), Wimmers, A 9 (18), Domel, C 4 (4), Brownell, J 36 (316), Dunning, J 6 (144). P-S--Wade, K 92-57, Wimmers, A 31-19, Domel, C 16-5, Brownell, J 141-84, Dunning, J 19-13. T--2:51. A--4510 Plate Umpire - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #1 - Kris Engstrand, Field Umpire #2 - Jorge Teran