Three-run eighth inning completes comeback for Flock
(Photo courtesy of Joe Doll)
(Waldorf, Md., July 27, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-3 on Friday night in the series opener at Regency Furniture Stadium.
GAME VIDEO: Check out highlights from the come-from-behind victory!
The Blue Crabs opened the scoring in the very first inning when former Duck Jon Griffin hit a two-run home run to left-center field. Lew Ford answered in the top of the second inning with a solo shot to left-center to cut Southern Maryland’s lead in half.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Kalaika Kaho’ohalahala drove in a run with a line-drive single to left field, extending the Blue Crabs’ lead to 3-1. Emilio Bonifacio erased the lead with a two-run triple to right field in the top of the eighth inning. Travis Snider was able to bring him home with a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat, giving the Ducks a 4-3 lead.
Ramon Cabrera extended Long Island’s lead to 5-3 with an RBI single in the top of the ninth. The Blue Crabs were unable to rebound from losing the lead, with Francisco Rodriguez pitching a one-two-three ninth inning.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Bennett Parry lasted six and one-third innings, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk, striking out eight. Craig Stem pitched six innings for the Blue Crabs, conceding one run on four hits and one walk, adding four strikeouts. Dennis O’Grady (3-2) earned the win for the Ducks after finishing out the seventh inning by retiring the two batters he faced. Sam Runion (0-5) took the loss, surrendering three runs on one hit and two walks, striking out one in his inning of work in the eighth. Rodriguez converted his 16th save, allowing one hit while retiring the side in order.
Cabrera tallied three hits to pace the Flock. David Washington and Bonifacio also had multi-hit games.
The Ducks continue their series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium. Fans 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. Right-hander Matt Larkins (5-2, 3.76) gets the start for the Ducks in game two against Blue Crabs righty Paul Clemens (1-6, 6.42).
Long Island returns home on Monday, July 30 to open a three-game series against the Somerset Patriots. 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). It’s Suffolk County Boy Scouts Night, presented by BNB Bank, and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks T-Shirts. Tickets to the game, and all Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, CLICKING HERE or downloading the Ducks mobile app.
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: 07/27/2018 Long Island Ducks 5 AT Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 3 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG S Maryland AB R H BI AVG Valdespin, J 2B 3 0 0 0 .360 Strausborger, R CF 4 0 0 0 .248 Bonifacio, E CF,SS 4 1 2 2 .340 Garcia, E SS 4 0 0 0 .277 Snider, T RF 1 0 0 1 .281 Rodriguez, D 1B 3 1 1 0 .265 Ford, L DH 4 1 1 1 .295 Griffin, J DH 3 1 1 2 .272 Ard, T 3B 4 1 1 0 .299 Vaughn, C PR 0 0 0 0 .203 Washington, D 1B 4 0 2 0 .228 Songco, A RF 4 0 1 0 .244 Cabrera, R C 4 0 3 1 .253 Nina, A 3B 4 1 2 0 .273 Fields, D CF,LF 3 1 0 0 .235 Maddox, C C 3 0 0 0 .181 Lyons, D SS 2 1 0 0 .211 Kahoohalahala, LF 4 0 1 1 .074 Vega, A LF 1 0 0 0 .187 Rosario, F 2B 3 0 0 0 .207 30 5 9 5 32 3 6 3 L Island 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 - 5 9 1 S Maryland 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 3 6 0 3B--Bonifacio, E CF,SS (2). HR--Ford, L DH (10), Griffin, J DH (7). RBI--Bonifacio, E CF,SS 2 (34), Snider, T RF (57), Ford, L DH (58), Cabrera, R C (12), TOTALS 5 (0), Griffin, J DH 2 (16), Kahoohalahala, LF (1), TOTALS 3 (0). SF--Snider, T RF (2). SH--Valdespin, J 2B (0), Maddox, C C (0). E--Washington, D 1B (6). LOB--L Island 4, S Maryland 5. DP--E. Garcia(SS) - F. Rosario(2B) - D. Rodriguez(1B), E. Garcia(SS) - D. Rodriguez(1B), E. Garcia(SS) - F. Rosario(2B) - D. Rodriguez(1B), E. Garcia(SS) - F. Rosario(2B) - D. Rodriguez(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - E. Bonifacio(SS) - D. Washington(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Parry, B 6.1 5 3 3 1 8 1 2.86 OGrady, D (W,3-2) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.21 Murray, C 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.23 Rodriguez, F (S,16) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 9 6 3 3 2 9 1 S Maryland Stem, C 6.0 4 1 1 1 4 1 2.91 Creasy, J 1.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 3.51 Runion, S (L,0-5) 1.0 1 3 3 2 1 0 4.21 Eppley, C 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0.86 9 9 5 5 4 8 1 SO--Valdespin, J, Ford, L 2, Ard, T 2, Washington, D 2, Cabrera, R, Strausborger, R 2, Rodriguez, D, Griffin, J, Songco, A, Maddox, C, Rosario, F 3. BB--Snider, T 2, Fields, D, Lyons, D, Rodriguez, D, Griffin, J. BF--Parry, B 26 (353), OGrady, D 2 (141), Murray, C 4 (61), Rodriguez, F 3 (98), Stem, C 20 (237), Creasy, J 5 (120), Runion, S 6 (170), Eppley, C 5 (83). P-S--Parry, B 95-64, OGrady, D 4-4, Murray, C 15-5, Rodriguez, F 6-3, Stem, C 71-48, Creasy, J 28-16, Runion, S 23-12, Eppley, C 16-10. T--2:39. A--3777 Plate Umpire - Silvio Martinez, Field Umpire #1 - Steve Zawisky, Field Umpire #2 - Mike Williams