(Sugar Land, Texas, May 13, 2012) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 6-4 on Sunday evening in the third game of a six-game series at Constellation Field.
GAME AUDIO: Ryan Garko’s solo homer
GAME AUDIO: Wilberto Ortiz’ solo homer
GAME AUDIO: Jon Meloan records the final out for his sixth save
For the second consecutive game, the Ducks put up a two-spot in the second inning, as Ryan Garko and Wilberto Ortiz hit solo homers to left off Skeeters starter Bobby Livingston. Sugar Land cut the deficit in half on Kade Johnson’s solo homer to left off Ducks starter Joe Esposito in the third.
Long Island tacked on three runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 5-1. Shawn Williams and Ortiz had RBI singles while Josh Johnson connected for a run-scoring double in the frame. The Skeeters would rally again for two runs run their half of the sixth, as a solo homer from Jason Botts and a RBI single from Ofilio Castro trimmed the lead to two. Bubba Bell’s run-scoring single in the seventh made it a one-run game, but the Skeeters could not get any closer.
Esposito (1-2) earned the win, allowing just three runs on six hits in six innings of work. Livingston (1-1) took the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits in five and one-third innings. Jon Meloan picked up his sixth save with a scoreless ninth.
Ortiz led the Flock with three hits, while Garko, Ford and Williams each chipped in with two.
Long Island and Sugar Land continue their six-game set on Monday night. Game time is slated for 8:05 p.m. EDT at Constellation Field. Fans can follow all the action live online at www.liducks.com by clicking the Listen Live icon on the homepage. Streaming audio will be provided by iBN, the Internet Broadcast Network.
The Ducks return home on Friday, May 18 to begin a 10-game homestand, as they host the Somerset Patriots for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. It’s “Don’t Zone Out Night” at the ballpark, and the first 2,500 fans will receive a Ducks Static Cling Decal, courtesy of CSEA. Tickets for the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling 631-940-TIXX or visiting www.liducks.com.
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GAME DATE: 05/13/2012 Long Island Ducks 6 AT Sugar Land Skeeters 4 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG K.Binick LF 4 0 1 0 .257 B.Bell CF 5 0 1 1 .224 B.Nelson 3B 4 1 0 0 .210 D.Locke LF 4 0 0 0 .266 L.Ford CF 5 1 2 0 .397 J.Botts RF 3 1 1 1 .354 R.Garko 1B 4 2 2 2 .450 J.Pressley 1B 4 1 1 0 .254 R.Navarrete DH 5 0 1 0 .233 J.Van Ostrand 3B 3 0 2 0 .322 S.Williams RF 5 1 2 1 .550 O.Castro SS 4 0 1 1 .545 W.Ortiz 2B 5 1 3 2 .348 B.Harrison DH 4 0 1 0 .300 J.Johnson C 4 0 1 1 .263 K.Johnson C 2 2 1 1 .500 D.Lyons SS 4 0 1 0 .333 O.Martinez C 1 0 1 0 .250 D.Benitez 2B 2 0 0 0 .139 I.Suarez 2B,PH 2 0 0 0 .143 40 6 13 6 34 4 9 4 L Island 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 - 6 13 1 Sugar Land 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 - 4 9 2 2B--L.Ford (6), R.Navarrete (6), J.Johnson (4). HR--R.Garko (4), W.Ortiz (1), J.Botts (4), K.Johnson (1). RBI--R.Garko 2 (16), S.Williams (2), W.Ortiz 2 (6), J.Johnson (2), B.Bell (7), J.Botts (14), O.Castro (3), K.Johnson (1). HP--K.Binick (4), K.Johnson (1). SH--D.Locke (0). SB--L.Ford (4). E--J.Lyman (2), O.Castro 2 (2). LOB--L Island 10, Sugar Land 7. DP--B. Livingston(P) - O. Castro(SS) - J. Pressley(1B), D. Lyons(SS) - W. Ortiz(2B) - R. Garko(1B), W. Ortiz(2B) - R. Garko(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island J.Esposito (W,1-2) 6.0 6 3 3 2 2 2 6.35 J.Lyman 0.1 1 1 1 0 0 0 9.72 E.Niesen 1.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 J.Meloan (S,6) 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.82 9 9 4 4 2 4 2 Sugar Land B.Livingston (L,1-1) 5.1 9 5 5 1 4 2 5.40 G.Majewski 1.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.00 W.Startup 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.50 R.Houston 1.0 3 1 1 1 1 0 2.70 9 13 6 6 2 8 2 WP--J.Lyman (4). HB--J.Lyman (2), G.Majewski (1). SO--L.Ford 2, R.Navarrete 2, W.Ortiz, J.Johnson 2, D.Lyons, B.Bell, D.Locke, D.Benitez, I.Suarez. BB--B.Nelson, R.Garko, J.Botts, J.Van Ostrand. BF--J.Esposito 25 (103), J.Lyman 4 (45), E.Niesen 5 (36), J.Meloan 4 (44), B.Livingston 26 (89), G.Majewski 6 (35), W.Startup 5 (28), R.Houston 6 (18). P-S--J.Esposito 90-54, J.Lyman 15-8, E.Niesen 14-9, J.Meloan 17-13, B.Livingston 87-53, G.Majewski 24-17, W.Startup 22-16, R.Houston 20-11. T--2:54. A--6941 Weather: Moustly Cloudy-Wind N 9 mph - 8 Umpires: Plate Ump - Mike Terry, Field Ump #1 - Pat McLaughlin (1B), Field Ump #2 - Eric Diaz (3B)