Ducks rap out 10 hits in series opener

(Waldorf, Md. July 7, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks fell to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-4 Friday night at Regency Furniture Stadium in the opener of a three-game series.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from Friday night’s series opener

Angelo Songco started the scoring for the Ducks (2-3; 38-37) in the top of the first by lifting a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field to score Fehlandt Lentini. Long Island loaded the bases later in the frame, but Southern Maryland starter Daryl Thompson was able to limit the damage.

In the bottom of the first the Blue Crabs (3-1; 41-32) got even against Ducks starter Dennis O’Grady, plating a run on a sacrifice fly by Zach Wilson.

The Ducks broke the tie in the top of the sixth, erupting for three runs against Thompson. With two outs, Giovanny Alfonzo lined a single into centerfield to score Marc Krauss, and then Dan Lyons doubled to left to score two more to hand Long Island a 4-1 lead.

Southern Maryland evened the ledger in the bottom of the sixth, responding for three runs against O’Grady, highlighted by a two-run single from Zach Cone.

After a 43-minute rain delay to start the top of the eighth inning the Blue Crabs took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth, plating an unearned run against Patrick Crider (0-5) to take a 5-4 lead. Cody Eppley worked around a two-out single from Quintin Berry in the top of the ninth to seal his 22nd save of the year and make a winner of Craig Stem (1-1).

Neither starter factored into the decision. O’Grady allowed four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings, walking two and striking out one. Thompson yielded four runs (one earned) on nine hits in six frames, walking one and striking out four.

Berry went 3-for-5 with a stolen base and Krauss added a 2-for-3 day with a walk and a run scored to lead the Ducks on offense.

The Ducks and Blue Crabs play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday night. Game time is slated 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. The Long Island Ducks Pregame Show begins at 6:20 p.m. Left-hander Rafael Perez (5-4, 3.83) takes the mound for the Ducks, while the Blue Crabs counter with righty Drew Hayes (3-3, 4.70).

Long Island returns home following the Atlantic League All-Star break on Friday, July 14 to begin 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 Anti-Bullying Night at the ballpark, and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Commemorative Pennants, courtesy of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying. It’s also a Fowl Pole Friday, and fans have a chance to win $50,000 if a select Ducks player hits a home run off one of the foul poles. In addition, if the Patriots player designated as the K-Man strikes out during the game, all fans will receive a coupon good for a free 1-topping personal pizza at a participating Pizza Hut location. 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 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: 07/07/2017 Long Island Ducks 4 AT Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG S Maryland AB R H BI AVG Lentini, F RF 5 1 1 0 .225 Lozada, J 2B 4 1 1 0 .281 Berry, Q CF 5 0 3 0 .278 Garcia, E SS 4 0 0 0 .253 Ford, L DH 4 0 0 0 .294 Wilson, Z 1B 3 1 1 1 .289 Songco, A 1B 3 0 1 1 .266 Snyder, M DH 4 0 0 0 .283 Gotay, R 3B 4 0 1 0 .241 Vaughn, C CF 3 2 1 0 .269 Krauss, M LF 3 1 2 0 .252 Hoes, L LF 3 1 2 1 .268 Burg, A C 4 1 0 0 .221 Cone, Z RF 4 0 1 2 .271 Alfonzo, G 2B 4 1 1 1 .345 Alen, L C 2 0 1 1 .241 Lyons, D SS 4 0 1 2 .242 Palmeiro, P 3B 3 0 1 0 .221 36 4 10 4 30 5 8 5 L Island 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 4 10 2 S Maryland 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 x - 5 8 1 2B--Lyons, D SS (13). RBI--Songco, A 1B (38), Alfonzo, G 2B (24), Lyons, D SS 2 (16), TOTALS 4 (0), Wilson, Z 1B (48), Hoes, L LF (6), Cone, Z RF 2 (34), Alen, L C (19), TOTALS 5 (0). HP--Ford, L DH (1). SF--Songco, A 1B (2), Wilson, Z 1B (6), Alen, L C (2). SB--Berry, Q CF (2), Lozada, J 2B (19), Hoes, L LF (1). E--Gotay, R 3B (1), Lyons, D SS (9), Palmeiro, P 3B (12). LOB--L Island 8, S Maryland 5. DP--J. Lozada(2B) - P. Palmeiro(3B) - Z. Wilson(1B), A. Songco(1B) - D. Lyons(SS) - D. OGrady(P). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island OGrady, D 5.1 6 4 4 2 1 0 5.18 Rogers, R 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.68 Crider, P (L,0-5) 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2.33 8 8 5 4 2 2 0 S Maryland Thompson, D 6.0 9 4 1 1 4 0 3.76 Carson, R 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.04 Hebner, C 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.05 Stem, C (W,1-1) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 8.59 Eppley, C (S,22) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.43 9 10 4 1 1 6 0 WP--Crider, P (3), Eppley, C (4). HB--Carson, R (4). SO--Ford, L, Songco, A, Gotay, R, Burg, A 2, Alfonzo, G, Wilson, Z, Palmeiro, P. BB--Krauss, M, Vaughn, C, Hoes, L. BF--OGrady, D 24 (322), Rogers, R 5 (149), Crider, P 5 (111), Thompson, D 28 (394), Carson, R 4 (117), Hebner, C (116), Stem, C 2 (75), Eppley, C 4 (132). P-S--OGrady, D 75-49, Rogers, R 15-14, Crider, P 18-12, Thompson, D 91-68, Carson, R 15-8, Hebner, C 3-2, Stem, C 7-6, Eppley, C 21-11. T--3:24. Game delayed 43 minutes at beginning of top 8 due to rain. Plate Umpire - Jim Clayton, Field Umpire #1 - Jorge Teran, Field Umpire #2 - Silvio Martinez