Bullpen’s brilliance nearly helps Ducks come back from early four-run deficit

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 26, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Lancaster Barnstormers 4-3 on Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from the series opener with Lancaster

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Tyler Levine and Cody Puckett discuss Friday’s game

The Barnstormers opened up an early 4-0 lead with two runs in the first inning and single runs in the second and third. An RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Caleb Gindl, a fielding error, a sacrifice fly from Gindl and an RBI single by Vladimir Frias did the damage.

Long Island closed to within one with three runs in the fourth inning against Barnstormers starter Elih Villanueva. An RBI double to right field by Marc Krauss and a two-run home run down the left field line by Cody Puckett made it a 4-3 ballgame.

The Ducks put the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth inning, but a diving play up the middle by Rico Noel prevented the Flock from pulling even.

Villanueva (4-1) picked up the win, pitching five innings of three-run ball, yielding six hits and a walk while striking out three. Ducks starter Keith Couch (0-2) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on six hits in one and one-third innings. Anthony Carter collected his sixth save with a scoreless ninth despite allowing a hit and a walk.

The Ducks and Barnstormers continue their four-game set with a day/night doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one, which will be a seven inning game, is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:05 (11:50 for full season ticket holders). Game time for game two, which will be a nine inning game, 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 nightcap on Saturday, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular.

It’s also a Dick’s Sporting Good Saturday at the ballpark, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans as they exit the ballpark following each game of the twin bill. Right-hander Dennis O’Grady (1-1, 2.17) takes the mound for the Ducks in game one against Barnstormers southpaw Jarret Leverett (1-0, 8.52). Righty Tim Melville (2-2, 2.58) toes the rubber for Long Island in game two against Lancaster righty Brad Bergesen (2-2, 4.35).

Tickets to both games, 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 doubleheader can follow all the action online 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: 05/26/2017 Lancaster Barnstormers 4 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Sandford, D CF 5 1 2 0 .366 Lentini, F RF 5 0 1 0 .179 Noel, R 2B 5 0 2 0 .333 Reimold, N DH 3 0 0 0 .254 Gindl, C RF 3 1 1 2 .281 Songco, A LF 4 0 0 0 .302 Hobson, K 1B 4 0 0 0 .317 Reyes, E 2B 4 1 1 0 .310 Halton, S 3B 5 0 3 0 .248 Krauss, M 1B 4 1 1 1 .270 Gailen, B DH 4 1 2 0 .313 Burg, A C 4 0 1 0 .289 Milledge, L LF 5 0 0 0 .278 Vega, A PR 0 0 0 0 .240 Frias, V SS 4 0 2 1 .261 Puckett, C 3B 4 1 1 2 .226 De La Rosa, A C 4 1 1 0 .280 Cleary Jr., D CF 3 0 1 0 .230 Lyons, D SS 3 0 1 0 .224 39 4 13 3 34 3 7 3 Lancaster 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 4 13 0 L Island 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 7 2 2B--Gindl, C RF (7), Reyes, E 2B (7), Krauss, M 1B (6), Cleary Jr., D CF (7), Lyons, D SS (6). HR--Puckett, C 3B (3). RBI--Gindl, C RF 2 (27), Frias, V SS (16), TOTALS 3 (0), Krauss, M 1B (20), Puckett, C 3B 2 (11), TOTALS 3 (0). SF--Gindl, C RF (2). SB--Sandford, D CF (25), Lentini, F RF (20). E--Lyons, D SS 2 (7). LOB--Lancaster 12, L Island 7. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster Villanueva, E (W,4-1) 5.0 6 3 3 1 3 1 2.87 Anderson, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.56 Shuman, S 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1.84 Hall, C 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.91 Carter, A (S,6) 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.00 9 7 3 3 3 6 1 L Island Couch, K (L,0-2) 1.1 6 3 3 0 0 0 9.72 Levine, T 2.2 5 1 1 2 0 0 3.46 Fuller, J 2.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2.61 Treece, Z 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.76 Crider, P 1.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2.31 Aardsma, D 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.82 9 13 4 4 3 8 0 WP--Shuman, S (2). SO--Sandford, D, Noel, R 2, Hobson, K 2, Milledge, L, Frias, V, De La Rosa, A, Reimold, N, Songco, A 2, Burg, A, Puckett, C, Cleary Jr., D. BB--Gindl, C, Hobson, K, Gailen, B, Reimold, N, Cleary Jr., D, Lyons, D. BF--Villanueva, E 22 (132), Anderson, J 3 (68), Shuman, S 4 (60), Hall, C 3 (62), Carter, A 5 (70), Couch, K 10 (43), Levine, T 15 (59), Fuller, J 8 (44), Treece, Z 3 (65), Crider, P 4 (46), Aardsma, D 3 (43). P-S--Villanueva, E 89-53, Anderson, J 15-8, Shuman, S 15-8, Hall, C 12-11, Carter, A 12-7, Couch, K 29-19, Levine, T 50-31, Fuller, J 25-22, Treece, Z 10-8, Crider, P 21-11, Aardsma, D 7-6. T--3:08. A--3827 Keith Couch left the game due to injury three batters into the second inning Plate Umpire - David Speranza, Field Umpire #1 - Anthony Inzero, Field Umpire #2 - Mike Williams