Three-run eighth gives Ducks third consecutive victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., April 30, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-4 on Saturday night in the third game of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the comeback victory
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Cody Puckett and Mark Blackmar talk about the win
Lew Ford put the Ducks in front 1-0 in the opening inning on a run-scoring double play ball. Angel Flores then quickly tied the game in the second on a run-scoring groundout to short.
It stayed even until the seventh when back-to-back doubles by Bryant Nelson and Flores gave the Blue Crabs a 2-1 lead. However, with two outs in the bottom of the frame, Mike Dowd doubled to right and came home on a RBI single to center by Fehlandt Lentini.
Southern Maryland took the lead back again in the eighth on a two-out, two-run home run to left by Michael Snyder, but Long Island would rally back in the bottom of the inning. A RBI single to short by Dan Lyons followed by a two-run single to right from Cody Puckett gave the Ducks a 5-4 advantage they would never relinquish.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Mark Blackmar tossed six innings, allowing just one run on two hits and two walk while striking out two. Gaby Hernandez lasted five innings, yielding a run on four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Amalio Diaz (1-0) collected the win despite allowing two runs on two hits in one inning of work. Justin Berg (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on four hits and a walk in one inning. Todd Coffey earned his second save with a scoreless ninth.
Puckett led the Flock at the plate with three hits and two RBI. Sean Burroughs chipped in with two hits as well.
The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their four-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2016 Ducks Schedule Poster. It’s also a Sunday Family Funday at the ballpark! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 12:50 to 1:05. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Right-hander Bruce Kern gets the ball for Long Island against Southern Maryland righty and former Duck Shaun Garceau.
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. Those unable to make game can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming video and audio will be available online by 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 34 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{508e0238204740d3d9c141f5965096b8721e890fc8446b80b243ba5070871f7e} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 04/30/2016 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 4 AT Long Island Ducks 5 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Lombardozzi, S SS 4 0 0 0 .385 Lentini, F RF 3 1 1 1 .286 Brown, G CF 4 0 0 0 .167 Cleary Jr., D LF 4 0 1 0 .275 Chen, K DH 4 1 1 0 .444 Ford, L DH 4 0 1 0 .294 Snyder, M 1B 4 2 3 2 .364 Freiman, N 1B 4 1 1 0 .250 Walton, J LF 3 0 0 0 .250 Burroughs, S 3B 4 0 2 0 .275 Nelson, B 2B 3 1 2 0 .310 Vega, A PR 0 1 0 0 .167 Flores, A C 3 0 1 2 .263 Wessinger, M 3B 0 0 0 0 .000 Akins, N RF 4 0 0 0 .150 Tekotte, B CF 3 1 0 0 .222 Garcia, E 3B 4 0 0 0 .148 Lyons, D SS 4 0 1 1 .194 Puckett, C 2B 4 0 3 2 .222 Dowd, M C 3 1 1 0 .214 33 4 7 4 33 5 11 4 S Maryland 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 - 4 7 0 L Island 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 x - 5 11 1 2B--Nelson, B 2B 2 (3), Flores, A C (1), Ford, L DH (3), Dowd, M C (1). HR--Snyder, M 1B (5). RBI--Snyder, M 1B 2 (10), Flores, A C 2 (3), TOTALS 4 (0), Lentini, F RF (7), Lyons, D SS (6), Puckett, C 2B 2 (6), TOTALS 4 (0). HP--Dowd, M C (1). SH--Nelson, B 2B (0). E--Dowd, M C (2). LOB--S Maryland 5, L Island 7. DP--C. Puckett(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - N. Freiman(1B), B. Nelson(2B) - M. Snyder(1B), B. Nelson(2B) - S. Lombardozzi(SS) - M. Snyder(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland Hernandez, G 5.0 4 1 1 1 8 0 5.40 Urlaub, J 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Moore, N 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 1.93 Berg, J (L,0-1) 1.0 4 3 3 1 1 0 6.35 8 11 5 5 2 12 0 L Island Blackmar, M 6.0 2 1 1 2 2 0 0.82 Blewett, D 0.2 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.60 Crider, P 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Diaz, A (W,1-0) 1.0 2 2 2 0 1 1 5.40 Coffey, T (S,2) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00 9 7 4 4 2 6 1 WP--Coffey, T (1). PB--Flores, A. HB--Hernandez, G (1). SO--Brown, G, Chen, K, Walton, J 2, Akins, N, Garcia, E, Lentini, F 2, Ford, L 2, Freiman, N 3, Tekotte, B 3, Lyons, D, Dowd, M. BB--Walton, J, Flores, A, Lentini, F, Tekotte, B. BF--Hernandez, G 20 (31), Urlaub, J 4 (20), Moore, N 5 (20), Berg, J 7 (26), Blackmar, M 22 (42), Blewett, D 4 (19), Crider, P (15), Diaz, A 5 (23), Coffey, T 4 (14). P-S--Hernandez, G 93-57, Urlaub, J 17-11, Moore, N 17-11, Berg, J 23-14, Blackmar, M 77-53, Blewett, D 14-10, Crider, P 6-3, Diaz, A 19-14, Coffey, T 18-10. T--2:54. A--5320 Plate Umpire - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #1 - Kris Engstrand, Field Umpire #2 - John Grasso