Long Island rallies from four-run deficit to even weekend series
(Central Islip, N.Y., June 2, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the New Britain Bees 7-5 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
New Britain took an early lead with four runs in the second inning off Ducks starter Jake Dunning. Ozney Guillen’s RBI single and a two-run double by Darren Ford highlighted the inning.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when Long Island stormed back with seven runs off Bees starter Rainy Lara and the bullpen to jump in front 7-4. An RBI single by Daniel Fields, a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Ramon Cabrera, an error that scored Taylor Ard, and two-run singles by Lew Ford and Emilio Bonifacio did the damage.
The Bees closed to within 7-5 in the seventh when Ford scored on a double play ball, but that was as close as they would come. Lee Sosa would strand the tying runs on base in the seventh, Vinnie Pestano did the same in the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez followed suit in the ninth.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Dunning lasted two innings, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks. Lara pitched five innings, yielding three runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Wander Perez (2-1) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning. Elvin Ramirez (0-2) took the loss, surrendering three unearned runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Rodriguez earned his sixth save with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out the side.
Bonifacio and Ford led the Flock offensively with two hits and two RBIs apiece. Fields chipped in with two hits and an RBI as well.
The Ducks and Bees wrap up their three-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 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Logo Baseball, courtesy of AARP. It’s also a Sunday Family Funday! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field with an autograph session with the Ducks from 12:50 to 1:05. Following the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Right-hander Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 5.14) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Bees southpaw Andy Van Hekken (1-3, 4.30).
Tickets to the game, and all 2018 Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game 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 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.
###
Game Date: 06/02/2018 New Britain Bees 5 AT Long Island Ducks 7 YTD YTD N Britain AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Ford, D CF 4 1 2 2 .252 Valdespin, J 2B 4 1 0 0 .333 Romero, D 3B 5 0 0 0 .341 Bonifacio, E CF,SS 5 1 2 2 .316 Brignac, R SS 2 0 0 0 .273 Snider, T 1B,RF 4 1 1 0 .234 Rogers, J 1B 3 1 1 0 .315 Ford, L DH 4 1 2 2 .259 Tuiasosopo, M DH 4 1 0 0 .159 Ard, T 1B,3B 2 1 0 0 .294 Thole, J C 2 0 0 0 .143 Fields, D CF,LF 4 0 2 1 .247 Walton, J RF 1 0 0 1 .313 Cabrera, R C 4 1 0 1 .250 Guillen, O LF 4 1 2 1 .254 Vega, A RF 2 0 0 0 .400 Skelton, J 2B 3 1 1 0 .272 Puckett, C 3B,PH 2 1 1 0 .253 Lyons, D SS 2 0 0 0 .178 Washington, LF,PH 2 0 0 0 .261 28 5 6 4 35 7 8 6 N Britain 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 5 6 3 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 x - 7 8 1 2B--Ford, D CF (5), Puckett, C 3B,PH (7). RBI--Ford, D CF 2 (11), Walton, J RF (12), Guillen, O LF (6), TOTALS 4 (0), Bonifacio, E CF,SS 2 (12), Ford, L DH 2 (20), Fields, D CF,LF (8), Cabrera, R C (3), TOTALS 6 (0). SF--Walton, J RF (1). SH--Thole, J C (0). SB--Brignac, R SS (2), Valdespin, J 2B 2 (7), Bonifacio, E CF,SS 2 (9). E--Romero, D 3B (6), Brignac, R SS (4), Lara, R P (2), Bonifacio, E CF,SS (2). LOB--N Britain 10, L Island 9. DP--J. Valdespin(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - T. Snider(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - E. Bonifacio(SS) - T. Ard(1B), A. Vega(RF) - T. Snider(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - T. Ard(3B) - T. Snider(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA N Britain Lara, R 5.0 4 3 3 3 5 0 3.94 Fuller, J 0.1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.71 Ramirez, E (L,0-2) 0.2 2 3 0 1 2 0 3.07 Burke, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Gervacio, S 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.60 8 8 7 3 5 9 0 L Island Dunning, J 2.0 3 4 4 3 0 0 9.87 Marsh, M 3.0 0 0 0 5 1 0 2.77 Perez, W (W,2-1) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.75 Sosa, L 1.0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0.00 Pestano, V 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2.30 Rodriguez, F (S,6) 1.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 1.00 9 6 5 4 12 6 0 WP--Lara, R (3), Dunning, J (5). SO--Ford, D 2, Romero, D, Tuiasosopo, M 2, Thole, J, Valdespin, J, Bonifacio, E, Snider, T 2, Ard, T, Fields, D, Cabrera, R, Vega, A, Washington, D. BB--Ford, D, Brignac, R 3, Rogers, J 2, Tuiasosopo, M, Thole, J 2, Walton, J 2, Skelton, J, Valdespin, J, Snider, T, Ford, L, Ard, T 2. BF--Lara, R 23 (140), Fuller, J 2 (51), Ramirez, E 7 (61), Burke, D 4 (4), Gervacio, S 4 (64), Dunning, J 11 (83), Marsh, M 12 (53), Perez, W 4 (58), Sosa, L 5 (5), Pestano, V 5 (63), Rodriguez, F 5 (35). P-S--Lara, R 94-61, Fuller, J 10-7, Ramirez, E 33-17, Burke, D 11-8, Gervacio, S 21-13, Dunning, J 32-16, Marsh, M 54-22, Perez, W 12-10, Sosa, L 24-14, Pestano, V 16-8, Rodriguez, F 28-15. T--3:30. A--6385 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Silvio Martinez, Field Umpire #2 - Ryan Benson