Long Island rallies for waddle-off win with two outs in ninth
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 19, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 4-3 in waddle-off fashion on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME VIDEO: Highlights from the epic ninth-inning comeback
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Alex Burg and Giovanny Alfonzo talk about the waddle-off win
Long Island struck for a run in the first inning with an RBI single from Angelo Songco off Patriots starter Mitch Atkins. The Ducks maintained their 1-0 lead through the first five innings thanks to the work of starter Rafael Perez. The southpaw yielded just three hits and a walk through five scoreless frames and struck out six.
Somerset pulled even in the sixth when Olmo Rosario lifted a two-run solo home run to left field off of Eury De La Rosa. The Patriots then took the lead in the seventh on a two-out, two-run single to center by Justin Pacchioli.
It stayed that way until the ninth when the Ducks put together a two-out rally despite being down to their final strike three times. An RBI single by Alex Burg closed the gap to 3-2, an RBI infield single by Delta Cleary Jr. tied the game at three, and Giovanny Alfonzo won the game with a waddle-off single up the middle.
Atkins took a no-decision but pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out two. Chin-Hui Tsao (1-1) collected the win after pitching a perfect ninth inning, and Jon Hunton (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Songco, Burg, Alfonzo and Elmer Reyes each had two hits to pace the Flock offensively.
The Ducks and Patriots continue their three-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 pm, with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full-season ticket holders). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular. In addition, 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 the fireworks show. Right-hander Dennis O’Grady (1-1, 2.86) takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots southpaw Rick Teasley (2-0, 1.68).
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 the game 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: 05/19/2017 Somerset Patriots 3 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Kelly, S SS 4 0 0 0 .231 Vega, A LF 4 0 0 0 .231 Pacchioli, J CF 5 0 1 2 .372 Lentini, F RF 4 1 1 0 .193 Rosario, O 3B 4 1 1 1 .280 Songco, A DH 4 0 2 1 .292 Sands, J RF 5 0 1 0 .297 Reyes, E SS 4 1 2 0 .319 LaHair, B 1B 4 0 0 0 .237 Krauss, M 1B 3 0 0 0 .275 Guzman, C DH 4 0 1 0 .229 Lyons, D PR 0 1 0 0 .205 Gonzalez, Y C 3 1 3 0 .369 Burg, A C 4 1 2 1 .275 Eggleston, A LF 4 0 2 0 .329 Puckett, C 3B 3 0 0 0 .242 Bortnick, T 2B 2 1 1 0 .268 Cleary Jr., D CF 4 0 1 1 .231 Alfonzo, G 2B 4 0 2 1 .292 35 3 10 3 34 4 10 4 Somerset 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 - 3 10 0 L Island 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 - 4 10 0 2B--Gonzalez, Y C (3), Burg, A C (6). HR--Rosario, O 3B (3). RBI--Pacchioli, J CF 2 (10), Rosario, O 3B (18), TOTALS 3 (0), Songco, A DH (17), Burg, A C (11), Cleary Jr., D CF (10), Alfonzo, G 2B (4), TOTALS 4 (0). SH--Bortnick, T 2B (0). SB--Lentini, F RF (19). CS--Alfonzo, G 2B (1). LOB--Somerset 10, L Island 6. DP--M. Atkins(P) - S. Kelly(SS) - B. LaHair(1B), S. Kelly(SS) - J. Sands(RF) - T. Bortnick(2B), D. Cleary Jr.(CF) - G. Alfonzo(2B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset Atkins, M 6.0 6 1 1 0 2 0 4.13 Shaban, R 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Wright, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.75 Hunton, J (L,0-1) 0.2 4 3 3 2 0 0 13.50 8.2 10 4 4 2 3 0 L Island Perez, R 5.0 3 0 0 1 6 0 3.73 De La Rosa, E 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 1 7.72 Diaz, A 0.2 3 2 2 2 0 0 1.50 Treece, Z 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.07 Crider, P 1.0 2 0 0 1 0 0 2.53 Tsao, C (W,1-1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.29 9 10 3 3 4 7 1 WP--Atkins, M (1), Diaz, A (1). SO--Kelly, S, Pacchioli, J 2, Rosario, O, Sands, J, LaHair, B, Bortnick, T, Vega, A, Cleary Jr., D, Alfonzo, G. BB--Kelly, S, Rosario, O, Gonzalez, Y, Bortnick, T, Krauss, M, Puckett, C. BF--Atkins, M 22 (134), Shaban, R 3 (26), Wright, J 3 (43), Hunton, J 8 (13), Perez, R 18 (133), De La Rosa, E 5 (12), Diaz, A 7 (49), Treece, Z (59), Crider, P 6 (42), Tsao, C 3 (28). P-S--Atkins, M 74-53, Shaban, R 11-7, Wright, J 9-7, Hunton, J 36-20, Perez, R 61-44, De La Rosa, E 25-17, Diaz, A 27-12, Treece, Z 5-3, Crider, P 24-14, Tsao, C 13-10. T--3:18. A--4552 15-minute rain delay with two outs and one on the bottom of the sixth inning Plate Umpire - John Grasso, Field Umpire #1 - John Libone, Field Umpire #2 - Mike Williams