Long Island rallies for four runs in ninth to even series
(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 18, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 8-7 on Tuesday night in the second game of a four-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the improbable comeback victory
The Ducks broke a scoreless tie with single runs in the fourth and fifth off of Patriots starter R.J. Seidel. Dan Lyons’ RBI double and Delta Cleary Jr.’s RBI triple did the damage. However, the Patriots followed with a six-spot in the bottom of the fifth against Ducks starter John Brownell. Two-run singles from Ricky Claudio and Aharon Eggleston highlighted the inning.
Long Island responded with two runs in the sixth on a RBI double by Cody Puckett and a bases loaded walk to Ryan Gebhardt, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Somerset led 7-4 going into the ninth inning, but the Ducks rallied for four runs off of Patriots closer Jon Hunton to jump ahead for good at 8-7. Consecutive two-out RBI singles from Sean Burroughs, Puckett, Mike Blanke and Nelfi Zapata accounted for the scoring.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Seidel pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Brownell surrendered six runs on six hits and two walks over four innings with three strikeouts. Nick Struck (5-3) earned the win after pitching out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the eighth without allowing a run. Hunton (2-4) took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk in one inning. Amalio Diaz collected his ninth save with a perfect ninth inning.
Puckett and Cleary, Jr. led the Flock with three hits apiece, while Burroughs added two.
Long Island and Somerset continue their four-game set on Wednesday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. from T.D. Bank Ballpark. Right-hander Bobby Blevins toes the rubber for the Ducks against Patriots southpaw Matt Zielinski. It’s the “Ducks Game of the Week,” and fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming audio will also be available online by CLICKING HERE.
The Ducks will return home on Friday, August 21 to begin a three-game homestand with the Camden Riversharks. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 6:35, with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It will be a Fowl Pole Friday at the Duck Pond! If a select Ducks player hits a home run off of either foul pole during the game, one lucky Ducks fan will win $50,000. The Ducks will be running their Friday night Pizza Hut K-Man and Air Trampoline Sports Friday promotions as well. 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.
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Game Date: 08/18/2015 Long Island Ducks 8 AT Somerset Patriots 7 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG D.Cleary Jr. CF 5 0 3 1 .294 N.Spears 2B 5 1 1 0 .255 A.Vega LF 5 2 1 0 .290 A.Eggleston LF 4 0 2 2 .314 D.Lyons SS 3 2 1 1 .316 D.Vidal 3B 5 0 1 1 .268 S.Burroughs 3B 4 1 2 1 .336 M.Burgess RF 4 1 0 0 .247 C.Hughes 2B,PR 0 1 0 0 .200 R.Andino SS 3 1 1 0 .254 C.Puckett DH 5 1 3 2 .279 M.Gamel 1B 2 1 0 0 .196 S.McQuail 1B 3 0 0 0 .177 R.Claudio CF 3 1 1 2 .391 M.Blanke 1B,PH 1 0 1 1 .288 A.Donachie DH 4 1 1 1 .229 N.Zapata C 4 0 1 1 .400 J.Skelton C 4 1 1 0 .214 R.Gebhardt 2B,3B 4 0 0 1 .000 S.DiMatteo RF 4 1 1 0 .250 38 8 13 8 34 7 8 6 L Island 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 4 - 8 13 1 Somerset 0 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 0 - 7 8 0 2B--D.Lyons (20), C.Puckett (18). 3B--D.Cleary Jr. (4), A.Vega (7). RBI--D.Cleary Jr. (30), D.Lyons (59), S.Burroughs (37), C.Puckett 2 (43), M.Blanke (34), N.Zapata (4), R.Gebhardt (3), A.Eggleston 2 (40), D.Vidal (50), R.Claudio 2 (3), A.Donachie (32). HP--N.Zapata (2). E--S.McQuail (2). LOB--L Island 9, Somerset 6. DP--R. Gebhardt(2B) - D. Lyons(SS), R. Gebhardt(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - S. McQuail(1B), N. Spears(2B) - R. Andino(SS) - M. Gamel(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island J.Brownell 4.0 6 6 5 2 3 0 3.19 P.Crider 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.80 J.Romero 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 2.29 N.Struck (W,5-3) 1.0 0 0 0 3 1 0 2.73 A.Diaz (S,9) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.28 9 8 7 6 6 5 0 Somerset R.Seidel 5.0 5 2 2 2 4 0 3.26 G.Schlosser 1.0 2 2 2 2 1 0 7.71 K.De La Cruz 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 K.Newby 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.97 J.Hunton (L,2-4) 1.0 5 4 4 1 1 0 3.02 9 13 8 8 5 8 0 WP--K.Newby (5). HB--G.Schlosser (1). SO--A.Vega, S.Burroughs, S.McQuail 2, N.Zapata 2, S.DiMatteo 2, N.Spears, D.Vidal, M.Gamel, A.Donachie, J.Skelton. BB--D.Lyons 2, S.Burroughs, S.McQuail, R.Gebhardt, A.Eggleston, M.Burgess, R.Andino, M.Gamel 2, R.Claudio. BF--J.Brownell 20 (546), P.Crider 5 (182), J.Romero 6 (82), N.Struck 6 (154), A.Diaz 3 (183), R.Seidel 20 (250), G.Schlosser 8 (23), K.De La Cruz 3 (3), K.Newby 4 (191), J.Hunton 9 (175). P-S--J.Brownell 81-49, P.Crider 17-10, J.Romero 23-13, N.Struck 27-13, A.Diaz 11-8, R.Seidel 73-43, G.Schlosser 32-15, K.De La Cruz 15-8, K.Newby 18-12, J.Hunton 29-20. T--3:12. A--3859 LI: mound visit PC bottom 5th; SOM: mound visit PC top 6th; SOM: mound visit PC top 9th; Weather: High 80's; clear, breezy Plate Umpire - Steve Leonardo, Field Umpire #1 - J.B. Torres, Field Umpire #3 - Joe Cruz