Long Island earns their fifth consecutive series win
(Central Islip, N.Y., June 17, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks swept a single admission doubleheader from the Sugar Land Skeeters on Wednesday night at Bethpage Ballpark, taking game one 4-1 and game two 3-1.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from game one
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from game two
POSTGAME VIDEO: Lew Ford, Andrew Barbosa and Randy Ruiz talk about the sweep
The Ducks struck first in the second inning on a RBI double down the left field line by Dan Lyons off of Skeeters starter Josh Geer. Long Island added two more runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to center by Lyons and a RBI single to right-center by Delta Cleary, Jr.
Lyons rounded out the scoring for Long Island in the sixth with a solo home run to left. Sugar Land plated a run in the seventh on a RBI single to center by Willy Taveras, but that was as close as they would come.
Ducks starter Andrew Barbosa (3-0) earned the win, tossing six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out seven. Geer (1-1) suffered the loss, yielding three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in four innings. Ryan Kussmaul earned his 14th save after recording the final out in the seventh.
Cleary, Jr. led the Flock with three hits, while Lyons, Mike Blanke and Lew Ford each added two.
In game two, Denny Almonte gave the Skeeters a 1-0 lead with a solo homer to left field in the third inning off of Ducks starter Ian Marshall. Long Island responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs off of Skeeters starter Sean Gallagher. Lew Ford’s RBI single and a RBI double by Randy Ruiz highlighted the inning. It stayed that way until the sixth when a sacrifice fly to left from Blake Davis extended the lead to two.
Marshall did not factor into the decision but pitched four and one-third innings, yielding one run on two hits and four walks while striking out three. Patrick Crider (2-1) picked up the win after recording the final two outs in the fifth on a double play ball. Gallagher (1-5) took the loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings. Ryan Kussmaul earned his 15th save with a perfect seventh inning.
Ford and Ruiz each led the Flock with two hits, one RBI and one run in the game.
The Ducks and Skeeters wrap up their three-game set on Thursday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s the Kids Health and Safety Expo at the Duck Pond! The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive First Aid Kits, courtesy of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. It’s also a Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark. The Duck Club Restaurant/Bar, normally reserved for VIP/Season Ticket Holders only, will be open to all fans. The bar will feature drink specials, including half price domestics, while the restaurant will include special menu selections.
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 of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio, as the “Ducks Game of the Week.” Live streaming video and audio will also be available on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
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Duck Tales: The Ducks earned their third doubleheader sweep of the season and improved to 7-1 in twinbills this season. In their last 16 games overall, the Ducks have posted a 15-1 record, outscoring opponents 101-44 in that span (6.3 runs scored per game). Long Island has now won five consecutive series and are unbeaten in their last eight series overall. The Flock also have a 10-2-2 record in series play this year…Lew Ford has now earned hits in 10 consecutive games after picking up two hits in both games of the doubleheader. In those 10 games, the former big leaguer is batting .452 (19-for-42) with five doubles, eight RBI and nine runs. Ford currently leads the Atlantic League in hits (67), RBI (44), total bases (103), doubles (19) and extra-base hits (25)…Bryan Sabatella extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games with a single in game one. That’s the longest hitting streak by a Duck this season and the longest active hitting streak in the Atlantic League. During the streak, the Long Island native is batting .400 (24-for-60) with one double, one triple, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored. He has earned hits in 24 of his last 26 games, reaching base safely in 25 of them. The outfielder currently leads the Atlantic League in runs (40), at-bats (214) and stolen bases (15)…Dan Lyons’ solo home run in the opener of the doubleheader was his second of the season. His first longball came on June 9 against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Long Island has now combined to hit 26 homers as a team this year…Amalio Diaz tossed another scoreless inning of relief in game two. The right-hander has now made nine consecutive appearances without allowing a run. In addition, he has given up just one run in his last 19 outings. During those 19 games, Diaz has combined to pitch 19 innings, allowing just 10 hits and one walk while striking out 24 batters.
Game Date: 06/17/2015 (GAME ONE) Sugar Land Skeeters 1 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG W.Taveras DH 4 0 1 1 .264 B.Sabatella RF 4 0 1 0 .299 D.Martin LF 3 0 1 0 .270 D.Cleary Jr. LF 4 0 3 1 .339 D.Young 2B 4 0 0 0 .240 L.Ford CF 4 0 2 0 .335 K.Russo RF 3 0 1 0 .268 R.Ruiz DH 2 0 0 0 .238 T.Scott 1B 1 0 0 0 .226 J.Griffin 1B 3 0 1 0 .271 C.Wallace C 3 0 1 0 .261 C.Puckett 3B 3 1 1 0 .305 D.Almonte CF 3 0 0 0 .193 R.Corona 2B 3 0 0 0 .298 P.Palmeiro 3B 3 1 1 0 .260 M.Blanke C 3 2 2 0 .319 A.Zazueta SS 3 0 1 0 .265 D.Lyons SS 2 1 2 3 .303 27 1 6 1 28 4 12 4 Sugar Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 6 1 L Island 0 1 0 2 0 1 x - 4 12 0 2B--A.Zazueta (5), D.Lyons (10). HR--D.Lyons (2). RBI--W.Taveras (10), D.Cleary Jr. (12), D.Lyons 3 (26). HP--R.Ruiz (2). SF--D.Lyons (4). SB--K.Russo (3), M.Blanke (3). E--J.Geer (1). LOB--Sugar Land 8, L Island 8. DP--A. Zazueta(SS) - T. Scott(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land J.Geer (L,1-1) 4.0 9 3 3 0 2 0 2.37 A.Johnston 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.48 A.Martin 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.00 6 12 4 4 0 3 1 L Island A.Barbosa (W,3-0) 6.0 3 0 0 3 7 0 1.97 N.Struck 0.2 3 1 1 0 0 0 1.69 R.Kussmaul (S,14) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.19 7 6 1 1 3 7 0 PB--M.Blanke. HB--J.Geer (3). SO--D.Martin 2, D.Young, C.Wallace, D.Almonte 2, P.Palmeiro, D.Cleary Jr., J.Griffin, C.Puckett. BB--D.Martin, T.Scott 2. BF--J.Geer 22 (127), A.Johnston 3 (90), A.Martin 5 (77), A.Barbosa 24 (130), N.Struck 5 (69), R.Kussmaul (102). P-S--J.Geer 73-53, A.Johnston 9-7, A.Martin 15-10, A.Barbosa 99-64, N.Struck 13-9, R.Kussmaul 5-3. T--1:58. Plate Umpire - Manolo Alejandro, Field Umpire #1 - Dave Speranza, Field Umpire #2 - Frank Iurilli Game Date: 06/17/2015 (GAME TWO) Sugar Land Skeeters 1 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG W.Taveras DH 2 0 1 0 .268 D.Cleary Jr. LF 3 0 0 0 .330 D.Martin LF 2 0 0 0 .268 C.Puckett 3B 2 1 0 0 .302 D.Young 1B 3 0 0 0 .235 L.Ford CF 3 1 2 1 .340 T.Scott C 3 0 0 0 .222 R.Ruiz 1B 3 1 2 1 .292 K.Russo 2B 3 0 0 0 .262 J.Griffin DH 2 0 1 0 .274 J.Limonta RF 3 0 0 0 .000 P.Redman RF 2 0 0 0 .212 P.Palmeiro 3B 3 0 0 0 .256 J.Morales C 2 0 1 0 .257 D.Almonte CF 2 1 1 1 .196 B.Davis 2B 2 0 0 1 .148 A.Zazueta SS 1 0 0 0 .263 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .297 22 1 2 1 22 3 6 3 Sugar Land 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 1 2 1 L Island 0 0 2 0 0 1 x - 3 6 0 2B--R.Ruiz 2 (4). HR--D.Almonte (4). RBI--D.Almonte (13), L.Ford (44), R.Ruiz (6), B.Davis (3). SF--B.Davis (2). SH--P.Redman (0). SB--W.Taveras (11), D.Almonte (12). E--D.Almonte (5). LOB--Sugar Land 4, L Island 6. DP--B. Davis(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - R. Ruiz(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land S.Gallagher (L,1-5) 6.0 6 3 2 2 4 0 3.43 6 6 3 2 2 4 0 L Island I.Marshall 4.1 2 1 1 4 3 1 2.50 P.Crider (W,2-1) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.95 A.Diaz 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.39 R.Kussmaul (S,15) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.10 7 2 1 1 4 6 1 SO--D.Martin, D.Young, T.Scott, K.Russo 2, D.Almonte, D.Cleary Jr., L.Ford, P.Redman, B.Davis. BB--W.Taveras, D.Martin, D.Almonte, A.Zazueta, J.Griffin, J.Morales. BF--S.Gallagher 26 (254), I.Marshall 19 (216), P.Crider (87), A.Diaz 3 (98), R.Kussmaul 3 (105). P-S--S.Gallagher 85-56, I.Marshall 71-43, P.Crider 1-1, A.Diaz 9-8, R.Kussmaul 9-8. T--1:46. A--5170 Plate Umpire - Dave Speranza, Field Umpire #1 - Frank Leparik, Field Umpire #2 - Manolo Alejandro