Lyons smacks homer as Flock maintains winning ways

(Waldorf, Md., Aug. 13, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Regency Furniture Stadium in the finale of a four-game series.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from Sunday’s victory

In the top of the third, Quintin Berry drew a leadoff walk against Eric Fornataro and promptly stole second. A bunt single and a stolen base from Anthony Vega set the Ducks (21-15; 57-49) up with runners at second and third. Two batters later, Angelo Songco singled to right field to plate both runners and give Long Island a 2-0 lead.

Southern Maryland (13-23; 51-54) answered back with a run in the bottom of the fourth against Tyler Levine. Luis Alen smacked a ground rule double to plate Tucker Nathans to cut the deficit to 2-1. Levine (3-0) allowed just one run in five innings of work, yielding eight hits while striking out two and not walking a batter.

In the top of the sixth, Berry doubled off the mini monster in left field to plate Dan Lyons to extend a 3-1 advantage. Berry finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base, and now has multi-hit efforts in two of his last three games.

Lyons added a booming two-run home run in the top of the eighth off Jesse Beal to push the Ducks lead to 5-1.

A solo home run for Cory Vaughn off Rob Rogers in the bottom of the eighth made it 5-2 Long Island, but Amalio Diaz worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to seal the victory and earn his ninth save of the season.

Fornataro (0-5) took the loss for Southern Maryland, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings while walking four and striking out two.

With the victory, the Ducks completed a sweep of the Blue Crabs for the third time this season, and extended their winning streak to 10 games. Long Island has won seven straight against Southern Maryland, dating back to August 8.

The Ducks have a day off on Monday and continue their road trip with a four-game series against the Somerset Patriots beginning Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from TD Bank Ballpark. Fans 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. Right-hander Henderson Alvarez (1-1, 3.15) gets the start for the Ducks against Patriots righty David Kubiak (5-9, 3.86).

Long Island returns home on Friday, August 18 to open up a three-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. 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). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Drawstring Bags, courtesy of Fairfield Properties. It’s also a Fowl Pole Friday, and if a select Ducks player hits a home run off one of the foul poles during the game, one lucky fan will win $50,000. In addition, a Barnstormers player will be selected as the Pizza Hut K-Man of the game. If that player strikes out, fans will receive a special offer for a FREE 1-Topping Personal Pan Pizza at a participating Pizza Hut location. 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.

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 37 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: 08/13/2017 Long Island Ducks 5 AT Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 2 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG S Maryland AB R H BI AVG Berry, Q CF 4 1 2 1 .226 Lozada, J 3B 5 0 1 0 .276 Vega, A RF 4 1 1 0 .236 Garcia, E SS 4 0 0 0 .261 Krauss, M LF 5 0 1 0 .288 Hoes, L DH 4 0 3 0 .315 Songco, A 1B 5 0 1 2 .258 Palmeiro, P 1B 4 0 1 0 .234 Pyles, D DH 5 0 3 0 .234 Vaughn, C CF 4 1 1 1 .255 Reyes, E 2B 4 0 0 0 .284 Nathans, T RF 4 1 1 0 .316 Alfonzo, G 3B 5 1 1 0 .299 Alen, L C 4 0 4 1 .243 Afenir, A C 2 0 0 0 .333 Bistagne, B 2B 4 0 1 0 .197 Lyons, D SS 4 2 1 2 .263 Glenn, A LF 4 0 0 0 .063 38 5 10 5 37 2 12 2 L Island 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 - 5 10 0 S Maryland 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 - 2 12 1 2B--Berry, Q CF (5), Alfonzo, G 3B (10), Hoes, L DH (9), Alen, L C (8). 3B--Nathans, T RF (1). HR--Lyons, D SS (6), Vaughn, C CF (10). RBI--Berry, Q CF (9), Songco, A 1B 2 (63), Lyons, D SS 2 (31), TOTALS 5 (0), Vaughn, C CF (49), Alen, L C (29), TOTALS 2 (0). SB--Berry, Q CF (14), Vega, A RF (9), Hoes, L DH (4). CS--Lozada, J 3B (6). E--Garcia, E SS (12). LOB--L Island 11, S Maryland 8. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Levine, T (W,3-0) 5.0 8 1 1 0 2 0 4.40 Crider, P 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.13 OGrady, D 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.70 Rogers, R 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 4.36 Diaz, A (S,9) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.66 9 12 2 2 0 3 1 S Maryland Fornataro, E (L,0-5) 5.0 4 2 2 4 2 0 6.05 Runion, S 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 0 6.03 Carson, R 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.49 Beal, J 1.0 3 2 2 0 1 1 3.56 Stem, C 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.99 9 10 5 5 5 6 1 PB--Alen, L. SO--Vega, A, Krauss, M 2, Songco, A 2, Afenir, A, Garcia, E, Bistagne, B, Glenn, A. BB--Berry, Q, Vega, A, Reyes, E, Afenir, A 2. BF--Levine, T 21 (197), Crider, P 3 (159), OGrady, D 5 (403), Rogers, R 4 (213), Diaz, A 4 (176), Fornataro, E 24 (86), Runion, S 5 (173), Carson, R 4 (166), Beal, J 6 (175), Stem, C 4 (140). P-S--Levine, T 61-41, Crider, P 10-7, OGrady, D 14-11, Rogers, R 17-12, Diaz, A 20-14, Fornataro, E 92-54, Runion, S 19-12, Carson, R 14-11, Beal, J 20-12, Stem, C 17-10. T--2:56. A--2896 Plate Umpire - Nick Caldwell, Field Umpire #1 - Derek Moccia, Field Umpire #2 - Mike Williams