Strong starting pitching leads the way for the Flock

(Central Islip, N.Y., June 21, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks swept the Sugar Land Skeeters on Saturday in a day/night doubleheader at Bethpage Ballpark, taking game one 3-1 before earning a 2-1 victory in game two.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from game one of the doubleheader

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from game two of the doubleheader

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Rob Whitenack and Jared Lansford talk about the doubleheader sweep

Long Island jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in game one on a two-run home run from Adam Bailey off Skeeters reliever Daniel Meadows. A RBI single from Keith Castillo in the bottom of the fourth extended the lead to three.

Sugar Land got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth on a throwing error from Dan Lyons that allowed Dominic Ramos to score from second against Ducks starter Rob Whitenack. However, Sugar Land would get no closer.

Whitenack (1-0) earned the win after allowing one unearned run on four hits over six innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Skeeters starter Tracy McGrady received a no decision after working a scoreless first inning. Meadows (0-2) received the loss, yielding two runs on four hits in one inning of relief. Jon Meloan earned his seventh save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

Castillo paced the Ducks bats with three hits, while Randy Ruiz added two.

Long Island struck first in game two of the doubleheader with an unearned run off Skeeters starter David Pauley in the fifth inning. With two runners on base, Taylor Harbin made an errant throw to first base, allowing Bailey to score from second to give the Flock a 1-0 lead.

The Ducks added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single from Joash Brodin. The Skeeters tallied their lone run in the top of the ninth on a RBI double from Brian Barton off Ducks starter Jared Lansford, but they stranded the tying run at second.

Lansford (3-3) earned the win with a complete game effort, allowing one run on just five hits while striking out eight. Pauley (5-4) took the loss, yielding two runs (one earned) on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts over seven innings.

Cody Puckett led the Ducks with two hits in game two, while Brodin added the lone RBI of the game.

The Ducks continue their series with the Skeeters on Sunday. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35. Sunday marks Stranger Safety Awareness/Rose Brucia Educational Foundation Day, with the first 1,500 fans in attendance receiving Ducks Logo Baseballs. Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 12:50 to 1:05. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Right-hander John Brownell gets the start for Long Island against Skeeters righty Clint Everts.

Tickets for the game and every Ducks regular season home game are now on sale. Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling 631-940-TIXX or by CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on Long Island’s home for news, traffic and weather, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Live streaming video and audio will be also available on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

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Duck Tales: With a base-hit in both games of the doubleheader, Fehlandt Lentini extended his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games, the longest on the Ducks this year. During the streak, Lentini is batting .365 (27-for-74) with six doubles, one homer, 10 RBI and 12 runs. Lentini also stole his 23rd base of the year and is now 23-for-23 in stolen base attempts…Massapequa resident Rob Whitenack earned his first win of the season with the Ducks in game one. In his two starts this year, Whitenack has yet to allow an earned run over his first nine innings with Long Island…Jared Lansford’s complete game in game two was the fifth of the year by Ducks pitching and his first of the season. It was also Lansford’s third of his career and first since 2006 as a member of the Kane County Cougars (A, Athletics). He also set a personal season-high with eight strikeouts in the game…Adam Bailey hit his eighth home run of the season in game one. Bailey is now tied for fourth in the league in homers with Blake Gailen and James Skelton of Lancaster and is second on the team in runs batted in with 35…With three hits in game one Saturday, Keith Castillo earned his first three-hit game and seventh multi-hit game of the season…Jon Meloan is now seven-for-seven in save opportunities this year. He has allowed one run over 13 innings of relief this year.

 Game Date: 06/21/2014 (GAME ONE) 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 R.Langerhans LF 3 0 1 0 .284 F.Lentini RF 4 0 1 0 .320 T.Harbin SS 4 0 2 0 .333 C.Puckett 2B 3 0 1 0 .293 D.Young 1B 4 0 0 0 .247 L.Ford CF 4 0 0 0 .377 B.Barton RF 4 0 1 0 .182 R.Ruiz DH 4 1 2 0 .289 T.Scott C 3 0 1 0 .264 A.Bailey LF 4 1 1 2 .279 N.Stavinoha DH 4 0 0 0 .223 J.Brodin 1B 3 1 1 0 .249 C.Lambin 2B 4 0 1 0 .179 J.Myers 3B 3 0 1 0 .203 M.Rockett CF 3 0 0 0 .216 K.Castillo C 3 0 3 1 .264 D.Ramos 3B 2 1 0 0 .305 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .253 31 1 6 0 31 3 10 3 Sugar Land 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 6 0 L Island 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 x - 3 10 2 HR--A.Bailey (8). RBI--A.Bailey 2 (35), K.Castillo (14). SB--J.Brodin (7). CS--B.Barton (2), K.Castillo (4). E--D.Lyons (11), R.Whitenack (1). LOB--Sugar Land 6, L Island 5. DP--D. Lyons(SS) - J. Brodin(1B), T. Harbin(SS) - D. Young(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land T.McGrady 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.75 D.Meadows (L,0-2) 1.0 4 2 2 0 0 1 6.75 S.Gallagher 6.0 6 1 1 0 3 0 1.50 8 10 3 3 1 3 1 L Island R.Whitenack (W,1-0) 6.0 4 1 0 2 2 0 0.00 E.Niesen 1.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.46 B.Lorin 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.96 J.Meloan (S,7) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.69 9 6 1 0 3 6 0 SO--B.Barton, T.Scott, N.Stavinoha 2, M.Rockett, D.Ramos, F.Lentini, R.Ruiz, J.Brodin. BB--R.Langerhans, T.Scott, D.Ramos, C.Puckett. BF--T.McGrady 3 (34), D.Meadows 7 (41), S.Gallagher 22 (22), R.Whitenack 22 (33), E.Niesen 4 (118), B.Lorin 4 (91), J.Meloan 4 (48). P-S--T.McGrady 15-5, D.Meadows 24-15, S.Gallagher 76-47, R.Whitenack 78-46, E.Niesen 14-9, B.Lorin 20-11, J.Meloan 21-16. T--2:34. A--4617 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Warren Nicholson, Field Umpire #2 - John Torres Game Date: 06/21/2014 (GAME TWO) Sugar Land Skeeters 1 AT Long Island Ducks 2 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG R.Langerhans LF 4 0 0 0 .277 F.Lentini CF 4 0 1 0 .319 T.Harbin SS 4 1 1 0 .328 C.Puckett 2B 4 0 2 0 .297 D.Young 1B 4 0 0 0 .243 L.Ford DH 3 0 1 0 .376 B.Barton RF 4 0 2 1 .190 R.Ruiz 1B 4 0 0 0 .280 T.Scott DH 4 0 1 0 .264 B.Harris 3B 2 1 1 0 .290 C.Lambin 2B 3 0 0 0 .175 A.Bailey LF 3 1 0 0 .274 K.Clemens C 3 0 0 0 .190 J.Brodin RF 2 0 1 1 .251 M.Rockett CF 3 0 1 0 .218 J.Vazquez C 3 0 0 0 .210 D.Ramos 3B 3 0 0 0 .299 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .248 32 1 5 1 28 2 6 1 Sugar Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 5 2 L Island 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 x - 2 6 0 2B--B.Barton (5), L.Ford (12). RBI--B.Barton (18), J.Brodin (30). SB--B.Barton (2), F.Lentini (23), J.Brodin (8). E--T.Harbin (2), C.Lambin (8). LOB--Sugar Land 4, L Island 5. DP--C. Lambin(2B) - T. Harbin(SS) - D. Young(1B), C. Lambin(2B) - T. Harbin(SS) - D. Young(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land D.Pauley (L,5-4) 7.0 5 2 1 3 3 0 2.24 B.Broderick 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.13 8 6 2 1 3 5 0 L Island J.Lansford (W,3-3) 9.0 5 1 1 0 8 0 3.53 9 5 1 1 0 8 0 WP--D.Pauley (2). SO--R.Langerhans 2, D.Young, B.Barton 2, C.Lambin, K.Clemens, D.Ramos, F.Lentini, R.Ruiz, A.Bailey, D.Lyons 2. BB--L.Ford, B.Harris, J.Brodin. BF--D.Pauley 27 (241), B.Broderick 4 (93), J.Lansford 32 (226). P-S--D.Pauley 95-57, B.Broderick 16-13, J.Lansford 115-74. T--2:35. A--6705 Plate Umpire - Frank Brocato, Field Umpire #1 - John Torres, Field Umpire #2 - Warren Nicholson