Four-run third inning propels Long Island
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 3, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 5-2 on Monday morning in the finale of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the win in the series finale
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Bruce Kern and Mike Blanke talk about the victory
Bridgeport struck first on Welington Dotel’s RBI double in the third inning off of Ducks starter Bruce Kern. The Ducks responded and took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the inning. A RBI infield single from Cody Puckett and a bases-clearing double from Mike Blanke put Long Island ahead 4-1.
Bridgeport got one run back in the fifth on Bryant Nelson’s RBI double. However, Dan Lyons’ RBI single in the bottom of the frame put the Ducks back on top by three, 5-2. Donnie Veal, Nick Struck, and Amalio Diaz held the Bluefish to one hit over the final three innings to complete the victory.
Kern (6-2) earned the win, throwing six innings and allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out three. Scarpetta (4-6) took the loss, surrendering five runs (one earned) on four hits in four and two-thirds innings. He walked one and struck out five. Diaz earned his third save of the season for Long Island with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Blanke paced the Ducks with a pair of hits and three RBI. Lyons finished with a RBI and one run scored.
Long Island now travels to Texas to begin a four-game series with the Sugar Land Skeeters beginning on Wednesday night. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Constellation Field. Fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE.
The Ducks return home on Sunday, August 9 to open up a four-game set against the Camden Riversharks. Game time is slated for 5:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 4:05 (3:50 for full season ticket holders). Sunday will be Jewish Heritage Night at the ballpark, and the Ducks will be running promotions, videos, and music with a Jewish theme. It will also be a Sunday Family Funday! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 4:20 to 4:35 p.m. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. 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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Duck Tales: Bruce Kern continued his dominance on the mound this season as a starting pitcher. In five start this year, the right-hander has compiled a 2-1 record with a 2.77 ERA. In 26 innings, he has given up just eight earned runs on 20 hits and four walks while striking out 21 batters. The Yaphank native has now tossed back-to-back quality starts…Bryan Sabatella tied a season-high for a Ducks player by stealing three bases in the game. The only other Duck to steal three bases in a game was Delta Cleary, Jr., who did so on June 1 against the York Revolution. As a team, the Ducks set a new season-high by stealing six bases in the win. Their previous high was five, done twice, most recently on May 23 in game one of a doubleheader against Camden. Long Island has now stolen 95 bases in 2015, which ranks second behind Bridgeport, who has 98…Mike Blanke collected two hits and drove in three runs to lead the Flock offensively. The catcher has now totaled 15 two-hit games this season and 16 multi-hit contests. In addition, Monday was his first three-RBI game of the year and fourth multi-RBI contest…Dan Lyons had another big game with a RBI single and two walks. The shortstop has now reached base safely in 11 consecutive games, earning hits in 10 of those games and four in a row. Lyons finished the series against Bridgeport with seven hits in 13 at-bats along with two doubles, two homers, five RBI, four runs scored and two walks.
Game Date: 08/03/2015 Bridgeport Bluefish 2 AT Long Island Ducks 5 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Prince SS 3 1 1 0 .273 F.Lentini RF 5 0 0 0 .276 B.Nelson 2B 3 0 1 1 .324 D.Cleary Jr. CF 4 2 0 0 .281 W.Dotel RF 3 0 1 1 .325 D.Lyons SS 2 1 1 1 .305 J.Alonso DH 3 0 0 0 .267 C.Puckett 3B 4 1 1 1 .269 M.Burns PH 1 0 0 0 .175 M.Blanke C 4 0 2 3 .305 J.Morales C 3 0 0 0 .239 B.Sabatella DH 3 0 1 0 .286 S.Burroughs 1B 4 0 1 0 .320 J.Griffin 1B 3 0 1 0 .234 W.Batista 3B 4 0 0 0 .218 S.McQuail LF 3 1 1 0 .196 B.Jones LF 4 0 0 0 .243 B.Davis 2B 4 0 0 0 .224 E.Chapman CF 4 1 2 0 .259 32 2 6 2 32 5 7 5 Bridgeport 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 6 1 L Island 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 x - 5 7 0 2B--B.Nelson (9), W.Dotel (17), M.Blanke (10), J.Griffin (17). RBI--B.Nelson (10), W.Dotel (42), D.Lyons (47), C.Puckett (32), M.Blanke 3 (25). SB--D.Cleary Jr. (21), D.Lyons (12), B.Sabatella 3 (25), J.Griffin (4). CS--M.Blanke (4). E--J.Prince (5). LOB--Bridgeport 7, L Island 8. DP--B. Davis(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Griffin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport C.Scarpetta (L,1-2) 4.2 5 5 1 1 5 0 2.00 C.Povich 1.1 2 0 0 1 1 0 7.00 S.Gervacio 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.28 S.Shuman 1.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0.87 8 7 5 1 5 9 0 L Island B.Kern (W,6-2) 6.0 5 2 2 2 3 0 2.59 D.Veal 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.00 N.Struck 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.70 A.Diaz (S,3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.43 9 6 2 2 4 4 0 WP--C.Scarpetta 2 (5). SO--J.Alonso, J.Morales, W.Batista, B.Jones, F.Lentini, D.Cleary Jr. 3, M.Blanke, J.Griffin, S.McQuail 2, B.Davis. BB--J.Prince, B.Nelson, W.Dotel, J.Morales, D.Lyons 2, B.Sabatella, J.Griffin, S.McQuail. BF--C.Scarpetta 22 (123), C.Povich 6 (79), S.Gervacio 4 (149), S.Shuman 5 (38), B.Kern 25 (231), D.Veal 4 (37), N.Struck 4 (128), A.Diaz 3 (164). P-S--C.Scarpetta 107-67, C.Povich 22-9, S.Gervacio 14-7, S.Shuman 22-8, B.Kern 94-58, D.Veal 15-8, N.Struck 18-9, A.Diaz 7-5. T--2:43. A--5754 Donnie Veal ejected by HP umpire after the top of the seventh for arguing balls and strikes Plate Umpire - JB Torres, Field Umpire #1 - Richard Katz, Field Umpire #2 - Tony Senia