(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 4, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 12-11 in walk-off fashion on Monday afternoon in the final game of a four-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
Lancaster opened the game with three first inning runs off Ducks starter Justin Alintoff on RBI singles by Wilson Garcia and Trayvon Robinson and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chris Proctor. Alex Dickerson answered in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run to center field off Barnstormers starter Nile Ball.
Andretty Cordero’s RBI single to right in the second and Melvin Mercedes’ two-run homer to right in the fourth pushed the Barnstormers lead up to four at 6-2. However, Brantley Bell drilled a grand slam over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at six.
The ‘Stormers took the lead back in the fifth on a sac fly to left off the bat of Jack Conley. However, a five-run fifth put the Ducks in front 11-7, with Bell’s three-run double down the left field line, Joe DeCarlo’s RBI double to left-center and an error that plated DeCarlo doing the damage.
Yeison Coca’s solo homer to center in the sixth and Cordero’s RBI single to center in the eighth closed the gap to two. Then in the ninth, an RBI single to left by Shawon Dunston Jr. and a throwing error that scored Conley tied the game at 11. Long Island responded in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases on two singles and a walk before DeCarlo was hit by a pitch to force home Alejandro De Aza with the winning run.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Alintoff pitched five innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits and a walk with one strikeout. Ball lasted four and one-third innings, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Jose Jose (6-2) got the win despite yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits in the ninth while striking out two. Mike Adams (3-5) suffered the loss, conceding the winnings run on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning.
Every Duck had at least one hit in the game. De Aza led the team with four hits and scored three runs. Bell picked up two hits while driving in seven runs, scoring twice and drawing a walk. Carlos Castro added three hits and two runs.
The Ducks hit the road on Tuesday night to open a three-game series against the Spire City Ghost Hounds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Fans can follow the action live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE. Left-hander Kyle Lobstein (4-5, 5.63) gets the start for the Ducks against a Ghost Hounds starter to be determined.
Long Island returns home on Friday, September 15, for their final home series of the regular season, a three-game set against the High Point Rockers. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Night at the Ballpark, and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Seat Cushions, courtesy of Good Samaritan University Hospital. Tickets to the game, and all Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8.5 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season in 2023, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit AtlanticLeague.com.
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