Long Island overcomes eight-run deficit for comeback victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 8, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 11-10 in walk-off fashion on Friday night in the first game of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the dramatic come-from-behind win
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Jon Griffin and Erik Komatsu talk about the waddle-off victory
Two straight walks allowed by Ducks starter Eric Niesen and a RBI single by Henry Wrigley in the first inning put the Barnstormers in front. The Ducks would respond though in the bottom of the frame on Lew Ford’s RBI single to left off of Barnstormers starter Bryan Evans.
Lancaster broke open the game in the top of the third. A grand slam from Brian Cavazos-Galvez, a two-run home run by Michael Broad and a solo homer by Yusuke Kajimoto put the visitors ahead 8-1. A passed ball allowed by catcher Dillon Haupt in the fourth upped the advantage to 9-1.
However, the Ducks would storm back and score six runs in the bottom of the inning. Reegie Corona’s RBI triple, Erik Komatsu’s RBI ground-rule double, Dan Lyons’ RBI single, a run-scoring fielder’s choice from Bryan Sabatella and Cody Puckett’s two-run single made it 9-7 after four innings.
The ‘Stormers got a run back in the fifth on Kajimoto’s RBI triple, but the Ducks rallied in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 10. Komatsu’s RBI single and Sabatella’s game-tying two-run single did the damage.
The score would stay the same until the final inning. Puckett led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single, and Jon Griffin followed with a game-winning double into the right field corner.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Niesen tossed three innings, allowing eight runs (five earned) on five hits and six walks while striking out five. Evans lasted four and one-third innings, surrendering 10 runs on 11 hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Hector Ambriz (1-0) earned the win after tossing a perfect ninth inning, and Bryan Morgado (0-1) took the loss, giving up the winning run on two hits with four strikeouts in two innings of relief.
Komatsu led the way for Long Island with three hits, two runs and two RBI. Sabatella added two hits with two runs and three RBI.
The Ducks continue their four-game series on Saturday with a day/night doubleheader against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Game one is slated for 1:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:05 (11:50 for full season ticket holders) and is scheduled for seven innings. The first 1,000 fans in attendance for will receive a 2015 Magnet Schedule, courtesy of the QuackerJack Foundation. It’s also a peanut-free day at the ballpark! There will be no sale of peanuts during the game, giving those suffering from peanut allergies the chance to attend a Ducks game. Right-hander Bruce Kern gets the start for the Ducks against Barnstormers righty Bryan Woodall.
First pitch for game two is set for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Astoria Bank. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for discounts at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans following both games. Right-hander Mark Rogers will take the mound for the Ducks in the nightcap against Barnstormers righty Marcus Walden.
Tickets to both games 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 games can follow all the action with live streaming video and audio on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Game one can be viewed by CLICKING HERE, and game two can be viewed by CLICKING HERE. The nightcap can also be heard on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio.
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Duck Tales: Friday was Long Island’s first walk-off win of the season. In 2014, the Ducks compiled five walk-off victories, with their last coming on September 20 against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The eight-run comeback was Long Island’s second come-from-behind win of 2015 and their largest of the season as well. The Ducks’ largest comeback win in 2014 was by four runs, which they did twice…Bryan Sabatella extended his on-base streak to nine consecutive games with two hits on Friday. That’s the longest on-base streak by a Duck this season. During the streak, Sabatella has compiled 13 hits in 39 at-bats (.333 AVG) with four doubles, one homer, eight RBI, eight runs and six walks. Sabatella’s two hits gave him his third two-hit game and fourth multi-hit contest of the year…Reegie Corona collected two hits to extend his hitting streak to seven consecutive games. That’s the longest hitting streak by a Duck this season. During the seven games, Corona is batting .444 (12-for-27) with one double, two triples, one RBI, five runs and one walk. His two hits gave him his third consecutive multi-hit game overall and fifth of the season…Erik Komatsu earned his first multi-hit contest with three hits on Friday. He now joins Sabatella, Corona, Lew Ford and Jose Morales as the only Ducks with three-hit games this season…Long Island’s bullpen combined to hold the Barnstormers to just two runs (one earned) over the final six innings of the game. Five different pitchers combined to give up just two hits and four walks while striking out six batters. Lancaster did not collect a hit from the second batter of the fifth inning through the end of the game, a span of 18 batters.
Game Date: 05/08/2015 Lancaster Barnstormers 10 AT Long Island Ducks 11 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Y.Kajimoto LF 5 2 2 2 .193 B.Sabatella RF 5 2 2 3 .250 T.Bortnick 3B 2 1 0 0 .231 P.Redman DH 5 1 2 0 .250 B.Gailen CF 3 1 0 0 .304 L.Ford CF 4 0 1 1 .246 H.Wrigley DH 5 0 1 1 .224 C.Puckett 3B 5 1 2 2 .293 D.Cooper 1B 4 1 0 0 .281 J.Griffin 1B 4 1 1 1 .154 B.Cavazos-Galve RF 4 2 1 4 .250 R.Corona 2B 4 2 2 1 .378 K.Castillo C 4 0 1 0 .257 D.Haupt C 4 1 0 0 .000 L.Zawadzki SS 4 1 0 0 .245 E.Komatsu LF 4 2 3 2 .200 M.Broad 2B 4 2 2 2 .500 D.Lyons SS 4 1 2 1 .222 35 10 7 9 39 11 15 11 Lancaster 1 0 7 1 1 0 0 0 0 - 10 7 1 L Island 1 0 0 6 3 0 0 0 1 - 11 15 1 2B--K.Castillo (2), B.Sabatella (4), J.Griffin (2), E.Komatsu (1). 3B--Y.Kajimoto (1), R.Corona (2). HR--Y.Kajimoto (1), B.Cavazos-Galvez (2), M.Broad (1). RBI--Y.Kajimoto 2 (3), H.Wrigley (3), B.Cavazos-Galvez 4 (9), M.Broad 2 (2), B.Sabatella 3 (9), L.Ford (10), C.Puckett 2 (10), J.Griffin (9), R.Corona (2), E.Komatsu 2 (3), D.Lyons (5). HP--B.Cavazos-Galvez (1), J.Griffin (1). SB--B.Sabatella (6). CS--P.Redman (1). E--K.Castillo (3), E.Niesen (1). LOB--Lancaster 9, L Island 6. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster B.Evans 4.1 11 10 10 1 2 0 7.45 P.Andrelczyk 1.2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.79 B.Morgado (L,0-1) 2.0 2 1 1 0 4 0 4.15 8 15 11 11 1 6 0 L Island E.Niesen 3.0 5 8 5 6 5 3 5.14 F.DeJiulio Jr. 1.0 2 2 1 1 1 0 4.76 C.Giardina 2.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 6.35 P.Crider 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 6.43 A.Diaz 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38 H.Ambriz (W,1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.29 9 7 10 6 10 11 3 WP--B.Evans (1), P.Andrelczyk (1), E.Niesen (3). PB--D.Haupt. HB--B.Evans (4), F.DeJiulio Jr. (2). SO--Y.Kajimoto 2, B.Gailen, H.Wrigley, D.Cooper 2, K.Castillo, L.Zawadzki 2, M.Broad 2, B.Sabatella, P.Redman, J.Griffin, D.Haupt 2, D.Lyons. BB--Y.Kajimoto, T.Bortnick 3, B.Gailen 2, D.Cooper, K.Castillo, L.Zawadzki, M.Broad, L.Ford. BF--B.Evans 27 (91), P.Andrelczyk 6 (42), B.Morgado 8 (25), E.Niesen 21 (70), F.DeJiulio Jr. 7 (30), C.Giardina 8 (26), P.Crider 4 (32), A.Diaz 3 (33), H.Ambriz 3 (27). P-S--B.Evans 89-59, P.Andrelczyk 24-15, B.Morgado 30-18, E.Niesen 86-46, F.DeJiulio Jr. 23-13, C.Giardina 29-14, P.Crider 13-5, A.Diaz 8-7, H.Ambriz 11-7. T--3:21. A--4026 Plate Umpire - Frank Leparik, Field Umpire #1 - Mario Rosas, Field Umpire #2 - Tony Senia