Three-run rally in ninth lifts Long Island over Somerset

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 30, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 6-5 in waddle-off fashion on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark. Prior to the game, the Ducks welcomed their 6 millionth fan through the gates at the Duck Pond: Ted Nellis of East Northport.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the dramatic series opening win

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Joash Brodin talk about the waddle-off victory

The Ducks scored the game’s first run in the third on a two-out RBI single to right by Cody Puckett off Patriots starter Derell McCall. Somerset answered back with a four-run fourth against Ducks starter Shaun Garceau. Luis Montanez’s RBI double and a two-run homer by Ty Wright did the damage.

Long Island pulled within two on Adam Bailey’s RBI groundout to second in the fourth. After the two teams traded a run in the eighth, the Ducks rallied for three in the ninth to win it in dramatic fashion. A two-run double by Sergio Miranda and a walk-off single by Joash Brodin highlighted the comeback.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Garceau pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out five. McCall lasted six innings, giving up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Josh Lansford (2-1) earned the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning, and Jon Hunton (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Puckett led the Flock with three hits while Fehlandt Lentini and Randy Ruiz each added two.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their three-game set on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by NYIT. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods as fans exit the ballpark. Right-hander Fernando Hernandez takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots righty Gary Moran.

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 also be available on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

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Duck Tales: Friday night’s walk-off win was the second of the year for the Ducks. The first came May 21 against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The three-run comeback also tied the largest deficit overcome by the Ducks in a single game this year…Shaun Garceau continued to pitch well of late, tossing seven strong innings. Over his last four starts, Garceau is 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA. He has allowed seven runs over 30 innings in that span with six walks and 21 strikeouts…With another hit on Friday, Lew Ford extended his on-base streak to 25 games. It is the longest such streak in the Atlantic League this season. He has hits in 23 of those 25 games as well…Cody Puckett extended his on-base streak to 22 games with his three-hit performance. Puckett has hit safely in the 19 of 22 games during the streak. He now has three three-hit games and 13 multi-hit games this season…Other Ducks who extended streaks on Friday included Joash Brodin, who now has a 20-game on-base streak and both Fehlandt Lentini and Adam Bailey who each have eight-game hitting streaks.

 Game Date: 05/30/2014 Somerset Patriots 5 AT Long Island Ducks 6 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG N.Spears 2B 4 1 2 0 .254 F.Lentini RF 5 1 2 0 .314 A.Eggleston LF 4 1 1 1 .169 C.Puckett 2B 5 1 3 1 .310 L.Montanez RF 4 1 1 1 .294 L.Ford CF 4 0 1 0 .392 C.Smith 3B 2 0 0 1 .291 J.Brodin 1B 5 0 1 2 .242 R.Widlansky DH 4 0 0 0 .202 R.Ruiz DH 4 1 2 0 .325 T.Wright 1B 4 1 1 2 .176 B.Harris 3B 4 0 0 0 .256 A.Donachie C 4 0 1 0 .271 A.Bailey LF 4 1 1 1 .260 E.Maysonet SS 4 0 0 0 .216 K.Castillo C 3 0 1 0 .241 C.Harrilchak CF 4 1 1 0 .206 C.McClendon PR 0 1 0 0 .125 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .237 S.Miranda PH 1 1 1 2 .242 34 5 7 5 38 6 12 6 Somerset 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 - 5 7 0 L Island 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 - 6 12 0 2B--L.Montanez (12), F.Lentini (10), R.Ruiz (3), S.Miranda (2). 3B--C.Puckett (1). HR--T.Wright (3). RBI--A.Eggleston (7), L.Montanez (18), C.Smith (15), T.Wright 2 (13), C.Puckett (19), J.Brodin 2 (17), A.Bailey (21), S.Miranda 2 (4). LOB--Somerset 4, L Island 8. DP--E. Maysonet(SS) - N. Spears(2B) - T. Wright(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset D.McCall 6.0 6 2 2 0 3 0 5.85 C.Fisher 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.60 J.Lowey 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1.50 J.Hunton (L,0-1) 0.2 5 3 3 1 0 0 3.86 8.2 12 6 6 2 6 0 L Island S.Garceau 7.0 4 4 4 1 5 1 5.95 E.Niesen 1.0 2 1 1 1 2 0 2.20 J.Lansford (W,2-1) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.60 9 7 5 5 2 8 1 WP--C.Fisher (2). SO--L.Montanez 2, R.Widlansky, T.Wright, E.Maysonet 2, C.Harrilchak 2, L.Ford, J.Brodin 2, R.Ruiz, A.Bailey, D.Lyons. BB--C.Smith 2, L.Ford, K.Castillo. BF--D.McCall 23 (89), C.Fisher 5 (52), J.Lowey 4 (43), J.Hunton 8 (56), S.Garceau 26 (183), E.Niesen 6 (74), J.Lansford 4 (57). P-S--D.McCall 76-47, C.Fisher 23-16, J.Lowey 20-13, J.Hunton 24-14, S.Garceau 104-71, E.Niesen 24-13, J.Lansford 11-10. T--2:50. A--4629 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - David Speranza, Field Umpire #2 - Warren Nicholson