Garceau’s complete game shutout earns Flock third consecutive playoff berth
(Bridgewater, N.J., Sept. 14, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks shut out the Somerset Patriots 4-0 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at TD Bank Ballpark. With the win, the Ducks are the Second Half Liberty Division champions and have earned a postseason berth for the third consecutive season and ninth time in the last 10 seasons.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the playoff berth clinching victory
POSTGAME VIDEO: The Ducks talk about returning to the postseason
Ducks starter Shaun Garceau and Patriots starter Graham Taylor both exchanged scoreless innings until the sixth when Long Island struck for a run on Bryant Nelson’s RBI fielder’s choice. The following inning, the Ducks put up a three-spot against reliever Jim Hoey to balloon the lead to four. A throwing error by Jeff Baisley on Dan Lyons’ bunt scored Ryan Strieby from third, and Lew Ford followed with a first pitch two-run single to left.
That was more than enough for Garceau (2-1) who went the distance for a complete game two-hit shutout. The righty walked just one batter, allowed three total base runners, and struck out eight. Taylor (10-6) took the loss, surrendering a run on five hits with two strikeouts in six innings.
Ford and Strieby each had two hits to pace the Flock.
Long Island will now face the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Liberty Division Championship Series for a third consecutive season and fourth time in five seasons. The Ducks will host Game One of the series on Wednesday, September 18 and Game Two on Thursday, September 19. First pitch for both games is slated for 6:35 pm., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35. The first 1,000 fans in attendance at each game will receive Title Towels, courtesy of News 12 Long Island and News 12 Traffic and Weather.
Tickets for both games and all potential Ducks postseason games are now on sale. Fans can purchase their tickets at the Bethpage Ballpark box office, by calling (631) 940-TIXX or by CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live online, with streaming video and audio available on the Ducks official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.
The Ducks close out the 2013 regular season on Sunday afternoon with the final game of the three-game set against the Patirots. Game time is slated for 1:05 p.m. at TD Bank Ballpark. Fans can follow all the action live on the radio home of the Ducks, 103.9-FM WRCN, and online, with streaming video and audio available by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Pete Budkevics toes the rubber for Long Island against Patriots righty Paul Phillips.
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GAME DATE: 09/14/2013 Long Island Ducks 4 AT Somerset Patriots 0 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG L.Ford CF 5 1 2 2 .377 J.Tucker 2B 3 0 0 0 .260 J.Barfield 2B 5 0 1 0 .295 A.Eggleston LF 3 0 1 0 .295 B.Nelson 3B 4 0 1 1 .295 C.Leon PH 1 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall DH 4 0 1 0 .237 C.Aldridge RF 3 0 0 0 .284 A.Bailey RF 4 0 0 0 .254 C.Smith DH 3 0 0 0 .272 R.Castro C 4 0 1 0 .260 J.Baisley 3B 3 0 0 0 .234 R.Strieby 1B 4 1 2 0 .251 J.Cortes CF 3 0 0 0 .284 K.Binick LF 3 1 0 0 .265 E.Martinez-Este 1B 3 0 1 0 .351 D.Lyons SS 4 1 1 0 .211 A.Sanchez SS 3 0 0 0 .228 A.Donachie C 3 0 0 0 .235 37 4 9 3 28 0 2 0 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 - 4 9 0 Somerset 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 2 2B--L.Ford (2), B.Hall (18). RBI--L.Ford 2 (7), B.Nelson (70). E--J.Baisley (12), A.Sanchez (3). LOB--L Island 7, Somerset 2. DP--D. Lyons(SS) - J. Barfield(2B) - R. Strieby(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island S.Garceau (W,2-1) 9.0 2 0 0 1 8 0 1.17 9 2 0 0 1 8 0 Somerset G.Taylor (L,10-6) 6.0 5 1 1 0 2 0 3.40 J.Hoey 1.0 3 3 3 1 2 0 2.51 F.Hernandez 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 J.Lowey 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.77 9 9 4 4 1 4 0 WP--J.Hoey 2 (4). SO--J.Barfield, B.Hall, A.Bailey, K.Binick, J.Tucker, A.Eggleston, C.Leon, C.Aldridge 2, J.Cortes 2, E.Martinez-Esteve. BB--K.Binick, J.Tucker. BF--S.Garceau 29 (85), G.Taylor 24 (678), J.Hoey 7 (172), F.Hernandez 4 (37), J.Lowey 3 (208). P-S--S.Garceau 105-72, G.Taylor 80-55, J.Hoey 28-18, F.Hernandez 12-8, J.Lowey 14-10. T--2:21. A--7927 Weather: 60 degrees; pt. cloudy, breezy Umpires: Plate Ump - Andrew Steinberg, Field Ump #1 - Allen Barnfield, Field Ump #3 - Marty Bauer