Eight-run, 15-hit attack leads Long Island to victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 11, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 8-4 on Wednesday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the Ducks’ offensive showcase
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Bobby Blevins and Ryan Strieby discuss the win
The Barnstormers opened the scoring with a Joe Thurston RBI single in the first inning off Ducks starter Bobby Blevins. Long Island answered back with two in the bottom of the frame off Lancaster starter Nate Reed. Bill Hall drove in a run with a groundout, and Ryan Strieby tacked on a RBI single.
The Ducks added to their lead with four runs in the third inning. Josh Barfield hit a RBI single to center, Hall smacked a two-run single to center, and Ralph Henriquez added a sacrifice fly to right. Barfield added another RBI single in the fourth for Long Island, increasing the lead to six. Lancaster cut into the lead with three runs in the sixth when Ryan Harvey hit a RBI single, and Jeremy Williams added a two-run double to left. However, Kraig Binick collected RBI single in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Blevins (1-1) notched the win, allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in seven innings. Reed (6-5) suffered the defeat, letting up seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits with six strikeouts in four innings. The Ducks bullpen retired all six batters they faced to close the game.
Barfield led the Ducks with three hits, and Hall paced the Flock with three runs batted in.
The Ducks and Barnstormers wrap up their series on Thursday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35. It’s the Ducks’ final regular season home game of the 2013 season, and it’s Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Long Island Pepsi. Throughout the game, fans will have the opportunity to win outstanding prizes, courtesy of Pepsi. Be sure to arrive early because prior to the game, the Ducks will be honoring the longest-tenured player in franchise history, Ray Navarrete, in a special on-field ceremony. The team will also be announcing the winners of this year’s Delmonte-Smelson/Long Island Ducks Most Valuable Player Award and the PC Richard and Son Whistle Player of the Year. In addition, it’s the final Unused Ticket Day of the year at Bethpage Ballpark! Righty Derek Blacksher makes his debut for the Ducks against Barnstormers right-hander Jeff Bennett.
Tickets for the game and all Ducks regular season home games 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 online, with streaming video and audio on the Ducks official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.
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Duck Tales: With his single in the third inning, Lew Ford has now earned at least one hit in each of the 14 games he has played with the Ducks this season. He is batting .379 (22-for-58) in those 14 games and has driven in four runs while scoring eight runs. The former big leaguer had a hit in 15 of the 19 games he played with the Ducks in 2012 before getting signed by the Baltimore Orioles organization…The Ducks had every player pick up at least one hit on the night. Josh Barfield picked up his 20th two-hit game of the year, and four other Ducks collected two hits apiece (Ryan Strieby, Adam Bailey, Ralph Henriquez and Dan Lyons). Bill Hall’s team-high fifth three-RBI game led the way for Long Island while Barfield added his sixth two-RBI contest. Ford, Barfield and Lyons each scored twice for the Flock in the offensive outburst…The Ducks scored eight runs for the first time since they scored 11 in Lancaster on August 6. It was the most runs in a game at home for Long Island since they plated eight in a win over York on August 3…Leo Rosales continued his strong performance of late with a scoreless ninth inning. The right-hander has now given up just two earned runs in his last 15 outings. In 15 innings during that span, he has yielded 14 hits and four walks while striking out 22.
GAME DATE: 09/11/2013 Lancaster Barnstormers 4 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Owens CF 3 2 2 0 .343 L.Ford CF 4 2 1 0 .379 O.Rosario 3B 4 0 0 0 .277 J.Barfield 2B 5 2 3 2 .296 J.Thurston SS 4 0 1 1 .333 B.Hall 3B 5 1 1 3 .241 R.Harvey DH 4 1 1 1 .256 R.Strieby 1B 5 1 2 1 .253 K.Russell RF 4 1 1 0 .202 A.Bailey RF 4 0 2 0 .257 J.Williams LF 4 0 2 2 .208 R.Henriquez C 3 0 2 1 .245 A.Contreras 2B 4 0 1 0 .209 R.Navarrete DH 4 0 1 0 .231 G.Molina C 3 0 0 0 .219 K.Binick LF 4 0 1 1 .270 K.Howard 1B 3 0 0 0 .239 D.Lyons SS 3 2 2 0 .214 33 4 8 4 37 8 15 8 Lancaster 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 4 8 1 L Island 2 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 x - 8 15 0 2B--K.Russell (14), J.Williams (1), D.Lyons (7). 3B--J.Owens (4). RBI--J.Thurston (16), R.Harvey (91), J.Williams 2 (2), J.Barfield 2 (34), B.Hall 3 (62), R.Strieby (24), R.Henriquez (27), K.Binick (19). SF--R.Henriquez (3). E--A.Contreras (3). LOB--Lancaster 3, L Island 8. DP--J. Thurston(SS) - K. Howard(1B), D. Lyons(SS) - R. Strieby(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster N.Reed (L,6-5) 4.0 12 7 6 1 6 0 2.76 K.Regas 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.42 J.Richardson 1.0 3 1 1 1 1 0 3.86 J.Dowdy 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.46 8 15 8 7 2 11 0 L Island B.Blevins (W,1-1) 7.0 8 4 4 1 5 0 4.85 J.Lansford 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.27 L.Rosales 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.91 9 8 4 4 1 5 0 WP--N.Reed (8), B.Blevins (1). PB--G.Molina. SO--K.Russell 2, J.Williams, A.Contreras, G.Molina, J.Barfield, B.Hall 3, R.Strieby 2, R.Henriquez, R.Navarrete 3, K.Binick. BB--J.Owens, L.Ford, D.Lyons. BF--N.Reed 24 (316), K.Regas 6 (48), J.Richardson 7 (147), J.Dowdy 3 (43), B.Blevins 28 (54), J.Lansford 3 (194), L.Rosales 3 (163). P-S--N.Reed 97-61, K.Regas 31-19, J.Richardson 21-13, J.Dowdy 13-8, B.Blevins 106-75, J.Lansford 6-6, L.Rosales 7-6. T--3:01. A--4458 Umpires: Plate Ump - Andrew Steinberg, Field Ump #1 - Allen Barnfield, Field Ump #2 - Marty Bauer