(Central Islip, N.Y., May 19, 2012) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 15-3 on Saturday night in the second game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME VIDEO: The Ducks score eight runs in the eighth inning to put the game away
POSTGAME VIDEO: Matt Esquivel, Joe Esposito, Ray Navarrete and Kevin Baez talk about the blowout victory
Long Island struck first once again with three runs in the opening inning against Patriots starter Justin Cassel. A RBI infield single off the bat of James McOwen and a two-run error by Dan DeGeorge highlighted the scoring. Somerset responded with two runs in the second off Ducks starter Joe Esposito on a RBI single from Yusuf Carter and a run-scoring groundout of the bat of Johnny Drennen.
The Ducks re-gained their three-run advantage on Matt Esquivel’s two-run single to right in the second. Freddy Sandoval’s homer in the third brought the Pats within two, but a two-run seventh and an eight-run eighth for the Flock put the game away.
Esposito (2-2) earned the win, tossing six innings, allowing just three runs on six hits while striking out three. Cassel (0-3) took the loss, yielding five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks in four innings.
Esquivel led the Flock with three hits and three RBI, while Ray Navarrete also drove in three runs. Navarrete, McOwen, Dan Lyons and Kraig Binick each chipped in with two hits.
The Ducks and Patriots wrap up their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35. It’s a Sunday Family Fun Day at the ballpark! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the entire Ducks team, and after the game, kids (and kids at heart) will get to run the bases on the Ducks’ pristine playing surface, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
In addition, the Ducks will be hosting a food drive in conjunction with Long Island Cares and the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Fans are asked to donate non-perishable food items by dropping them off at the collection bins outside the ballpark.
Tickets for the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark Box Office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, or visiting www.liducks.com. Fans unable to attend the game can follow the action live on the radio at MyCountry 96.1 FM and online at LIDucks.com by clicking the Watch Live icon on the homepage. Streaming video and audio will be available courtesy of iBN, the Internet Broadcast Network.
Duck Tales: The victory was the eighth consecutive win for the Ducks at home to start the season, a new franchise record. The previous mark was five, done in 2002. The most consecutive home victories in franchise history was 12, accomplished July 5-20, 2006…With three runs in the first, the Ducks have now scored first in 11 consecutive games. Long Island is now 10-5 when scoring first this season. In addition, the Ducks have scored at least one run in either the first or second inning in eight consecutive contests…Matt Esquivel picked up his first three RBI of the season and his first three-hit game of the year. The third-year Duck combined for 147 RBI while with Long Island in 2010 and 2011…Ray Navarrete’s three-run homer was his 24th career home run against the Somerset Patriots. The seven-year Duck hit seven longballs last year against the Pats and came into the game with a .450 batting average this year against Somerset…The 15 runs scored by Long Island came just one run shy of the Ducks’ season-high for runs in a game. Long Island scored 16 on May 10 in the second game of a doubleheader against York. The eight-run eighth was also three runs shy of the season-high for most runs in an inning this year. The Flock put up 11 runs in the sixth on May 4 against Camden…The Ducks continued to batter the Patriots bullpen. With ten runs on nine hits, the Ducks have now scored 32 runs on 36 hits in six games against Pats relievers.
GAME DATE: 05/19/2012 Somerset Patriots 3 AT Long Island Ducks 15 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Tucker 2B 4 0 0 0 .338 K.Binick CF 5 2 2 0 .267 D.Mack RF 5 0 0 0 .136 B.Nelson 3B 4 2 1 3 .229 F.Sandoval 1B 4 1 2 1 .238 J.McOwen LF 4 3 2 1 .318 A.Mathews LF 4 1 2 0 .293 M.Esquivel RF 5 2 3 3 .444 J.Nettles 3B 4 1 1 0 .260 R.Navarrete DH 5 2 2 3 .256 L.Santangelo C 0 0 0 0 .395 S.Williams 1B 3 1 1 0 .436 A.Donachie C 3 0 0 0 .222 W.Ortiz 2B 4 0 0 0 .262 Y.Carter DH 3 0 1 1 .325 J.Johnson C 3 1 0 0 .226 J.Drennen CF 4 0 2 1 .237 D.Lyons SS 4 2 2 2 .323 D.DeGeorge SS 3 0 0 0 .118 34 3 8 3 37 15 13 12 Somerset 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 8 1 L Island 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 8 x - 15 13 0 2B--J.Drennen (1), K.Binick (3), B.Nelson (4). 3B--F.Sandoval (3). HR--F.Sandoval (1), R.Navarrete (3). RBI--F.Sandoval (13), Y.Carter (12), J.Drennen (9), B.Nelson 3 (17), J.McOwen (8), M.Esquivel 3 (3), R.Navarrete 3 (13), D.Lyons 2 (13). SH--L.Santangelo (0). SB--A.Mathews (1). E--D.DeGeorge (1). LOB--Somerset 8, L Island 3. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset J.Cassel (L,0-3) 4.0 4 5 3 4 2 0 4.05 M.Solbach 3.0 2 2 1 0 2 0 2.70 A.Claggett 0.2 7 8 8 1 1 1 22.50 D.Quinowski 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 8.59 8 13 15 12 5 6 1 L Island J.Esposito (W,2-2) 6.0 6 3 3 1 3 1 5.97 D.Meyer 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.31 J.Hill 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.68 C.Graham 1.0 1 0 0 2 0 0 6.23 9 8 3 3 3 4 1 WP--J.Cassel 2 (2). PB--L.Santangelo, A.Donachie 2. SO--D.Mack, A.Mathews, A.Donachie 2, B.Nelson, J.McOwen, M.Esquivel, S.Williams, W.Ortiz, J.Johnson. BB--J.Tucker, Y.Carter, D.DeGeorge, B.Nelson, J.McOwen, S.Williams 2, J.Johnson. BF--J.Cassel 20 (109), M.Solbach 11 (44), A.Claggett 10 (40), D.Quinowski (33), J.Esposito 25 (128), D.Meyer 3 (53), J.Hill 4 (57), C.Graham 6 (64). P-S--J.Cassel 83-46, M.Solbach 45-28, A.Claggett 31-21, D.Quinowski 6-4, J.Esposito 99-53, D.Meyer 7-5, J.Hill 14-9, C.Graham 22-10. T--2:46. A--5036 Umpires: Plate Ump - Marty Bauer, Field Ump #1 - David Mills, Field Ump #2 - Jeff Dugmore