Two-out, two-run homer in ninth lifts Flock to series victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., July 19, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the New Britain Bees 9-8 in walk-off fashion on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
The Ducks built an early 4-0 lead with a run in the first inning and three in the second against Bees starter Mark Hamburger. Jordany Valdespin scored from third on an error, Daniel Fields lifted a sac fly to right, Dan Lyons plated a run with an RBI fielder’s choice, and Emilio Bonifacio beat out an RBI bunt single.
New Britain closed to within 4-2 in the third on Darren Ford’s RBI single and Jason Rogers’ RBI ground rule double off Ducks starter Bennett Parry. However, a solo homer to left-center by Fields and an RBI single by Travis Snider in the fourth restored Long Island’s four-run advantage.
The Bees trimmed their deficit to 6-3 in the sixth on an RBI infield single by Jonathan Galvez. They went on to take the lead in the eighth on Jamar Walton’s grand slam to right field, and a solo blast to left by Matt Tuiasosopo in the ninth made it an 8-6 ballgame.
Despite losing the lead, the Ducks rallied back for three runs in the ninth to earn the win. Bonifacio brought the Ducks to within one in with an RBI single, and Lew Ford ended the game with a two-out, two-run home run to left.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Parry lasted six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four. Hamburger pitched five innings, yielding six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Jose Cuas (1-0) picked up the win despite allowing a run on three hits in the ninth. Evan Scribner (1-2) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Valdespin and Bonifacio each had three hits to lead the Flock. Ford, Snider and Taylor Ard each added two hits.
The Ducks continue their homestand on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Somerset Patriots. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s Anti-Bullying Night at the ballpark, and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Reusable Shopping Bags, courtesy of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying (LICAB). It’s also a Bowlero Friday, and as fans exit the ballpark following the game, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for a special “buy one game of bowling, get one free” offer, courtesy of Bowlero. Right-hander John Brownell (5-7, 4.12) gets the start for the Ducks against Patriots righty David Kubiak (5-1, 2.32).
Tickets to the game, and all Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, CLICKING HERE or downloading the Ducks mobile app. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks official Facebook page, YouTube channel and at LIDucks.com.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
###
Game Date: 07/19/2018 New Britain Bees 8 AT Long Island Ducks 9 YTD YTD N Britain AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Ford, D CF 5 0 1 1 .267 Valdespin, J 2B 5 2 3 0 .360 Stassi, B 1B 5 0 0 0 .341 Bonifacio, E CF 5 0 3 2 .326 Romero, D 3B 4 1 0 0 .267 Snider, T RF 5 1 2 1 .286 Rogers, J DH 4 0 1 1 .301 Ford, L DH 5 1 2 2 .281 Tuiasosopo, M LF 4 3 2 1 .216 Ard, T 3B 4 1 2 0 .289 Galvez, J 2B 3 1 1 1 .274 Washington, D 1B 3 1 0 0 .214 Siena, V 2B,PH 1 0 1 0 .250 Cabrera, R C 3 0 0 0 .227 Walton, J RF 5 1 3 4 .276 Fields, D LF 3 1 1 2 .228 Wagner, R C 5 1 2 0 .263 Lyons, D SS 4 2 1 1 .214 Conde, V SS 3 1 2 0 .229 39 8 13 8 37 9 14 8 N Britain 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 4 1 - 8 13 3 L Island 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 - 9 14 1 2B--Rogers, J DH (15), Tuiasosopo, M LF (3), Ard, T 3B 2 (9). 3B--Snider, T RF (1). HR--Tuiasosopo, M LF (4), Walton, J RF (8), Ford, L DH (6), Fields, D LF (4). RBI--Ford, D CF (23), Rogers, J DH (42), Tuiasosopo, M LF (16), Galvez, J 2B (20), Walton, J RF 4 (35), TOTALS 8 (0), Bonifacio, E CF 2 (32), Snider, T RF (53), Ford, L DH 2 (47), Fields, D LF 2 (19), Lyons, D SS (20), TOTALS 8 (0). HP--Galvez, J 2B (1). SF--Fields, D LF (2). CS--Bonifacio, E CF (2). E--Tuiasosopo, M LF (1), Galvez, J 2B (4), Conde, V SS (1), Perez, W P (1). LOB--N Britain 9, L Island 5. DP--J. Valdespin(2B) - T. Ard(3B) - D. Washington(1B), V. Conde(SS) - B. Stassi(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA N Britain Hamburger, M 5.0 10 6 5 2 3 1 4.11 Fuller, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38 Ramirez, E 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.54 Loewen, A 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.29 Scribner, E (L,1-2) 0.2 4 3 3 0 0 1 2.74 8.2 14 9 8 2 7 2 L Island Parry, B 6.0 7 3 3 1 4 0 2.75 OGrady, D 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.09 Murray, C 0.1 0 3 3 2 0 0 3.75 Perez, W 0.2 3 1 1 0 1 1 2.83 Cuas, J (W,1-0) 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 1 4.50 9 13 8 8 4 5 2 HB--Murray, C (2). SO--Ford, D, Stassi, B, Romero, D, Galvez, J, Wagner, R, Bonifacio, E, Snider, T, Ford, L 2, Washington, D 2, Fields, D. BB--Romero, D, Rogers, J, Tuiasosopo, M, Conde, V, Washington, D, Cabrera, R. BF--Hamburger, M 26 (369), Fuller, J 3 (96), Ramirez, E 3 (117), Loewen, A 3 (29), Scribner, E 5 (87), Parry, B 26 (327), OGrady, D 3 (134), Murray, C 4 (52), Perez, W 5 (122), Cuas, J 6 (9). P-S--Hamburger, M 100-66, Fuller, J 14-8, Ramirez, E 16-10, Loewen, A 9-7, Scribner, E 22-16, Parry, B 97-65, OGrady, D 13-6, Murray, C 18-6, Perez, W 19-14, Cuas, J 20-12. T--3:13. A--4643 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Silvio Martinez, Field Umpire #2 - Tom Gandolfo