Offense pounds out 14 hits while pitching staff strikes out 14
(New Britain, Conn., May 9, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the New Britain Bees 7-4 on Wednesday afternoon in the middle game of a three-game series at New Britain Stadium.
The Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jordany Valdespin stole home plate as part of a double-steal with Emilio Bonifacio. New Britain pulled even in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk to Ozney Guillen by Ducks starter Matt Larkins. Long Island went back in front on Jordany Valdespin’s sacrifice fly in the second and added another run in the third on Wilkin Castillo’s RBI single off Bees starter Jonathan Pettibone.
The Bees closed to within 3-2 in the third when Angelys Nina’s fly ball to left was dropped, scoring Reid Brignac. However, the Ducks got the run back in the fourth on Bonifacio’s RBI single to right. It stayed that way until the sixth when Deibinson Romero tied the game at four with a two-out, two-run single.
Long Island responded in the seventh with a two-out rally to take the lead for good. Following a single by Castillo and a walk by Alec Sole, Robert Garcia lined a three-run, inside-the-park home run to right-center field that put the Ducks on top 7-4.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Larkins pitched five innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out seven. Pettibone lasted just three and two-thirds innings, yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Wander Perez (1-0) picked up the victory after recording the final out of the sixth inning on a strikeout. Rainy Lara (0-1) took the loss, surrendering three runs on six hits and two walks over three innings. Francisco Rodriguez earned his first save as a Duck with a perfect ninth inning, striking out one.
Bonifacio led the Flock with four hits on the day. Castillo added three hits, an RBI and a run, while Garcia had two hits, three RBI and two runs.
The Ducks and Bees wrap up their three-game set on Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from New Britain Stadium. Fans 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. Left-hander Bennett Parry (0-0, 7.20) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Bees southpaw Andy Van Hekken (0-1, 7.56).
Long Island returns home on Friday, May 11 to open up a three-game series against the Sugar Land Skeeters. 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). The U.S. Open Championship Trophy Tour will stop by the ballpark, and fans can get their picture taken with the famous trophy inside the ballpark while also trying out their putting skill prior to entering the gates. It’s a Bowlero Friday at the ballpark, and the Ducks will be running their Red Robin K-Man promotion. Tickets for the game, and all 2018 Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
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.
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Game Date: 05/09/2018 Long Island Ducks 7 AT New Britain Bees 4 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG N Britain AB R H BI AVG Valdespin, J 2B 3 2 2 1 .447 Ford, D CF 4 1 0 0 .227 Bonifacio, E CF 5 0 4 1 .800 Walton, J RF 3 1 0 0 .353 Snider, T DH 5 0 0 0 .208 Romero, D 3B 5 0 3 2 .357 Ford, L LF 5 0 1 0 .300 Brignac, R DH 4 1 1 0 .268 Washington, D 1B 3 1 0 0 .267 Nina, A 2B 5 0 1 1 .094 Castillo, W C 5 1 3 1 .289 Guillen, O LF 3 0 2 1 .300 Sole, A 3B 4 1 1 0 .188 Ramirez Jr., M 1B 4 0 0 0 .000 Garcia, R RF 5 2 2 3 .208 Irving, N C 4 1 1 0 .167 Lyons, D SS 5 0 1 0 .176 Siena, V SS 4 0 1 0 .167 40 7 14 6 36 4 9 4 L Island 1 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 - 7 14 0 N Britain 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 4 9 3 2B--Valdespin, J 2B (4), Ford, L LF (4), Castillo, W C (2), Romero, D 3B (4), Nina, A 2B (1), Guillen, O LF (1), Irving, N C (1). HR--Garcia, R RF (1). RBI--Valdespin, J 2B (13), Bonifacio, E CF (1), Castillo, W C (6), Garcia, R RF 3 (6), TOTALS 6 (0), Romero, D 3B 2 (5), Nina, A 2B (3), Guillen, O LF (1), TOTALS 4 (0). SF--Valdespin, J 2B (1). SB--Valdespin, J 2B (3), Bonifacio, E CF (1), Washington, D 1B (3), Castillo, W C (1), Garcia, R RF (1), Siena, V SS (1). CS--Garcia, R RF (1). E--Romero, D 3B (1), Nina, A 2B (1), Ramirez Jr., M 1B (1). LOB--L Island 11, N Britain 10. DP--A. Nina(2B) - D. Romero(3B) - M. Ramirez Jr.(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Larkins, M 5.0 6 2 2 3 7 0 4.50 Marsh, M 0.2 1 2 2 1 1 0 7.20 Perez, W (W,1-0) 0.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 Rogers, R 1.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.15 Pestano, V 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Rodriguez, F (S,1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9 9 4 4 5 14 0 N Britain Pettibone, J 3.2 6 4 3 2 2 0 8.10 Hepple, M 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Lara, R (L,0-1) 3.0 6 3 3 2 2 1 4.82 Fuller, J 1.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1.50 Gervacio, S 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 9 14 7 6 4 9 1 SO--Snider, T 2, Ford, L, Washington, D 2, Castillo, W, Sole, A, Garcia, R, Lyons, D, Ford, D 2, Walton, J, Romero, D, Brignac, R 2, Nina, A 2, Ramirez Jr., M, Irving, N 2, Siena, V 3. BB--Valdespin, J, Washington, D 2, Sole, A, Ford, D, Walton, J 2, Brignac, R, Guillen, O. BF--Larkins, M 24 (50), Marsh, M 4 (24), Perez, W 3 (22), Rogers, R 4 (18), Pestano, V 3 (20), Rodriguez, F 3 (6), Pettibone, J 20 (36), Hepple, M (15), Lara, R 16 (43), Fuller, J 5 (28), Gervacio, S 3 (18). P-S--Larkins, M 90-59, Marsh, M 17-11, Perez, W 9-5, Rogers, R 11-10, Pestano, V 9-7, Rodriguez, F 9-6, Pettibone, J 72-45, Hepple, M 1-1, Lara, R 53-38, Fuller, J 15-11, Gervacio, S 14-9. T--2:59. A--6247 Weather: Sunny _ 70 Plate Umpire - David Speranza, Field Umpire #1 - Jonathan Conrad, Field Umpire #3 - Ryan Benson