Long Island launches five homers in series opener

(Central Islip, N.Y., June 21, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 9-6 on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: The Ducks blast off for five longballs off Scott Elarton

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Ben Broussard and Matt Way talk about the victory

Long Island jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second inning off Skeeters starter Scott Elarton. Josh Barfield’s towering solo home run to left and Joash Brodin’s RBI single to center highlighted the scoring. A five-run third inning for the Flock ballooned the lead to seven. Bill Hall and Ramon Castro each launched two-run homers to left, and P.J. Phillips lined a solo blast over the wall in left.

Sugar Land got on the scoreboard in the seventh courtesy of Eduardo Perez’s solo homer to left-center. However, Bryant Nelson clubbed a two-run blast to right in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach. Sugar Land rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to cut the lead to three but could not pull even.

Ducks starter Matt Way (3-4) earned the win, tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five. Elarton (4-5) took the loss, surrendering nine runs on 15 hits in eight innings of work. Jared Lansford earned his second save by striking out Perez to end the game.

Ben Broussard led the Flock with three hits in the game while Brodin, Barfield, Hall and Adam Bailey each had two.

The Ducks and Skeeters continue their three-game set on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by NYCB. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans following the fireworks show. Left-hander James Houser gets the start for the Ducks against Skeeters righty Adam Miller.

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. Fans unable to make the game can follow all the action live on the radio home for Ducks baseball, 103.9-FM WRCN, and online, with streaming video and audio available on the Ducks official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.

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Duck Tales: The five home runs the Ducks hit were the most in a single game this season and one short of the franchise record for homers in one game. Long Island clubbed six longballs on July 31, 2011 at Bethpage Ballpark against the Road Warriors…Ben Broussard posted his fourth three-hit game of the season, and his 11th multi-hit game overall…The two-hit game for Joash Brodin was his 19th of 2013, and his 24th multi-hit game. Brodin leads the Ducks in both categories…Josh Barfield recorded his fourth two-hit game, and eighth multi-hit game overall. Bill Hall posted his second two-hit game of the season, and Adam Bailey’s two hits gave him 13 two-hit games and 15 multi-hit games overall…Every Duck in the starting lineup recorded a hit and seven of the nine batters scored at least one run. The nine runs the Ducks scored were one short of their season-high of 10, last accomplished on May 20 at Camden. Their 15 hits were two shy of their season-best of 17 done on May 31 at York.

 GAME DATE: 06/21/2013 Sugar Land Skeeters 6 AT Long Island Ducks 9 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG A.Godwin CF 5 1 1 1 .270 J.Brodin LF 5 0 2 1 .318 J.Dominguez 2B 5 0 2 2 .263 J.Barfield 2B 5 1 2 1 .314 S.Moss DH 5 0 0 0 .313 B.Broussard 1B 5 2 3 0 .339 A.Bates RF 5 0 2 1 .326 B.Hall SS 4 1 2 2 .212 E.Perez 3B 5 1 3 1 .229 B.Nelson 3B 4 1 1 2 .267 T.Scott 1B 4 1 1 0 .274 A.Bailey RF 2 2 2 0 .255 K.Clemens C 4 1 2 0 .196 R.Castro C 4 1 1 2 .254 M.Rockett LF 2 1 0 0 .230 P.Phillips DH 4 1 1 1 .258 D.Ramos SS 4 1 1 1 .238 R.Kiniry CF 3 0 1 0 .222 39 6 12 6 36 9 15 9 Sugar Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 - 6 12 0 L Island 1 1 5 0 0 0 2 0 x - 9 15 0 2B--A.Bates (14), K.Clemens (5), J.Brodin (14). HR--E.Perez (4), J.Barfield (2), B.Hall (3), B.Nelson (8), R.Castro (5), P.Phillips (4). RBI--A.Godwin (22), J.Dominguez 2 (10), A.Bates (21), E.Perez (17), D.Ramos (35), J.Brodin (26), J.Barfield (11), B.Hall 2 (13), B.Nelson 2 (27), R.Castro 2 (14), P.Phillips (13). LOB--Sugar Land 8, L Island 6. DP--D. Ramos(SS) - S. Elarton(P) - T. Scott(1B), J. Dominguez(2B) - T. Scott(1B), D. Ramos(SS) - J. Dominguez(2B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land S.Elarton (L,4-5) 8.0 15 9 9 3 0 5 4.75 8 15 9 9 3 0 5 L Island M.Way (W,3-4) 5.0 4 0 0 0 5 0 4.38 I.Snell 2.0 2 1 1 1 3 1 4.50 E.Niesen 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.60 P.Budkevics 0.1 5 5 5 1 0 0 9.00 N.DeBarr 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.80 J.Lansford (S,2) 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.55 9 12 6 6 2 10 1 WP--S.Elarton (6). SO--A.Godwin, J.Dominguez, S.Moss 3, A.Bates 2, E.Perez 2, D.Ramos. BB--M.Rockett 2, A.Bailey 2, R.Kiniry. BF--S.Elarton 39 (292), M.Way 19 (219), I.Snell 9 (92), E.Niesen 3 (128), P.Budkevics 7 (52), N.DeBarr 2 (233), J.Lansford (98). P-S--S.Elarton 120-78, M.Way 66-45, I.Snell 35-24, E.Niesen 9-5, P.Budkevics 29-17, N.DeBarr 8-6, J.Lansford 4-3. T--2:35. A--5507 Umpires: Plate Ump - Chase Edmondson, Field Ump #1 - Aaron Freeman, Field Ump #2 - Frank Leparik