Long Island rallies from 3-0 deficit to earn first walk-off win of 2018
 

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 5, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 6-5 in waddle-off fashion on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

The Blue Crabs took an early 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two in the second off Ducks starter Jake Fisher on an RBI single by Frank Martinez and a two-run home run to left field by Edwin Garcia. The Ducks answered with single runs in the second and third on RBI doubles from Cody Puckett and Travis Snider off Blue Crabs starter Brandon Cumpton.

Southern Maryland got their two-run lead back on Johnny Bladel’s two-out RBI double in the fourth and Andrew Daniel’s two-out RBI single in the fifth. However, a two-run base hit to right by Robert Garcia in the fifth cut Long Island’s deficit to 5-4. The Ducks then pulled even in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to shallow center off the bat of Lew Ford.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth when Jordany Valdespin crushed a walk-off solo home run over the right-center field wall. Neither starter factored into the decision. Fisher lasted five innings, allowing five runs on 11 hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Cumpton pitched six innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings with seven strikeouts. Francisco Rodriguez (1-0) collected the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning in his Ducks debut. Sam Runion (0-1) suffered the loss, yielding two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in two and one-third innings of relief.

Valdespin led the Flock offensively with two hits, an RBI and three runs scored.

The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive All-Star Summer Magnet Schedules, courtesy of the QuackerJack Foundation. It’s also the first Sunday Family Funday of the season! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Right-hander John Brownell (1-0, 7.20) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Blue Crabs southpaw Drake Britton (0-0, 0.00).

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. 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: 05/05/2018 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5 AT Long Island Ducks 6 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Bladel, J LF 4 1 3 1 .500 Valdespin, J 2B 5 3 2 1 .429 Wong, J 2B 5 0 1 0 .235 Garcia, R RF 4 0 1 2 .200 Martinez, F DH 4 0 1 1 .344 Snider, T DH 3 0 2 1 .235 Rodriguez, D 1B 3 0 0 0 .273 Ford, L LF 3 1 1 1 .355 Green, A C 4 1 1 0 .333 Washington, D 1B 4 0 0 0 .306 Vaughn, C CF 4 0 1 0 .214 Puckett, C 3B 4 0 1 1 .261 Daniel, A 3B 3 1 2 1 .375 Fields, D CF 4 0 0 0 .222 Martinez, T RF 4 1 1 0 .214 Castillo, W C 4 0 0 0 .240 Garcia, E SS 4 1 2 2 .217 Lyons, D SS 3 2 1 0 .167 35 5 12 5 34 6 8 6 S Maryland 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 - 5 12 2 L Island 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 - 6 8 0 2B--Bladel, J LF 2 (2), Daniel, A 3B (3), Snider, T DH (2), Puckett, C 3B (4). HR--Garcia, E SS (1), Valdespin, J 2B (3). RBI--Bladel, J LF (6), Martinez, F DH (6), Daniel, A 3B (2), Garcia, E SS 2 (3), TOTALS 5 (0), Valdespin, J 2B (12), Garcia, R RF 2 (3), Snider, T DH (7), Ford, L LF (11), Puckett, C 3B (7), TOTALS 6 (0). HP--Lyons, D SS (3). SF--Ford, L LF (2). CS--Bladel, J LF (1). E--Rodriguez, D 1B (1), Daniel, A 3B (1). LOB--S Maryland 6, L Island 6. DP--J. Valdespin(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - D. Washington(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - D. Washington(1B), F. Rodriguez(P) - D. Washington(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland Cumpton, B 6.0 6 4 2 0 7 0 7.59 Runion, S (L,0-1) 2.1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1.69 8.1 8 6 3 1 10 1 L Island Fisher, J 5.0 11 5 5 1 2 1 6.30 OGrady, D 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 Perez, W 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Dunning, J 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Pestano, V 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Rodriguez, F (W,1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 9 12 5 5 3 4 1 HB--Cumpton, B (1). SO--Wong, J, Rodriguez, D, Vaughn, C 2, Garcia, R 2, Snider, T, Washington, D 3, Puckett, C 2, Fields, D, Castillo, W. BB--Bladel, J, Rodriguez, D, Daniel, A, Snider, T. BF--Cumpton, B 26 (51), Runion, S 11 (22), Fisher, J 26 (48), OGrady, D 2 (14), Perez, W 3 (19), Dunning, J (8), Pestano, V 3 (17), Rodriguez, F 3 (3). P-S--Cumpton, B 102-65, Runion, S 44-30, Fisher, J 84-59, OGrady, D 11-7, Perez, W 11-7, Dunning, J 4-2, Pestano, V 17-10, Rodriguez, F 11-6. T--2:59. A--5075 Plate Umpire - Mike Williams, Field Umpire #1 - Warren Nicholson, Field Umpire #2 - Silvio Martinez