Fifth inning grand slam helps Ducks take four-game set and season series from Somerset

(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 17, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 5-4 on Thursday night in the finale of a four-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from the come-from-behind victory

The Patriots struck first in the third inning on RBI doubles from Justin Trapp and Kyle Roller off Ducks reliever Wanel Mesa. Another balk by Mesa in the fourth scored Olmo Rosario from third to extend Somerset’s lead to 3-0.

Long Island responded with a five-run fifth inning to swipe the lead from Somerset. Alex Burg was hit by a pitch, Giovanny Alfonzo walked and Anthony Vega singled to load the bases with one out. Delta Cleary Jr. delivered an RBI single to close the gap to 3-1, and Marc Krauss followed with a two-out grand slam to right field off Patriots starter Will Oliver.

Somerset trimmed the Ducks’ lead to one in the sixth when Kyle Roller scored on a passed ball. They then put the tying run on second in both the seventh and ninth innings but could not pull even.

Ducks starter Rafael Perez did not factor into the decision, giving up a hit and a walk in two innings with one strikeout. Mesa (1-0) collected the win despite giving up three runs on three hits and two walks in two innings of work. Oliver (5-4) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits and two walks in four and two-thirds innings with eight strikeouts. Amalio Diaz earned his 11th save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Krauss led Long Island with two hits and four RBI, while Vega added two hits as well.

The Ducks return home on Friday to open up a three-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. 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 first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Drawstring Bags, courtesy of Fairfield Properties. It’s also a Fowl Pole Friday, and if a select Ducks player hits a home run off one of the foul poles during the game, one lucky fan will win $50,000. In addition, a Barnstormers player will be selected as the Pizza Hut K-Man of the game. If that player strikes out, fans will receive a special offer for a FREE 1-Topping Personal Pan Pizza at a participating Pizza Hut location.

Tickets to the game, and all 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. Right-hander Jake Dunning (1-0, 1.14) gets the start for the Ducks against Barnstormers righty Joe Gardner (0-2, 9.20).

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 37 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 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 to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15{fe96d6e17d87505a1465284f96a4c69c9ad7d7051973bed0757ffc13536530ff} of the US population.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.

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 Game Date: 08/17/2017 Long Island Ducks 5 AT Somerset Patriots 4 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Vega, A RF 5 1 2 0 .234 Rodriguez, A SS 4 0 1 0 .249 Cleary Jr., D CF 5 1 1 1 .258 Trapp, J LF 5 1 3 1 .267 Ford, L DH 4 0 1 0 .292 Pacchioli, J CF 3 0 0 0 .291 Krauss, M LF 5 1 2 4 .294 Roller, K DH 3 1 2 1 .326 Songco, A 1B 4 0 0 0 .254 Rosario, O 3B 2 1 1 0 .274 Gotay, R 3B 4 0 0 0 .260 Minicozzi, M 1B 4 0 0 0 .239 Reyes, E SS 4 0 0 0 .286 Guzman, C RF 4 0 0 0 .258 Burg, A C 1 1 0 0 .237 Gonzalez, Y C 4 0 1 0 .304 Alfonzo, G 2B 2 1 1 0 .297 Golson, G PR 0 0 0 0 .241 Kelly, S 2B 2 1 0 0 .249 34 5 7 5 31 4 8 2 L Island 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 - 5 7 1 Somerset 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 - 4 8 2 2B--Trapp, J LF (7), Roller, K DH (10), Rosario, O 3B (12). HR--Krauss, M LF (17). RBI--Cleary Jr., D CF (35), Krauss, M LF 4 (69), TOTALS 5 (0), Trapp, J LF (14), Roller, K DH (56), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Burg, A C (7). SH--Kelly, S 2B (0). E--Gotay, R 3B (5), Kelly, S 2B 2 (17). LOB--L Island 9, Somerset 7. DP--A. Rodriguez(SS) - M. Minicozzi(1B), G. Alfonzo(2B) - E. Reyes(SS) - A. Songco(1B), G. Alfonzo(2B) - R. Gotay(3B) - A. Songco(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Perez, R 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.34 Mesa, W (W,1-0) 2.0 3 3 3 2 0 0 13.50 Testa, J 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 OGrady, D 1.0 0 1 0 1 1 0 4.60 Rogers, R 0.2 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.22 Crider, P 1.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.93 Diaz, A (S,11) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.79 9 8 4 3 6 5 0 Somerset Oliver, W (L,5-4) 4.2 5 5 5 2 8 1 5.36 Wright, J 1.1 0 0 0 3 1 0 3.43 Hessler, K 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Shaban, R 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.10 Antolin, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 9 7 5 5 6 13 1 WP--Mesa, W (1), OGrady, D (13). PB--Burg, A 2, Gonzalez, Y 2. HB--Oliver, W (3). SO--Vega, A 2, Cleary Jr., D 2, Ford, L 2, Krauss, M 2, Songco, A, Gotay, R 2, Reyes, E, Burg, A, Trapp, J, Roller, K, Minicozzi, M, Gonzalez, Y, Kelly, S. BB--Ford, L, Songco, A, Burg, A 2, Alfonzo, G 2, Rodriguez, A, Pacchioli, J, Roller, K, Rosario, O 2, Kelly, S. BF--Perez, R 7 (446), Mesa, W 10 (10), Testa, J 4 (4), OGrady, D 5 (412), Rogers, R 4 (221), Crider, P 4 (168), Diaz, A 4 (186), Oliver, W 22 (368), Wright, J 7 (178), Hessler, K 4 (7), Shaban, R 4 (151), Antolin, D 4 (46). P-S--Perez, R 31-18, Mesa, W 44-25, Testa, J 10-8, OGrady, D 19-9, Rogers, R 16-8, Crider, P 15-8, Diaz, A 13-10, Oliver, W 91-57, Wright, J 35-23, Hessler, K 12-10, Shaban, R 19-11, Antolin, D 18-12. T--3:31. A--6078 Somerset ejections,bottom 3rd, B. Jodie, J. Williams; SOM, T5, PC mound visit; LI, B6, MGR mound visit; LI, B9, MGR mound visit; Weather: Clear, 80's, NICE! Plate Umpire - Jorge Teran, Field Umpire #1 - Rich Katz, Field Umpire #3 - Tom Gandolfo