Left fielder launches two-run homer in first, makes game-saving catch in ninth

(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 15, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 3-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a four-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from the series-opening victory

Marc Krauss put the Ducks in front early with a two-strike, two-out, two-run home run to right field off Patriots starter David Kubiak. Somerset pulled to within a run in the second when Carlos Guzman lifted a sacrifice fly to left off Ducks starter Henderson Alvarez.

Long Island regained the two-run advantage in the fifth. Quintin Berry doubled with one out in the frame, and with two outs, he stole third base. Adam Donachie’s throw to third went into left field, allowing Berry to score on the error.

It stayed 3-1 until the bottom of the ninth inning. Mark Minicozzi lifted a solo homer to left-center that trimmed the Ducks’ lead to two. Donachie and Aharon Eggleston would draw back-to-back two out walks, but Alfredo Rodriguez’s deep fly ball to left was caught by Krauss as he smacked into the wall for the final out of the ballgame.

Alvarez (2-1) earned the win, tossing five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three. Kubiak (5-10) suffered the loss, yielding three runs on five hits and three walks in five innings with three strikeouts. Amalio Diaz collected his 10th save of the year despite allowing a run on one hit and two walks while striking out two in the ninth.

Krauss led the Flock offensively with two hits and two RBI, while Lew Ford added two hits.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their four-game set with a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch for the matinee is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. from TD Bank Ballpark, with the nightcap following at 7:05 p.m. Fans can follow all the action for both games 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 Matt Larkins (6-6, 3.87) takes the mound for the Ducks in game one against Patriots righty Patrick Johnson (Somerset Debut). Righty John Brownell (8-3, 3.38) toes the rubber for Long Island in game two against Somerset southpaw Efrain Nieves (2-3, 3.50).

Long Island returns home on Friday, August 18 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.

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: 08/15/2017 Long Island Ducks 3 AT Somerset Patriots 2 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Berry, Q RF 3 2 1 0 .229 Rodriguez, A SS 5 0 2 0 .244 Cleary Jr., D CF 4 0 0 0 .256 Trapp, J CF 4 0 0 0 .250 Ford, L DH 4 0 2 0 .290 Rosario, O 2B 4 0 0 0 .270 Vega, A PR 0 0 0 0 .236 Roller, K DH 2 1 0 0 .319 Krauss, M LF 4 1 2 2 .290 Marrero, C RF 3 0 1 0 .299 Songco, A 1B 3 0 0 0 .256 Minicozzi, M 3B 4 1 3 1 .250 Gotay, R 3B 4 0 1 0 .273 Guzman, C 1B 3 0 0 1 .256 Reyes, E 2B 2 0 0 0 .282 Donachie, A C 3 0 0 0 .250 Burg, A C 4 0 0 0 .234 Pacchioli, J PR 0 0 0 0 .299 Lyons, D SS 3 0 0 0 .260 Eggleston, A LF 3 0 0 0 .247 31 3 6 2 31 2 6 2 L Island 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 3 6 0 Somerset 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 2 6 1 2B--Berry, Q RF (6), Ford, L DH (10), Minicozzi, M 3B (6). HR--Krauss, M LF (16), Minicozzi, M 3B (4). RBI--Krauss, M LF 2 (64), TOTALS 2 (0), Minicozzi, M 3B (21), Guzman, C 1B (45), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Berry, Q RF (1), Marrero, C RF (2). SF--Guzman, C 1B (3). SB--Berry, Q RF (15), Vega, A PR (10), Pacchioli, J PR (32). CS--Trapp, J CF (2). E--Minicozzi, M 3B (5). LOB--L Island 8, Somerset 8. DP--C. Guzman(1B) - O. Rosario(2B) - A. Rodriguez(SS), C. Marrero(RF) - A. Rodriguez(SS). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Alvarez, H (W,2-1) 5.0 3 1 1 1 3 0 2.88 Crider, P 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.05 Rogers, R 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.27 OGrady, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.65 Diaz, A (S,10) 1.0 1 1 1 2 2 1 1.83 9 6 2 2 4 9 1 Somerset Kubiak, D (L,5-10) 5.0 5 3 3 3 3 1 3.93 Hessler, K 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Antolin, D 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 Below, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.44 Wright, J 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.54 9 6 3 3 6 6 1 WP--Wright, J (3). HB--Alvarez, H (2), Kubiak, D (13). SO--Cleary Jr., D, Ford, L, Songco, A 2, Gotay, R, Lyons, D, Trapp, J, Rosario, O, Roller, K, Marrero, C 2, Guzman, C, Donachie, A 2, Eggleston, A. BB--Berry, Q, Cleary Jr., D, Songco, A, Reyes, E 2, Lyons, D, Roller, K 2, Donachie, A, Eggleston, A. BF--Alvarez, H 19 (112), Crider, P 4 (163), Rogers, R 4 (217), OGrady, D 4 (407), Diaz, A 6 (182), Kubiak, D 22 (447), Hessler, K 3 (3), Antolin, D 4 (39), Below, D 4 (208), Wright, J 5 (171). P-S--Alvarez, H 67-40, Crider, P 21-10, Rogers, R 16-8, OGrady, D 18-11, Diaz, A 35-19, Kubiak, D 95-55, Hessler, K 5-4, Antolin, D 16-10, Below, D 18-12, Wright, J 24-11. T--3:02. A--4470 LI, B9, MGR mound visit Weather: Overcast; damp; 70's Plate Umpire - Jorge Teran, Field Umpire #1 - Rich Katz, Field Umpire #3 - Tom Gandolfo