Third-year Duck tosses team’s second straight complete game

(Central Islip, N.Y., August 15, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 4-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the comeback victory

POSTGAME VIDEO: Jared Lansford, Brandon Bantz and Cody Puckett talk about the win

Somerset gained the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out, two-run single from Jonny Tucker off Ducks starting pitcher Jared Lansford.

Long Island took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out, four-run rally off Patriots starter Matt Maloney. A two-run double from Cody Puckett and a two-run home run from Brandon Bantz highlighted the inning.

Lansford (5-4) earned the win, allowing two runs (one earned) over nine innings on seven hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Maloney (8-6) took the loss, yielding four runs (none earned) on seven hits and two walks.

Puckett, Evan Crawford, Fehlandt Lentini led the Ducks with two hits apiece.

Long Island continues its three-game series against Somerset on Saturday night. First pitch is set 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 Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Smithtown Nissan. 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 as they exit the ballpark following the fireworks show. Right-hander Shaun Garceau gets the start for the Ducks against Patriots right-hander David Harden.

Tickets for the game and every Ducks regular season home game are now on sale. Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling 631-940-TIXX or by CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action online, with live streaming video and audio available on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE. The game can also be heard on Long Island’s home for news, traffic and weather, 103.9-FM LI News Radio.

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Duck Tales: Fehlandt Lentini, Cody Puckett and Evan Crawford each recorded two hits on Friday. Lentini now leads the team with 29 two-hit games and 39 multi-hit games this year. Puckett earned his 21st two-hit game and 32nd multi-hit game, and it was Crawford’s first two-hit game and second multi-hit game of the year. Crawford also earned his second consecutive multi-hit game. The 26-year-old is now 8-for-11 at the plate with three stolen bases and four runs scored in his first five games with Long Island. He’s earned at least one hit in each of the five games…Brandon Bantz went deep on Friday for his third home run of the season and first at Bethpage Ballpark. It was the first time the former big leaguer had gone deep since he hit a home run in each game of a doubleheader in Bridgeport on July 27…Long Island stole two bases on Friday and have now stolen 16 bases in the last seven games. As a team, the Ducks have stolen 97 this year, good for second-most in the league (York, 126)…Jared Lansford tossed his second complete game of the season on Friday. The third-year Duck worked his first complete game against the Sugar Land Skeeters in game two of a doubleheader on June 21 at Bethpage Ballpark. Lansford has now seen his ERA drop to 3.16 on the year, which is the fifth lowest in the Atlantic League. In addition, the righty’s eight strikeouts were one shy of his season high (9, July 30 at Camden)…Ducks starting pitchers are now 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA (11 earned runs in 70 and two-thirds innings) over their last 10 games after Lansford allowed one earned run over nine innings on Friday. In that span, they’ve allowed 59 hits and 12 walks while striking out 43 batters. Dating back to August 2, the starters are 7-2 with a 1.55 ERA, allowing 16 earned runs in 92 and two-thirds innings.

 Game Date: 08/15/2014 Somerset Patriots 2 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Tucker CF 4 0 2 2 .266 F.Lentini RF 4 0 2 0 .309 J.Dominguez 2B 4 0 0 0 .291 B.Harris 3B 4 0 0 0 .282 T.Wright DH 3 0 0 0 .257 L.Ford DH 3 1 1 0 .332 C.Smith 3B 4 0 1 0 .297 A.Bailey LF 3 1 1 0 .295 L.Montanez RF 4 0 1 0 .276 C.Puckett 2B 4 1 2 2 .276 B.Barden 1B 4 0 1 0 .236 B.Bantz C 4 1 1 2 .277 C.Harrilchak LF 3 1 1 0 .229 E.Crawford CF 4 0 2 0 .615 D.Espino C 3 1 1 0 .230 J.Brodin 1B 3 0 0 0 .249 S.Kelly SS 3 0 0 0 .197 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .264 32 2 7 2 32 4 9 4 Somerset 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 2 7 1 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 x - 4 9 0 2B--C.Smith (27), C.Puckett (9), E.Crawford (1). HR--B.Bantz (3). RBI--J.Tucker 2 (33), C.Puckett 2 (56), B.Bantz 2 (15). SB--E.Crawford (4), J.Brodin (21). CS--B.Barden (3). E--S.Kelly (11). LOB--Somerset 4, L Island 8. DP--J. Dominguez(2B) - S. Kelly(SS) - B. Barden(1B), J. Dominguez(2B) - S. Kelly(SS) - B. Barden(1B), J. Lansford(P) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Brodin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset M.Maloney (L,8-6) 5.2 7 4 0 2 0 1 3.08 J.Rincon 0.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1.96 M.Sommo 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.57 M.Solbach 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.33 8 9 4 0 4 2 1 L Island J.Lansford (W,5-4) 9.0 7 2 2 1 8 0 3.16 9 7 2 2 1 8 0 WP--J.Lansford (7). SO--J.Tucker, J.Dominguez 2, T.Wright, L.Montanez, B.Barden, D.Espino, S.Kelly, B.Bantz, D.Lyons. BB--T.Wright, L.Ford, A.Bailey, J.Brodin, D.Lyons. BF--M.Maloney 25 (409), J.Rincon 2 (76), M.Sommo 5 (68), M.Solbach 4 (107), J.Lansford 33 (507). P-S--M.Maloney 84-58, J.Rincon 10-4, M.Sommo 18-13, M.Solbach 15-10, J.Lansford 109-79. T--2:22. A--5197 Bottom 6: Mound visit by pitching coach...Bottom 7: Mound visit by catcher Plate Umpire - Manolo Alejandro, Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Derek Moccia