Complete game effort and fifth inning grand slam help Ducks equal franchise record
(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 16, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 7-3 on Wednesday afternoon in the opener of a day/night doubleheader at TD Bank Ballpark. The victory was Long Island’s 12 in a row, tying the longest winning streak in franchise history, set from July 5-20 of the 2006 season.
GAME VIDEO: Highlights from the matinee
Somerset plated the game’s first run in the opening inning. Alfredo Rodriguez singled to begin the inning and eventually scored from third on a fielding error during Olmo Rosario’s steal of second base. Long Island took the lead from the Patriots in the third on an RBI single by Angelo Songco and an RBI double from Elmer Reyes off Patriots reliver A.J. Achter.
The Ducks extended the lead to 6-1 in the fifth. A single and two walks began the inning, but back-to-back strikeouts by Connor Root recorded the first two outs. However, Giovanny Alfonzo hit a 3-2 offering over the right field wall for an opposite-field grand slam to extend Long Island’s advantage.
Carlos Guzman brought the Patriots to within three in the sixth when he lifted a two-run homer to right field off Ducks starter Matt Larkins. However, Reyes responded with a solo homer to left-center in the seventh that capped the scoring.
Patrick Johnson started for Somerset but did not factor into the decision, pitching a scoreless first inning and allowing two walks while striking out one. Larkins (7-6) turned in his second complete game of the road trip to earn the win, tossing all seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out a career-high 12 batters. Achter (2-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits in two innings with five strikeouts.
Delta Cleary Jr. had three hits and a walk to lead the Ducks offensively. Reyes added two hits and two RBI while Alfonzo drove in four runs.
The Ducks and Patriots retake the field later this evening for the nightcap of the twin bill. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from TD Bank Ballpark. Fans 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 John Brownell (8-3, 3.38) toes the rubber for Long Island 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: 08/16/2017 Long Island Ducks 7 AT Somerset Patriots 3 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Vega, A RF 5 0 0 0 .229 Rodriguez, A SS 3 1 1 0 .245 Cleary Jr., D CF 3 2 3 0 .262 Trapp, J 2B 3 0 0 0 .239 Krauss, M 1B 1 1 0 0 .289 Marrero, C RF 2 0 0 0 .295 Songco, A DH 3 2 1 1 .257 Rosario, O 3B 2 1 1 0 .272 Pyles, D LF 3 0 0 0 .220 Guzman, C DH 3 1 2 2 .260 Reyes, E 2B 4 1 2 2 .285 Minicozzi, M 1B 3 0 0 0 .245 Alfonzo, G 3B 3 1 1 4 .299 Golson, G CF 3 0 0 0 .241 Afenir, A C 4 0 0 0 .200 Eggleston, A LF 3 0 1 0 .248 Lyons, D SS 3 0 1 0 .261 Donachie, A C 3 0 0 0 .246 29 7 8 7 25 3 5 2 L Island 0 0 2 0 4 0 1 - 7 8 1 Somerset 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 3 5 1 2B--Reyes, E 2B (19). HR--Reyes, E 2B (4), Alfonzo, G 3B (3), Guzman, C DH (4). RBI--Songco, A DH (64), Reyes, E 2B 2 (43), Alfonzo, G 3B 4 (36), TOTALS 7 (0), Guzman, C DH 2 (47), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Pyles, D LF (1), Rodriguez, A SS (5), Marrero, C RF (3). SB--Cleary Jr., D CF (22), Songco, A DH (1), Rosario, O 3B (14). E--Larkins, M P (2), Golson, G CF (3). LOB--L Island 9, Somerset 4. DP--E. Reyes(2B) - M. Krauss(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Larkins, M (W,7-6) 7.0 5 3 2 1 12 1 3.81 7 5 3 2 1 12 1 Somerset Johnson, P 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0.00 Achter, A (L,2-1) 2.0 4 2 2 0 5 0 3.00 Root, C 4.0 4 5 5 5 6 2 5.30 7 8 7 7 7 12 2 PB--Donachie, A. HB--Larkins, M 2 (6), Johnson, P (1). SO--Vega, A 5, Krauss, M, Pyles, D 2, Reyes, E, Alfonzo, G, Afenir, A 2, Rodriguez, A 2, Trapp, J 2, Marrero, C, Guzman, C, Minicozzi, M, Golson, G 3, Eggleston, A, Donachie, A. BB--Cleary Jr., D, Krauss, M 3, Songco, A, Alfonzo, G, Lyons, D, Rosario, O. BF--Larkins, M 28 (521), Johnson, P 6 (6), Achter, A 10 (95), Root, C 21 (168). P-S--Larkins, M 118-79, Johnson, P 36-21, Achter, A 49-30, Root, C 92-50. T--2:47. A--3912 LI, B6, PC mound visit; SOM, T7, PC mound visit; Weather: Clear; 90 degrees Plate Umpire - Rich Katz, Field Umpire #1 - Tom Gandolfo, Field Umpire #3 - Jorge Teran