Somerset rallies late to split twin bill with Long Island
(Photo courtesy of Joe Doll)
(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 16, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 7-5 on Wednesday night in game two of a day/night doubleheader at TD Bank Ballpark. Long Island earned a 7-3 victory in game one earlier in the day. The defeat ends Long Island’s winning streak at 12 consecutive games, tying the longest such streak in franchise history, set from July 5-20 in 2006.
GAME VIDEO: Highlights from game two of the twin bill
Lew Ford put the Ducks ahead with a two-out solo home run to right field in the first inning off Patriots starter Efrain Nieves. It stayed that way until the sixth inning when Alex Burg lined an RBI single through the right side, scoring Ruben Gotay to put the Ducks on top 2-0.
After being held to one hit and one walk over the first five innings, Somerset put up a four-spot in the sixth against Ducks starter John Brownell to take a 4-2 lead. An RBI double by Alfredo Rodriguez, a sacrifice fly from Justin Trapp and back-to-back two-out solo homers from Kyle Roller and Olmo Rosario did the damage.
Long Island closed to within 4-3 in the seventh on a two-out RBI double to right-center by Marc Krauss, but a two-out RBI single by Trapp in the bottom of the inning restored Somerset’s two-run lead. Burg pulled the Flock even at five with a two-run home run to center field in the eighth. However, a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame by Carlos Guzman put the Patriots back in front for good.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Brownell allowed four runs on five hits and a walk over five and two-thirds innings while striking out seven. Nieves lasted six innings, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Ronnie Shaban (4-4) picked up the win despite giving up two runs on two hits in one inning of relief. Tyler Wilson (0-2) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs on two hits in his one inning of work. Dustin Molleken earned his second save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
Elmer Reyes led the Flock with three hits. Burg, Ford and Krauss each added two hits, with Burg driving in three runs.
The Ducks and Patriots wrap up their four-game set on Thursday night. 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. Left-hander Rafael Perez (8-7, 4.42) gets the ball for the Ducks against Patriots righty Will Oliver (5-3, 5.09).
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 5 AT Somerset Patriots 7 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Berry, Q RF 5 1 1 0 .228 Rodriguez, A SS 3 1 2 1 .249 Cleary Jr., D CF 5 0 0 0 .258 Trapp, J LF 3 0 1 2 .243 Ford, L LF 5 1 2 1 .293 Pacchioli, J CF 4 0 0 0 .294 Krauss, M DH 3 0 2 1 .293 Roller, K DH 4 2 2 1 .322 Gotay, R 1B 3 1 0 0 .268 Rosario, O 3B 4 1 1 1 .272 Reyes, E 2B 4 1 3 0 .290 Guzman, C RF 3 1 1 2 .261 Burg, A C 4 1 2 3 .238 Gonzalez, Y C 4 0 0 0 .305 Alfonzo, G 3B 3 0 0 0 .296 Donachie, A 1B 3 0 0 0 .242 Lyons, D SS 4 0 0 0 .257 Kelly, S 2B 3 2 1 0 .251 36 5 10 5 31 7 8 7 L Island 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 - 5 10 0 Somerset 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 x - 7 8 0 2B--Krauss, M DH (24), Reyes, E 2B (20), Rodriguez, A SS 2 (14). HR--Ford, L LF (8), Burg, A C (10), Roller, K DH (18), Rosario, O 3B (5), Guzman, C RF (5). RBI--Ford, L LF (26), Krauss, M DH (65), Burg, A C 3 (31), TOTALS 5 (0), Rodriguez, A SS (25), Trapp, J LF 2 (13), Roller, K DH (55), Rosario, O 3B (36), Guzman, C RF 2 (49), TOTALS 7 (0). HP--Alfonzo, G 3B (5), Rodriguez, A SS (6). SF--Trapp, J LF (1). SB--Trapp, J LF (5). LOB--L Island 9, Somerset 4. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Brownell, J 5.2 5 4 4 1 7 2 3.53 Crider, P 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.03 Treece, Z 1.0 1 1 1 1 2 0 4.64 Wilson, T (L,0-2) 1.0 2 2 2 0 1 1 6.17 8 8 7 7 2 11 3 Somerset Nieves, E 6.0 6 2 2 3 8 1 3.44 Below, D 0.1 1 1 1 0 1 0 3.60 Antolin, D 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Shaban, R (W,4-4) 1.0 2 2 2 0 1 1 4.21 Molleken, D (S,2) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.86 9 10 5 5 4 12 2 PB--Gonzalez, Y. HB--Treece, Z (3), Nieves, E (1). SO--Berry, Q, Cleary Jr., D 3, Ford, L 2, Burg, A, Alfonzo, G 2, Lyons, D 3, Rodriguez, A, Pacchioli, J 2, Roller, K 2, Rosario, O 2, Guzman, C 2, Gonzalez, Y, Donachie, A. BB--Krauss, M 2, Gotay, R 2, Guzman, C, Donachie, A. BF--Brownell, J 23 (489), Crider, P (164), Treece, Z 6 (192), Wilson, T 5 (53), Nieves, E 27 (215), Below, D 2 (210), Antolin, D 3 (42), Shaban, R 5 (147), Molleken, D 4 (63). P-S--Brownell, J 89-59, Crider, P 4-3, Treece, Z 21-12, Wilson, T 15-9, Nieves, E 112-66, Below, D 9-6, Antolin, D 10-7, Shaban, R 21-13, Molleken, D 20-12. T--2:54. A--3889 SOM, T6, C mound visit; LI, B7, PC mound visit; Weather: Clear; mid 80's, NICE! Plate Umpire - Tom Gandolfo, Field Umpire #1 - Jorge Teran, Field Umpire #3 - Rich Katz