Minicozzi, Dowd go deep in three-run seventh

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 15, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 6-3 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series-opening victory

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Mike Dowd and Mark Minicozzi talk about the comeback win

Long Island took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a wild pitch from Patriots starter Will Oliver that scored Anthony Vega and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dan Lyons. Somerset tied the game at two in the third on an RBI single by Eric Farris and a wild pitch by Ducks starter John Brownell which scored Mycal Jones.

The Patriots took their first lead of the night on a two-out RBI single in the fifth from David Vidal. However, the Ducks took the lead back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. A solo home run to center field from Mark Minicozzi, and a two-run homer to left-center by Mike Dowd highlighted the inning. Lyons’ sac fly to right in the eighth rounded out the scoring.

Brownell (7-3) collected the victory, tossing seven innings of three-run ball, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out four. Jeremy McBryde (6-4) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on three hits in one inning of relief. Todd Coffey earned his 14th save of the season with a scoreless ninth, striking out two. Oliver did not factor into the decision put pitched six innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Minicozzi and Delta Cleary Jr. each had two hits to lead the Flock.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their three-game set on Saturday night. 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). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by NYCB. Ducks staff members will also 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. Left-hander Darin Downs takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots righty Donovan Hand.

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 live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will also be available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by 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 34 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{508e0238204740d3d9c141f5965096b8721e890fc8446b80b243ba5070871f7e} of the US population.

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

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 Game Date: 07/15/2016 Somerset Patriots 3 AT Long Island Ducks 6 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Jones, M CF 5 2 3 0 .264 Vega, A LF 4 1 1 0 .289 Eggleston, A LF 3 0 1 0 .320 Lentini, F RF 4 1 1 0 .315 Farris, E 2B 4 0 1 1 .301 Cleary Jr., D CF 3 1 2 0 .314 Vidal, D 3B 3 0 1 1 .338 Puckett, C 3B 3 0 0 0 .275 LaHair, B DH 3 0 0 0 .259 Lyons, D SS 2 0 0 2 .326 Robinson, T RF 4 0 0 0 .237 Minicozzi, M 1B 4 1 2 1 .240 Gonzalez, Y C 4 0 0 0 .239 Gotay, R 2B 2 1 1 0 .281 Kral, R 1B 4 1 1 0 .239 Dowd, M C 3 1 1 2 .312 Mateo, L SS 3 0 1 0 .077 Blanke, M DH 3 0 0 0 .234 33 3 8 2 28 6 8 5 Somerset 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 3 8 1 L Island 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 x - 6 8 0 2B--Eggleston, A LF (11), Vega, A LF (7), Gotay, R 2B (11). HR--Minicozzi, M 1B (3), Dowd, M C (2). RBI--Farris, E 2B (32), Vidal, D 3B (17), TOTALS 2 (0), Lyons, D SS 2 (30), Minicozzi, M 1B (4), Dowd, M C 2 (26), TOTALS 5 (0). SF--Lyons, D SS 2 (3). SH--Eggleston, A LF (0), Mateo, L SS (0). SB--Jones, M CF (27), Cleary Jr., D CF 2 (15). E--Mateo, L SS (2). LOB--Somerset 7, L Island 3. DP--E. Farris(2B) - L. Mateo(SS) - R. Kral(1B), T. Robinson(RF) - R. Kral(1B), E. Farris(2B) - L. Mateo(SS) - R. Kral(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset Oliver, W 6.0 5 2 2 2 5 0 3.46 McBryde, J (L,6-4) 1.0 3 3 3 0 0 2 5.05 Meek, E 1.0 0 1 1 1 0 0 4.32 8 8 6 6 3 5 2 L Island Brownell, J (W,7-3) 7.0 7 3 3 2 4 0 2.85 De La Rosa, E 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.46 Coffey, T (S,14) 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.16 9 8 3 3 2 7 0 WP--Oliver, W (2), Brownell, J (4). SO--Jones, M, Eggleston, A, Farris, E, LaHair, B 3, Kral, R, Vega, A 2, Lentini, F, Lyons, D, Minicozzi, M. BB--Vidal, D, LaHair, B, Cleary Jr., D, Puckett, C, Gotay, R. BF--Oliver, W 23 (106), McBryde, J 6 (149), Meek, E 4 (42), Brownell, J 30 (397), De La Rosa, E 3 (123), Coffey, T 4 (109). P-S--Oliver, W 93-56, McBryde, J 23-14, Meek, E 23-11, Brownell, J 96-67, De La Rosa, E 13-8, Coffey, T 15-10. T--2:26. A--5157 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Richard Katz, Field Umpire #2 - Silvio Martinez Jr.