Ducks plate two in ninth but come up a run short
(Bridgewater, N.J., May 20, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 5-4 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.
Somerset took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Alex Castellanos scored from third on a fielding error at first base. A two-out, three-run rally in the third against Ducks starter Jake Dunning increased the Patriots lead to four. An RBI single by Castellanos and a two-run double by Mike Fransoso did the damage.
Travis Snider cut Long Island’s deficit in half with a two-run home run to right field in the fourth off Patriots starter Aaron Laffey. However Adam Weisenburger’s opposite-field solo homer to right in the sixth increased Somerset’s advantage to 5-2.
Long Island rallied in the ninth inning against Patriots reliever Ryan Kelly. Cody Puckett’s RBI double and Ramon Cabrera’s run-scoring groundout closed the gap to one, but the Ducks stranded the tying run at third base.
Laffey (2-0) collected the win, pitching five and one-third innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out three. Dunning (1-2) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits and four walks over three innings. Kelly picked up his third save despite allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in the ninth.
Puckett led the Flock with three hits, while David Washington and Emilio Bonifacio each had two.
The Ducks return home on Tuesday night to begin a three-game series against the Road Warriors. 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). It’s a Two-Fer Tuesday! Fans purchasing tickets to the game online at LIDucks.com or via the Ducks mobile app can receive a special buy one, get one free offer by entering the promo code “BOGO” at checkout (max. four total tickets per transaction). Right-hander Matt Larkins (1-0, 2.81) gets the start for the Ducks.
Tickets to the game, and all 2018 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 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.
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 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 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.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 05/20/2018 Long Island Ducks 4 AT Somerset Patriots 5 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Valdespin, J 2B 4 0 1 0 .382 Borbon, J CF 3 0 1 0 .292 Bonifacio, E CF 4 1 2 0 .396 Chavez, E RF 5 0 1 0 .211 Snider, T DH 4 1 1 2 .224 Trapp, J LF 4 0 0 0 .269 Ford, L LF 4 1 0 0 .269 Roller, K DH 4 1 0 0 .152 Washington, D 1B 4 1 2 0 .266 Castellanos, A 3B 3 2 2 1 .250 Puckett, C 3B 4 0 3 1 .246 Dorn, D 1B 4 1 1 0 .255 Sole, A PR 0 0 0 0 .207 Rodriguez, A SS 3 0 1 0 .344 Cabrera, R C 4 0 0 1 .167 Fransoso, M 2B 3 0 1 2 .367 Lyons, D SS 4 0 1 0 .217 Weisenburger, A C 4 1 1 1 .227 Garcia, R RF 3 0 0 0 .158 Fields, D PH 1 0 0 0 .255 36 4 10 4 33 5 8 4 L Island 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 - 4 10 2 Somerset 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 x - 5 8 1 2B--Valdespin, J 2B (7), Washington, D 1B (6), Puckett, C 3B (6), Borbon, J CF (8), Castellanos, A 3B (1), Fransoso, M 2B (2). HR--Snider, T DH (3), Weisenburger, A C (2). RBI--Snider, T DH 2 (12), Puckett, C 3B (8), Cabrera, R C (1), TOTALS 4 (0), Castellanos, A 3B (7), Fransoso, M 2B 2 (6), Weisenburger, A C (7), TOTALS 4 (0). HP--Borbon, J CF (2), Trapp, J LF (1). SB--Bonifacio, E CF (5), Borbon, J CF (3), Trapp, J LF (9), Castellanos, A 3B (1), Rodriguez, A SS (4). CS--Borbon, J CF (1). E--Washington, D 1B (1), Puckett, C 3B (4), Rodriguez, A SS (2). LOB--L Island 5, Somerset 11. DP--M. Fransoso(2B) - A. Rodriguez(SS) - D. Dorn(1B), M. Fransoso(2B) - A. Rodriguez(SS) - D. Dorn(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Dunning, J (L,1-2) 3.0 5 4 4 4 1 0 4.85 Pimentel, C 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.79 Tolliver, A 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 1 3.86 Marsh, M 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.14 Pestano, V 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.90 8 8 5 5 5 7 1 Somerset Laffey, A (W,2-0) 5.1 7 2 2 0 3 1 3.10 Antonini, M 1.1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 Huchingson, C 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.63 Kensing, L 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.70 Kelly, R (S,3) 1.0 2 2 1 0 1 0 4.91 9 10 4 3 0 7 1 WP--Dunning, J (1), Huchingson, C (1). PB--Cabrera, R. HB--Tolliver, A (1), Pestano, V (1). SO--Ford, L 2, Washington, D 2, Cabrera, R, Garcia, R, Fields, D, Chavez, E, Trapp, J, Roller, K 4, Dorn, D. BB--Borbon, J, Roller, K, Castellanos, A, Rodriguez, A, Fransoso, M. BF--Dunning, J 18 (56), Pimentel, C 7 (43), Tolliver, A 6 (32), Marsh, M 5 (32), Pestano, V 4 (38), Laffey, A 21 (83), Antonini, M 5 (43), Huchingson, C (33), Kensing, L 3 (35), Kelly, R 6 (32). P-S--Dunning, J 85-40, Pimentel, C 23-14, Tolliver, A 20-12, Marsh, M 21-13, Pestano, V 16-10, Laffey, A 70-47, Antonini, M 28-19, Huchingson, C 6-3, Kensing, L 9-7, Kelly, R 26-18. T--3:07. A--6022 LI, B2, MGR MV; SOM, T6, PC MV; Som,T7, PC MV Weather: High clouds, low 80's Plate Umpire - Freddie DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Calvin Baker, Field Umpire #3 - JB Torres