Ducks drop series opener to Blue Crabs
(Central Islip, N.Y., July 29, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-3 on Monday night in the first game of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Bryant Nelson’s solo homer, Bill Hall’s solo blast and Hall’s RBI double
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Bryant Nelson talk about the game
Southern Maryland scratched across a run in the first inning on Brian Barton’s sacrifice fly to right off Ducks starter James Houser. Bryant Nelson answered right back with a mammoth solo homer to right off Blue Crabs starter Daryl Thompson. A two-run third inning put the Blue Crabs back in front, with a run-scoring error and a RBI single to left by Cesar Nicolas doing the damage.
Two more runs in the sixth inning on a RBI single to center by Jose Salas and a RBI double to right by Jake Opitz extended the lead to 5-1. Bill Hall’s solo homer to center in the bottom of the frame and RBI double to left-center in the eighth cut the deficit to two, but that was as close as Long Island would come.
Thompson (9-5) earned the win, tossing six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. Houser (7-1) suffered the loss, yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Jim Ed Warden earned his 24th save with a scoreless ninth.
Hall led the Ducks with three hits and two RBI while Bailey chipped in with two hits.
The Ducks and Blue Crabs continue their four-game set on Tuesday night. Game time is slated 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 Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace. Right-hander Bob Zimmermann takes the mound for the Ducks against Blue Crabs right-hander Ian Marshall.
Tickets for the game and all Ducks regular season home games are now on sale. Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling 631-940-TIXX or by CLICKING HERE. Fans unable to make the game can follow all the action live online, with streaming video and audio on the Ducks official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball.
###
Duck Tales: Bryant Nelson’s solo homer in the first inning was his 11th of the season, which ties him with Joash Brodin and Danny Perales for the team lead. All 11 of Nelson’s homers have come batting left-handed, and eight of his longballs have come at Bethpage Ballpark…Bill Hall’s solo homer in the sixth was his 10th of the season. Nine of his 10 longballs have been hit at the Duck Pond. The Ducks have now launched 87 home runs as a team in 2013…With three hits in the game, Hall earned his fourth three-hit game and 13th multi-hit contest. The former big leaguer has picked up multiple hits in five of his last eight games. Hall also had two RBI to earn his sixth two-RBI game and 11th multi-RBI contest…By allowing just one earned run, James Houser has now allowed one earned run or less in eight consecutive starts. In that span, he has also allowed no more than four hits or three walks in a start and has struck out 41 batters in 40 and two-thirds innings.
GAME DATE: 07/29/2013 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD S Maryland AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG R.Osuna SS 5 1 2 0 .302 J.Brodin 1B 5 1 1 0 .321 S.Smith RF 4 1 0 0 .236 K.Binick CF 4 0 0 0 .232 J.Julio-Ruiz 1B 4 1 2 0 .324 B.Nelson 3B 4 1 1 1 .289 B.Barton LF 3 1 1 1 .272 B.Hall 2B 4 1 3 2 .283 C.Nicolas 3B 4 1 2 1 .210 R.Castro C 4 0 1 0 .255 A.Colina DH 3 0 0 0 .239 A.Bailey RF 4 0 2 0 .264 J.Salas C 4 0 1 1 .254 R.Navarrete DH 3 0 0 0 .232 J.Opitz 2B 4 0 1 1 .279 P.Phillips LF 3 0 0 0 .236 J.Owens CF 4 0 0 0 .226 D.Lyons SS 3 0 0 0 .217 R.Henriquez PH 1 0 1 0 .232 35 5 9 4 35 3 9 3 S Maryland 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 5 9 1 L Island 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 - 3 9 3 2B--J.Opitz (7), B.Hall 2 (14), A.Bailey (19). HR--B.Nelson (11), B.Hall (10). RBI--B.Barton (20), C.Nicolas (27), J.Salas (38), J.Opitz (12), B.Nelson (50), B.Hall 2 (41). SF--B.Barton (5). SH--S.Smith (0). SB--J.Julio-Ruiz (14), A.Colina (3). E--R.Osuna (16), J.Brodin (10), R.Castro (3), A.Bailey (4). LOB--S Maryland 6, L Island 7. DP--R. Osuna(SS) - J. Julio-Ruiz(1B) - J. Conley(P). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA S Maryland D.Thompson (W,9-5) 6.0 6 2 2 0 3 2 3.43 J.Conley 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 E.Morlan 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2.80 J.Warden (S,24) 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.33 9 9 3 3 2 5 2 L Island J.Houser (L,7-1) 5.0 4 3 1 1 5 0 2.39 B.Zimmermann 1.0 4 2 2 0 1 0 4.07 J.Lansford 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.81 T.Hose 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.90 9 9 5 3 1 9 0 WP--D.Thompson (8). PB--J.Salas. SO--R.Osuna 2, S.Smith, B.Barton 2, C.Nicolas, A.Colina, J.Owens 2, B.Hall, R.Castro, P.Phillips, D.Lyons 2. BB--A.Colina, R.Navarrete, P.Phillips. BF--D.Thompson 24 (444), J.Conley 3 (18), E.Morlan 5 (147), J.Warden 5 (174), J.Houser 21 (248), B.Zimmermann 7 (179), J.Lansford 4 (115), T.Hose 6 (140). P-S--D.Thompson 87-58, J.Conley 9-5, E.Morlan 17-14, J.Warden 11-6, J.Houser 81-59, B.Zimmermann 25-15, J.Lansford 16-11, T.Hose 29-20. T--3:03. A--5783 Umpires: Plate Ump - Allan Reyes, Field Ump #1 - Matt Hensel, Field Ump #2 - Hank Himmanen