Long Island’s 14 hits not enough in series finale
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 14, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Bridgeport Bluefish 9-7 on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series finale
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Jon Griffin talk about the game
The Ducks struck first in the opening inning on a RBI single to left by Lew Ford off of Bluefish starter Cory Riordan. The Bluefish responded in the second with three runs off of Ducks starter Eric Niesen. Ryan Babineau’s RBI double and run-scoring singles from Jovan Rosa and Nick Van Stratten did the damage. However, Long Island answered right back in the bottom of the frame, as solo home runs by Jon Griffin and Dillon Haupt evened the score at three.
Bridgeport retook the lead in the fourth on Van Stratten’s three-run homer to left, but the Ducks closed back within a run at 6-5 on another solo homer by Griffin and a RBI single by Dan Lyons in the home half of the inning. The two teams traded single runs in the fifth, and the Bluefish pushed the lead to 8-6 in the sixth on Welington Dotel’s sacrifice fly to right.
The ‘Fish took a 9-6 lead into the ninth, and the Ducks rallied for a run on Delta Cleary Jr.’s sac fly to center. However, Long Island could not pull even.
Erik Draxton (1-0) collected the win in relief, allowing one hit and securing the final out of the fifth inning. Niesen (0-2) suffered the loss, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. Luis Perdomo picked up his first save despite allowing a run on four walks in the ninth. Riordan took a no-decision, tossing four and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out one.
Griffin and Lyons led the Flock with three hits apiece, while Bryan Sabatella and Reegie Corona each added two.
Long Island hits the road for seven games beginning on Friday night when they open a four-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. from Clipper Magazine Stadium. Right-hander Mark Rogers gets the start for the Ducks against Barnstormers southpaw Dan Osterbrock. Fans can follow all the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Live streaming audio will also be available online by CLICKING HERE.
The Ducks return home on Friday, May 22 to begin a four-game set against the Camden Riversharks. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Orange Thundersticks. In addition, it will be Fowl Pole, Pizza Hut K-Man and Air Trampoline Sports Friday at the Duck Pond! 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.
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Duck Tales: Dan Lyons extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games with three hits. That’s the second-longest hitting streak by a Duck this season (Reegie Corona, 11). During the streak, Lyons is batting .433 (13-for-30) with two doubles, five RBI and three runs. The shortstop has now collected a hit in 13 of the 18 games that he has played in this season. Thursday was also his first three-hit game and fourth multi-hit contest. In 2014, Lyons totaled two three-hit and 25 multi-hit games…Jon Griffin became the second Duck to hit multiple home runs in a single game this season with two solo blasts. The first Duck with a multi-homer game in 2015 was Cody Puckett, who went deep twice on May 2 against Sugar Land. With his two longballs, he is now tied with Puckett for the team lead in homers at four. Griffin also collected his first three-hit game of the season and second multi-hit contest…Reegie Corona and Bryan Sabatella each finished with two hits on the night. Corona now is tied with Puckett for the team lead with six two-hit games and has compiled seven multi-hit contests. Sabatella earned his fourth two-hit and sixth multi-hit game of the year. Corona has now hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, while Sabatella has reached base safely in 15 of his last 16 contests.
Game Date: 05/14/2015 Bridgeport Bluefish 9 AT Long Island Ducks 7 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG N.Van Stratten CF 4 2 2 4 .321 B.Sabatella RF 5 1 2 0 .253 I.Vargas SS 5 0 2 0 .329 R.Corona 2B 5 1 2 0 .350 W.Dotel RF 4 0 0 1 .300 L.Ford DH 4 1 1 1 .325 A.Rodriguez 1B 5 0 0 0 .174 C.Puckett 3B 4 0 1 0 .291 J.Alonso DH 4 1 0 0 .250 P.Redman LF 4 0 1 1 .216 R.Babineau C 2 2 1 1 .344 E.Komatsu PR 0 0 0 0 .182 J.Simmons LF 5 1 1 0 .212 J.Griffin 1B 4 2 3 2 .225 J.Rosa 3B 4 2 3 2 .200 D.Cleary Jr. CF 4 0 0 1 .000 L.Rodriguez 2B 4 1 2 1 .254 D.Haupt C 3 2 1 1 .100 B.Davis PR 0 0 0 0 .147 D.Lyons SS 5 0 3 1 .290 37 9 11 9 38 7 14 7 Bridgeport 0 3 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 - 9 11 1 L Island 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 - 7 14 2 2B--R.Babineau (5), J.Rosa (1), D.Lyons (3). HR--N.Van Stratten (1), J.Griffin 2 (4), D.Haupt (1). RBI--N.Van Stratten 4 (14), W.Dotel (10), R.Babineau (8), J.Rosa 2 (3), L.Rodriguez (7), L.Ford (18), P.Redman (5), J.Griffin 2 (11), D.Cleary Jr. (1), D.Haupt (1), D.Lyons (9). HP--R.Babineau (2). SF--W.Dotel (2), D.Cleary Jr. (1). SB--N.Van Stratten (5), W.Dotel (5), R.Babineau 2 (4), J.Simmons (3), J.Rosa (1), B.Sabatella (8), R.Corona (2). CS--D.Lyons (1). E--R.Babineau (2), R.Corona (2), C.Puckett (5). LOB--Bridgeport 8, L Island 11. DP--R. Corona(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Griffin(1B), R. Corona(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Griffin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport C.Riordan 4.2 10 6 6 1 1 3 4.63 E.Draxton (W,1-0) 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.08 P.Mincey 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 S.Gervacio 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.13 T.Gustafson 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.50 L.Perdomo (S,1) 1.0 0 1 1 4 1 0 1.93 9 14 7 7 6 4 3 L Island E.Niesen (L,0-2) 5.0 10 7 5 2 4 1 6.16 M.Jannis 1.0 0 1 1 1 0 0 3.12 B.Kern 1.0 1 1 1 1 2 0 1.93 P.Crider 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.19 N.Struck 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.40 9 11 9 7 5 7 1 WP--C.Riordan (2), B.Kern (1). HB--B.Kern (1). SO--W.Dotel, A.Rodriguez 2, J.Alonso, J.Simmons 2, L.Rodriguez, B.Sabatella, R.Corona, C.Puckett, J.Griffin. BB--N.Van Stratten, J.Alonso, R.Babineau 2, J.Rosa, L.Ford, C.Puckett, P.Redman, J.Griffin, D.Haupt 2. BF--C.Riordan 23 (48), E.Draxton 2 (41), P.Mincey 5 (31), S.Gervacio 4 (52), T.Gustafson 4 (38), L.Perdomo 7 (37), E.Niesen 27 (97), M.Jannis 4 (71), B.Kern 6 (37), P.Crider 4 (38), N.Struck 3 (14). P-S--C.Riordan 87-52, E.Draxton 8-6, P.Mincey 19-13, S.Gervacio 19-12, T.Gustafson 13-10, L.Perdomo 31-14, E.Niesen 93-56, M.Jannis 10-5, B.Kern 21-12, P.Crider 16-8, N.Struck 8-4. T--3:08. A--4739 Plate Umpire - JB Torres, Field Umpire #1 - Richard Katz, Field Umpire #2 - Derek Moccia