Puckett’s eighth inning single gives Ducks victory in nightcap
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 3, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks split a day/night doubleheader with the York Revolution on Saturday at Bethpage Ballpark. York took the first game 8-7 while Long Island responded with a 4-3 comeback win in game two.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from Game One
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the Comeback Victory in Game Two
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Bobby Blevins and Cody Puckett talk about the doubleheader split
The Revolution struck first in the opening inning of game one against Ducks starter Shaun Garceau on a RBI double by Eric Patterson and a RBI triple off the bat of Steve Bumbry. The Ducks answered right back in the bottom of the first on a two-out, two-run double to left-center by Adam Bailey off Revs starter Jorge Martinez.
Three more runs in the second for Long Island on a RBI single by Dan Lyons and a two-run double from Fehlandt Lentini put the Flock in front 5-2. York pulled to within one in the third before taking an 8-5 lead with a four-run fifth. A RBI triple by Patterson and a run-scoring single by Alberto Espinosa highlighted the damage.
Long Island rallied back in the ninth to pull within one on Keith Castillo’s two-run homer to left. However, the Ducks could not pull even.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Garceau tossed four innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five. Martinez lasted three innings, surrendering five runs (three earned) on five hits in three innings. Mike McClendon (1-1) earned the win with four scoreless inning of relief, striking out three. Steve Garrison (0-1) suffered the loss, yielding four runs (none earned) on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Rommie Lewis earned his second save despite allowing two runs in the ninth.
Lentini, Castillo and Cody Puckett each led the Flock with two hits while Lentini, Bailey and Castillo contributed two RBI apiece.
In game two, the Revolution once again jumped out to the early lead. After three scoreless innings to open the game, York got on the board in the fourth on Chad Tracy’s RBI double to left and Bumbry’s run-scoring groundout off Ducks starter Bobby Blevins.
The Ducks broke through in the fifth to take the lead against Revs starter Corey Thurman. Lyons’ RBI double off the wall in left-center field and Lentini’s two-run single to right-center highlighted the inning.
It stayed that way until the top of the eighth when Sean Smith launched a game-tying solo home run off reliever Jeremy Accardo. However, Long Island responded immediately in the bottom of the inning when Cody Puckett grounded a two-out base hit up the middle to score Lew Ford. Leo Rosales came on to strike out the side in the ninth and secure the win.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Blevins allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out eight in seven innings. Thurman lasted just five innings, surrendering three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Accardo (2-0) picked up the win despite allowing a run in one inning, and Julio DePaula (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up a run on three hits in two innings. Rosales earned his third save with a perfect ninth inning.
Puckett and Lyons each had two hits in the nightcap to pace the Ducks.
Long Island and York will close out their four-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m. with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Back-to-Back Championship Autograph Books, courtesy of Newsday. Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks. After the game, kids and kids at heart will have the chance to take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Righty Casey Barnes will toe the rubber for the Ducks against Revolution southpaw Chris Cody.
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. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE. The game will also be broadcast on Long Island’s home for news, traffic and weather, 103.9-FM LI news Radio.
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Duck Tales: Keith Castillo’s two-run home run in game one was his second home run of the year which leads the team. The catcher also hit a two-run homer in game two of a doubleheader in Southern Maryland this past Thursday. The Ducks have now homered in four consecutive games after not going deep in their first three…Ducks pitchers set a season-high with 13 strikeouts in game one of the doubleheader. Their previous high was 10, done on Friday night against the Revolution. Bobby Blevins earned eight strikeouts in game two to set a new season-high for a Ducks pitcher, exceeding the previous mark of six. It was also the most punchouts for Blevins in a single game while wearing a Ducks uniform. Long Island’s pitching staff has now struck out a total of 70 batters in 72 and two-thirds innings this season …The combined attendance of 9,645 at Bethpage Ballpark during Saturday’s doubleheader increased the Ducks all-time attendance to 5,956,272, an Atlantic League record. Long Island is now just 43,728 fans away from reaching the magical 6 million fan mark. Upon doing so, the Ducks will have achieved the milestone faster than any other professional sports team with a ballpark the size of Bethpage Ballpark (capacity, 6,002).
Game Date: 05/03/2014 (GAME ONE) York Revolution 8 AT Long Island Ducks 7 YTD YTD York AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG S.Smith CF 3 1 1 0 .346 F.Lentini CF 5 0 2 2 .214 T.Torres 2B 5 1 1 0 .273 J.Myers 3B 4 1 1 0 .167 E.Patterson DH 4 3 2 2 .250 J.Brodin RF 4 1 0 0 .200 J.Limonta 1B 5 1 0 1 .192 L.Ford DH 4 0 0 0 .185 S.Bumbry LF 5 0 1 1 .267 A.Bailey LF 4 0 1 2 .150 O.Castro 3B 4 1 2 0 .286 R.Strieby 1B 4 0 0 0 .250 B.Chaves SS 5 1 1 1 .200 C.Puckett 2B 3 2 2 0 .231 A.Espinosa C 4 0 1 1 .143 K.Castillo C 4 2 2 2 .235 R.Yan RF 4 0 1 1 .143 D.Lyons SS 4 1 1 1 .158 39 8 10 7 36 7 9 7 York 2 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 - 8 10 2 L Island 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 7 9 2 2B--S.Smith (2), E.Patterson (3), F.Lentini (2), A.Bailey (1). 3B--E.Patterson (2), S.Bumbry (2). HR--K.Castillo (2). RBI--E.Patterson 2 (4), J.Limonta (2), S.Bumbry (1), B.Chaves (2), A.Espinosa (1), R.Yan (1), F.Lentini 2 (5), A.Bailey 2 (3), K.Castillo 2 (4), D.Lyons (3). SB--T.Torres (6), R.Yan (1). E--T.Torres (1), A.Espinosa (1), R.Strieby (1), C.Puckett (1). LOB--York 8, L Island 5. DP--B. Chaves(SS) - T. Torres(2B) - J. Limonta(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA York J.Martinez 3.0 5 5 3 1 2 0 10.39 M.McClendon (W,1-1) 4.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 9.00 M.Wuertz 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 R.Lewis (S,2) 1.0 2 2 2 1 1 1 3.60 9 9 7 5 2 6 1 L Island S.Garceau 4.0 6 4 4 2 5 0 18.48 S.Garrison (L,0-1) 0.1 2 4 0 1 0 0 0.00 B.Lorin 0.2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 E.Niesen 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 B.Holt 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.00 J.Lansford 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 J.Accardo 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9 10 8 4 4 13 0 SO--S.Smith 2, T.Torres, E.Patterson, J.Limonta 2, S.Bumbry 3, O.Castro 2, A.Espinosa 2, F.Lentini, J.Brodin, L.Ford 2, R.Strieby, D.Lyons. BB--S.Smith 2, E.Patterson, O.Castro, J.Myers, C.Puckett. BF--J.Martinez 16 (23), M.McClendon 14 (37), M.Wuertz 3 (10), R.Lewis 6 (21), S.Garceau 20 (39), S.Garrison 6 (14), B.Lorin 3 (15), E.Niesen 3 (13), B.Holt 3 (14), J.Lansford 4 (19), J.Accardo 4 (15). P-S--J.Martinez 62-40, M.McClendon 34-27, M.Wuertz 12-8, R.Lewis 32-21, S.Garceau 80-47, S.Garrison 13-8, B.Lorin 19-11, E.Niesen 13-10, B.Holt 22-16, J.Lansford 10-9, J.Accardo 16-9. T--3:18. A--4132 Plate Umpire - Tony Senia, Field Umpire #1 - Joseph DeCrescenzo, Field Umpire #2 - Richie McCarren Game Date: 05/03/2014 (GAME TWO) York Revolution 3 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD York AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG S.Smith CF 4 1 1 1 .333 F.Lentini RF 3 0 1 2 .226 W.Valdez SS 3 0 0 0 .308 C.McClendon 3B 4 0 0 0 .148 E.Patterson 2B,RF 4 1 2 0 .286 J.Brodin 1B 4 0 0 0 .176 C.Tracy 1B 4 1 1 1 .185 L.Ford CF 4 1 1 0 .194 T.Garcia 3B 4 0 0 0 .130 A.Bailey LF 4 0 1 0 .167 S.Bumbry LF 4 0 1 1 .263 R.Strieby DH 3 1 1 0 .259 O.Castro 2B 3 0 1 0 .292 C.Puckett 2B 4 1 2 1 .267 R.Yan RF 0 0 0 0 .143 B.Peacock C 4 0 1 0 .286 J.Limonta PH,RF 1 0 0 0 .185 D.Lyons SS 2 1 2 1 .238 S.Paniagua C 3 0 0 0 .360 T.Torres DH 3 0 0 0 .240 33 3 6 3 32 4 9 4 York 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 - 3 6 1 L Island 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 x - 4 9 1 2B--E.Patterson (4), C.Tracy (3), S.Bumbry (1), D.Lyons (2). HR--S.Smith (1). RBI--S.Smith (2), C.Tracy (4), S.Bumbry (2), F.Lentini 2 (7), C.Puckett (3), D.Lyons (4). SH--D.Lyons (0). SB--W.Valdez (1), F.Lentini (2). E--O.Castro (2), D.Lyons (1). LOB--York 4, L Island 7. DP--O. Castro(2B) - W. Valdez(SS) - C. Tracy(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA York C.Thurman 5.0 5 3 3 1 3 0 5.79 E.Paredes 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 6.75 J.DePaula (L,1-1) 2.0 3 1 1 1 1 0 2.45 8 9 4 4 2 6 0 L Island B.Blevins 7.0 5 2 2 0 8 0 2.77 J.Accardo (W,2-0) 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.69 L.Rosales (S,3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 9 6 3 3 1 12 1 WP--J.DePaula (2). SO--C.Tracy, T.Garcia 4, S.Bumbry 2, J.Limonta, S.Paniagua, T.Torres 3, J.Brodin 2, L.Ford, A.Bailey, R.Strieby, B.Peacock. BB--W.Valdez, F.Lentini, R.Strieby. BF--C.Thurman 21 (40), E.Paredes 4 (12), J.DePaula 10 (17), B.Blevins 26 (48), J.Accardo 5 (20), L.Rosales 3 (11). P-S--C.Thurman 74-43, E.Paredes 12-8, J.DePaula 41-25, B.Blevins 92-63, J.Accardo 20-12, L.Rosales 16-12. T--2:42. A--5513 Plate Umpire - Joseph DeCrescenzo, Field Umpire #1 - Derek Moccia, Field Umpire #2 - Tony Senia