Right fielder’s RBI single in ninth gives Long Island series victory
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 3, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 3-2 on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series finale thriller
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, John Brownell and Fehlandt Lentini talk about the win
Bridgeport was first to score, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on a RBI groundout from C.J. Retherford against Ducks starter John Brownell. Bryan Sabatella’s RBI single in the second extended the lead to 2-0. The Ducks got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Sean Burroughs hit a RBI double to left off Bridgeport starter Matt Iannazzo. Mike Blanke’s RBI single to left plated Dan Lyons in the sixth as the tying run.
In the ninth, Fehlandt Lentini hit the first pitch he saw from Bluefish reliever Jimmy Patterson with the bases loaded into left field to score Cody Puckett and win the game for Long Island, 3-2.
Brownell (11-4) earned the win, pitching a complete game and allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven. Patterson (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up the game-winning run on three hits in one-third of an inning. Iannazzo was given a no decision, surrendering two runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five and one-third innings of work.
Burroughs and Blanke finished with a pair of hits and one RBI apiece. Puckett also picked up two hits and scored the winning run.
The Ducks now begin a four-game set with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday 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). The first 1,500 fans through the gates will take home Good Times, Every Time T-Shirts, courtesy of LIU Post. It will also be a Fowl Pole Friday at the ballpark! If a select Ducks player hits a home run off of either foul pole during the game, one lucky Ducks fan will win $50,000. The Ducks will be running their Friday night Pizza Hut K-Man promotion as well. If the K-Man strikes out during the game, fans will be able to redeem their game ticket for an order of free breadsticks at a participating Pizza Hut location. Finally, it will be an Air Trampoline Sports Friday at the Duck Pond! Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons with a special offer from Air Trampoline Sports to fans as they exit the ballpark. 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.
Fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will also be available online by CLICKING HERE.
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Duck Tales: Thursday was Long Island’s ninth waddle-off victory of the season and first against the Bluefish. In addition, it was the team’s first walk-off win since August 14 against Southern Maryland. The Ducks have now totaled 35 come-from-behind victories this season…John Brownell earned his second complete game of the year and has now tossed both of Long Island’s complete games in 2015. The right-hander’s other complete game came on July 15 when he pitched a complete game shutout in Lancaster. Brownell led the Atlantic League with five complete games in 2014 and set a franchise record with seven complete games in 2013. He is currently the league leader in wins (11), innings pitched (156) and strikeouts (134)…Delta Cleary, Jr. connected for a double on Thursday and has now hit safely in 18 consecutive games. That surpasses Dan Lyons’ 17-game hit streak from August 8-24 as the longest by a Duck this year. During the streak, the outfielder is batting .423 (33-for-78) with four doubles, one triple, six RBI and 14 runs scored. He also stole his team-leading 31st base of the season when he swiped second in the fourth inning. Cleary, Jr. ranks third in the Atlantic League in stolen bases…Cody Puckett collected two more hits. He now leads the team with 28 two-hit games this year. In addition, he has 36 multi-hit contests. Sean Burroughs finished with two hits for his third consecutive multi-hit contest. He ended the series with eight hits in 12 at-bats with four RBI and a run scored. The former big leaguer now has eight two-hit games and 14 multi-hit contests 23 games with the Flock.
Game Date: 09/03/2015 Bridgeport Bluefish 2 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG B.Sabatella LF 4 0 1 1 .277 F.Lentini RF 5 0 1 1 .297 J.Prince 2B 3 1 0 0 .266 D.Cleary Jr. CF 3 1 1 0 .309 W.Dotel RF 4 0 1 0 .337 D.Lyons SS 4 1 1 0 .305 C.Retherford DH 4 0 1 1 .250 S.Burroughs 1B 3 0 2 1 .356 A.Rodriguez 1B 4 0 0 0 .237 M.Blanke DH 4 0 2 1 .290 W.Batista 3B 4 0 1 0 .248 N.Zapata C 4 0 0 0 .321 J.Morales C 4 0 0 0 .247 C.Puckett 3B 4 1 2 0 .278 M.Wessinger SS 3 1 2 0 .210 A.Vega LF 2 0 1 0 .275 E.Chapman CF 2 0 0 0 .244 R.Ruiz PH 0 0 0 0 .339 C.Hughes PR 0 0 0 0 .188 E.Reyes 2B 3 0 1 0 .308 32 2 6 2 32 3 11 3 Bridgeport 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 6 0 L Island 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 - 3 11 0 2B--W.Dotel (27), M.Wessinger (9), D.Cleary Jr. (16), S.Burroughs (8), C.Puckett (20). RBI--B.Sabatella (43), C.Retherford (1), F.Lentini (15), S.Burroughs (47), M.Blanke (42). SH--A.Vega (0). SB--B.Sabatella (33), M.Wessinger (6), D.Cleary Jr. (31). LOB--Bridgeport 5, L Island 9. DP--D. Lyons(SS) - S. Burroughs(1B), J. Prince(2B) - W. Batista(3B) - A. Rodriguez(1B), J. Prince(2B) - M. Wessinger(SS) - A. Rodriguez(1B), W. Batista(3B) - A. Rodriguez(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport M.Iannazzo 5.1 7 2 2 2 2 0 4.85 E.Draxton 1.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.49 S.Ames 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.52 J.Patterson (L,1-1) 0.1 3 1 1 1 1 0 0.90 8.1 11 3 3 4 4 0 L Island J.Brownell (W,11-4) 9.0 6 2 2 2 7 0 3.23 9 6 2 2 2 7 0 WP--S.Ames 2 (5). SO--J.Prince, C.Retherford 2, A.Rodriguez, W.Batista, J.Morales, E.Chapman, D.Lyons, M.Blanke, N.Zapata 2. BB--J.Prince, E.Chapman, D.Cleary Jr., S.Burroughs, R.Ruiz, E.Reyes. BF--M.Iannazzo 23 (438), E.Draxton 4 (220), S.Ames 5 (98), J.Patterson 5 (43), J.Brownell 34 (632). P-S--M.Iannazzo 89-54, E.Draxton 11-9, S.Ames 24-15, J.Patterson 16-12, J.Brownell 118-77. T--2:33. A--4826 Plate Umpire - JB Torres, Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Richard Katz