Four-hit, four-RBI night leads Flock in series opener
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 12, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 5-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from Long Island’s series opening win
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Lew Ford and John Brownell talk about the victory
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Ducks plated four runs against Bluefish starter Mike Antonini. A three-run home run to left field by Lew Ford, and a RBI single to left by Jose Morales highlighted the inning. Ford added a RBI double to left-center in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-0.
Bridgeport scratched out single runs in the fifth and sixth off of Ducks starter John Brownell. A two-out RBI single to center by Ildemaro Vargas and a sacrifice fly to center by Andres Rodriguez accounted for the scoring. However, despite putting two runners on in both the eighth and ninth, the Bluefish could not pull even.
Brownell (3-1) earned the win, tossing seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four. Antonini (1-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits and three walks in five innings. Ryan Kussmaul collected his sixth save with a scoreless ninth.
Ford led the Flock with four hits and four RBI, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle.
The Ducks and Bluefish continue their three-game set on Wednesday 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 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Bud Harrelson #3 Jersey Pin as part two of six in the 2015 Collector’s Series. It’s also Winning Inning Wednesday at the ballpark! Throughout the game, the Ducks will designate a specific occurrence for each inning. If the event occurs during that inning, one lucky fan will win $10,000! To be eligible to win, fans need to simply sign up prior to first pitch at the Long Island Ducks Ticket Kiosk, located on the main concourse behind home plate.
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. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action with live streaming video and audio on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Ian Marshall takes the mound for Long Island against Bridgeport southpaw Scott Maine.
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Duck Tales: Lew Ford’s three-run home run in the third inning was his second homer of the season and first at Bethpage Ballpark this year. His first longball of 2015 came on April 27 at Southern Maryland in a 4-1 Ducks win (solo homer). The former big leaguer hit 15 home runs in 2014, seven of which came at the Duck Pond…With four hits on the night, Ford became the first Duck to collect four hits in a single game this season. Last year, he led the Ducks with five four-hit games, with his most recent one coming on August 27 at Somerset. The 38-year-old now has seven multi-hit games this season, tied with Cody Puckett for the team lead. In addition, he has multiple hits in three consecutive games and five of his last 11 contests…Reegie Corona extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games with a single in the fifth inning. That’s the longest by a Duck this season and tied for the second-longest in the Atlantic League, just two games behind Sugar Land’s Dustin Martin. During the streak, he is batting .415 (17-for-41) with three doubles, two triples, three RBI, seven runs and one walk…John Brownell earned his third win of the season and second at home this season. In two starts at Bethpage Ballpark, the right-hander has allowed just two runs in 15 innings of work (1.20 ERA), yielding just 10 hits and three walks while striking out nine batters. In 2014, Brownell compiled a 7-1 record with a 3.46 ERA in 15 starts at home, and he was 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA in six starts against the Bluefish.
Game Date: 05/12/2015 Bridgeport Bluefish 2 AT Long Island Ducks 5 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG N.Van Stratten CF 5 0 1 0 .324 B.Sabatella RF 3 1 0 0 .247 S.Burroughs 3B 5 1 3 0 .322 P.Redman LF 3 1 0 0 .233 W.Dotel RF 4 0 2 0 .344 L.Ford CF 4 1 4 4 .310 A.Rodriguez 1B 2 0 0 1 .169 C.Puckett 3B 4 1 1 0 .292 J.Alonso DH 4 0 0 0 .266 J.Griffin 1B 2 0 1 0 .190 R.Babineau C 4 1 1 0 .327 J.Morales C 4 0 2 1 .208 J.Simmons LF 4 0 0 0 .196 R.Corona 2B 4 0 1 0 .373 L.Rodriguez 2B 4 0 0 0 .204 B.Davis DH 4 0 0 0 .129 I.Vargas SS 4 0 3 1 .333 D.Lyons SS 4 1 1 0 .259 36 2 10 2 32 5 10 5 Bridgeport 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 - 2 10 0 L Island 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 x - 5 10 1 2B--W.Dotel (5), L.Ford (6). HR--L.Ford (2). RBI--A.Rodriguez (6), I.Vargas (6), L.Ford 4 (16), J.Morales (1). HP--J.Griffin (2). SF--A.Rodriguez (4). SB--R.Babineau (2). E--C.Puckett (4). LOB--Bridgeport 9, L Island 7. DP--L. Rodriguez(2B) - I. Vargas(SS) - A. Rodriguez(1B), L. Rodriguez(2B) - S. Burroughs(3B) - A. Rodriguez(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport M.Antonini (L,1-2) 5.0 9 5 5 3 1 1 3.47 D.Byrd 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 N.Baker 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.36 8 10 5 5 3 2 1 L Island J.Brownell (W,3-1) 7.0 6 2 2 1 4 0 2.33 A.Diaz 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2.70 R.Kussmaul (S,6) 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.93 9 10 2 2 1 5 0 WP--M.Antonini (2). PB--R.Babineau. HB--D.Byrd (1). SO--N.Van Stratten, W.Dotel, R.Babineau 2, J.Simmons, C.Puckett, D.Lyons. BB--A.Rodriguez, B.Sabatella, P.Redman, J.Griffin. BF--M.Antonini 26 (99), D.Byrd 7 (11), N.Baker 3 (19), J.Brownell 28 (107), A.Diaz 5 (41), R.Kussmaul 5 (40). P-S--M.Antonini 103-66, D.Byrd 18-13, N.Baker 9-6, J.Brownell 98-63, A.Diaz 18-13, R.Kussmaul 25-19. T--2:42. A--3895 Plate Umpire - Richard Katz, Field Umpire #1 - Derek Moccia, Field Umpire #2 - JB Torres