Ford’s two homers and Brownell’s complete game highlight Ducks win
(Central Islip, N.Y., June 12, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 8-1 on Thursday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the dominant victory
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, John Brownell and Lew Ford talk about the win and Friday’s series finale
The Bluefish grabbed an early lead in the first inning on a RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Ramon Castro against Ducks starter John Brownell. The Ducks responded in the third with a five-spot against Bridgeport starter Hunter Jones. Cody Puckett’s three-run double down the left field line and Lew Ford’s two-run homer to left did the damage.
It stayed 5-1 until the eighth when a three-run inning increased the lead to seven. Ford launched another two-run homer down the left field line, and Jon Myers grounded a RBI single to center.
That was more than enough for Brownell (5-3) to earn the win. The right-hander went the distance for a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out five. Jones (2-4) took the loss, surrendering five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in seven innings.
Ford led the Flock with three hits, four RBI and two runs. Puckett, Randy Ruiz and Jan Vazquez each added two hits.
The Ducks and Bluefish wrap up their three-game set on Friday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will take home 15th Anniversary Logo T-Shirts, courtesy of Petro. The Ducks will also be running their Friday night Pizza Hut K-Man promotion. 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. Right-hander Bobby Blevins toes the rubber for the Ducks against Bluefish righty Kanekoa Texeira.
Tickets for the game and every Ducks regular season home game 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. Live streaming video and audio will be available by CLICKING HERE. The game can also be heard on Long Island’s home for news, traffic and weather, 103.9-FM LI News Radio.
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Duck Tales: John Brownell turned in his second complete game of the year and Long Island’s fourth to continue a streak of strong starting pitching for the Ducks. In their last 11 games, Ducks starters are 6-2 with a 2.42 ERA. In 78 innings during that span, the starters have allowed just 23 runs (21 earned) on 64 hits, with 60 strikeouts to just 15 walks. Long Island has gone 7-4 in those games…Lew Ford’s pair of two-run homers in the game increased his season total to nine home runs. That moves him two longballs ahead of Adam Bailey for the most on the Ducks this year. It also marked the second time a Duck compiled a multi-homer game (Randy Ruiz, 2, May 28 at Lancaster). Ford is now tied for the Atlantic League lead in homers with James Simmons of Bridgeport along with Brock Kjeldgaaard and Cole Garner of Lancaster. Ford also has the highest batting average (.390) and RBI total (45) in the Atlantic League this season…With two hits in the game, Ruiz extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. During the streak, he is batting .300 (15-for-50) with one triple, one homer, seven RBI and four runs scored. The former big leaguer has now earned at least one hit in 19 of his 22 games as a Duck. Ford has the longest hitting streak by a Duck this year at 13 games…With a single in the third inning, Fehlandt Lentini extended his hitting streak to seven consecutive games. During the seven games, he is batting .310 (9-for-29) with one double, one homer, five RBI and six runs. Lentini previously had an eight-game hitting streak from May 22 to 30 and hit .447 (17-for-38) during that stretch…Tonight’s victory was Long Island’s 25th of the 2014 season. The Ducks have now totaled 997 regular season wins in franchise history, leaving them just three wins shy of the magical 1,000-win plateau. Of those 997 victories, 605 have come at Bethpage Ballpark.
Game Date: 06/12/2014 Bridgeport Bluefish 1 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Simmons CF 4 1 2 0 .305 F.Lentini RF 4 1 1 0 .300 P.Redman DH 4 0 1 0 .253 C.Puckett 2B 4 2 2 3 .299 R.Castro 2B 4 0 0 1 .250 L.Ford CF 4 2 3 4 .390 J.Towles C 1 0 0 0 .333 J.Brodin 1B 4 1 1 0 .253 L.Rodriguez PH 1 0 1 0 .193 R.Ruiz DH 4 0 2 0 .298 J.Mather LF 4 0 1 0 .265 B.Harris 3B 4 0 0 0 .235 L.Lopez 3B 4 0 0 0 .230 J.Myers LF 4 0 1 1 .197 D.Almonte RF 3 0 0 0 .182 J.Vazquez C 3 1 2 0 .200 A.Gallagher 1B 3 0 0 0 .143 D.Lyons SS 4 1 1 0 .250 J.Martinez SS 3 0 1 0 .216 31 1 6 1 35 8 13 8 Bridgeport 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 6 1 L Island 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 3 x - 8 13 0 2B--C.Puckett (6), J.Vazquez (1). HR--L.Ford 2 (9). RBI--R.Castro (16), C.Puckett 3 (27), L.Ford 4 (45), J.Myers (5). HP--J.Towles (10). CS--J.Simmons (1). E--J.Martinez (7). LOB--Bridgeport 5, L Island 4. DP--J. Martinez(SS) - R. Castro(2B) - A. Gallagher(1B), L. Lopez(3B) - R. Castro(2B) - A. Gallagher(1B), D. Lyons(SS) - C. Puckett(2B) - J. Brodin(1B), L. Lopez(3B) - R. Castro(2B) - A. Gallagher(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport H.Jones (L,2-4) 7.0 8 5 5 0 3 1 4.31 J.Chapman 1.0 5 3 3 1 0 1 4.34 8 13 8 8 1 3 2 L Island J.Brownell (W,5-3) 9.0 6 1 1 1 5 0 3.57 9 6 1 1 1 5 0 HB--J.Brownell (2). SO--J.Simmons, R.Castro, J.Towles, J.Mather, A.Gallagher, R.Ruiz, J.Myers, D.Lyons. BB--J.Towles, J.Vazquez. BF--H.Jones 28 (233), J.Chapman 8 (86), J.Brownell 33 (284). P-S--H.Jones 94-64, J.Chapman 21-12, J.Brownell 125-80. T--2:29. A--5223 Plate Umpire - Derek Moccia, Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Manolo Alejandro