Alfredo Rodriguez’s RBI single in ninth breaks 3-3 tie; shortstop claims MVP honors

(Photo courtesy of Dan DeMato)

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 11, 2018) – The Liberty Division defeated the Freedom Division 4-3 in walk-off fashion on Wednesday night in the 2018 Atlantic League All-Star Game, presented by Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center. The game was played at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y., the home of the Long Island Ducks.

The Liberty Division took an early 1-0 lead on a first inning home run to right field by Somerset Patriots outfielder Julio Borbon. The Freedom Division responded with a three-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Southern Maryland’s Frank Martinez and a run-scoring groundout from York’s Welington Dotel.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when an RBI double by Somerset’s Mike Fransoso and an RBI single by Somerset’s Alfredo Rodriguez tied the ballgame at three. Neither side could push across the go-ahead run until the bottom of the ninth, when Rodriguez’s two-out RBI single to left gave the Liberty Division the walk-off victory.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Long Island Ducks lefty Bennett Parry tossed a perfect inning for the Liberty Division, striking out one. York Revolution southpaw Robert Carson allowed one run on one hit in one inning for the Freedom Division. New Britain Bees righty Evan Scribner earned the win with a perfect ninth inning, striking out the side. Sugar Land Skeeters righty Felipe Paulino took the loss, yielding a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Rodriguez finished the night with three hits, two RBIs and a walk. He was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player following the jubilant celebration.

The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
 

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 Game Date: 07/11/2018 Freedom Division 3 AT Liberty Division 4 YTD YTD Freedom AB R H BI AVG Liberty AB R H BI AVG Sandford, D CF 2 1 0 0 .000 Valdespin, J 2B 3 0 1 0 .333 Mitchell, J RF 1 0 1 0 1.000 Borbon, J CF 4 1 1 1 .250 Martinez, F 3B 4 0 1 2 .250 Ford, L DH 3 0 1 0 .333 Dotel, W LF 3 0 0 1 .000 Rogers, J 1B 2 0 0 0 .000 Vaughn, C CF 1 0 0 0 .000 Washington, D 1B 1 0 0 0 .000 Gailen, B LF,RF 2 0 0 0 .000 Walton, J RF 1 0 0 0 .000 Chavez, M 1B 3 0 0 0 .000 Galvez, J LF 1 0 0 0 .000 Rodriguez, D 1B 1 0 0 0 .000 Romero, D 3B 2 1 1 0 .500 Frias, V SS 2 0 1 0 .500 Pierre, G 3B 2 1 0 0 .000 Cordero, A 2B 2 0 0 0 .000 Fransoso, M LF,RF 4 1 2 1 .500 Hawkins, C DH 4 1 1 0 .250 Cabrera, R C 2 0 0 0 .000 Casteel, R C 3 0 0 0 .000 Wenrich, I C 2 0 0 0 .000 Garcia, E 2B,SS 3 1 1 0 .333 Rodriguez, A SS 3 0 3 2 1.000 31 3 5 3 30 4 9 4 Freedom 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 5 1 Liberty 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 - 4 9 0 2B--Garcia, E 2B,SS (1), Romero, D 3B (1), Fransoso, M LF,RF (1). HR--Borbon, J CF (1). RBI--Martinez, F 3B 2 (2), Dotel, W LF (1), TOTALS 3 (0), Borbon, J CF (1), Fransoso, M LF,RF (1), Rodriguez, A SS 2 (2), TOTALS 4 (0). SB--Sandford, D CF (1), Martinez, F 3B (1), Valdespin, J 2B (1), Fransoso, M LF,RF (1). CS--Rodriguez, A SS (1). E--Casteel, R C (1). LOB--Freedom 4, Liberty 6. DP--A. Cordero(2B) - E. Garcia(SS) - M. Chavez(1B), A. Cordero(2B) - E. Garcia(SS) - M. Chavez(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - G. Pierre(3B) - D. Washington(1B), V. Frias(SS) - K. Wade(P) - M. Chavez(1B), R. Casteel(C) - E. Garcia(2B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Freedom Carson, R 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 7.00 Atkins, M 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Wade, K 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Reed, N 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Runion, S 1.0 3 2 2 0 0 0 14.00 Sides, G 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Granitz, G 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Shuman, S 1.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0.00 Paulino, F (L,0-1) 0.2 2 1 1 1 0 0 10.50 8.2 9 4 4 5 2 1 Liberty Parry, B 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Riordan, C 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Fisher, J 1.0 3 3 3 2 1 0 21.00 Lara, R 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Below, D 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Cruz, L 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 Perez, W 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Johnston, A 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Scribner, E (W,1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 9 5 3 3 3 7 0 WP--Shuman, S (1). SO--Sandford, D, Rodriguez, D, Cordero, A 2, Hawkins, C, Casteel, R 2, Borbon, J, Washington, D. BB--Sandford, D, Gailen, B 2, Valdespin, J, Washington, D, Walton, J, Galvez, J, Rodriguez, A. BF--Carson, R 4 (4), Atkins, M 3 (3), Wade, K 4 (4), Reed, N 3 (3), Runion, S 5 (5), Sides, G 4 (4), Granitz, G 3 (3), Shuman, S 5 (5), Paulino, F 5 (5), Parry, B 3 (3), Riordan, C 3 (3), Fisher, J 8 (8), Lara, R 4 (4), Below, D 3 (3), Cruz, L 3 (3), Perez, W 3 (3), Johnston, A 4 (4), Scribner, E 3 (3). P-S--Carson, R 13-7, Atkins, M 11-5, Wade, K 12-7, Reed, N 14-12, Runion, S 14-9, Sides, G 17-10, Granitz, G 9-6, Shuman, S 22-9, Paulino, F 20-10, Parry, B 10-8, Riordan, C 10-7, Fisher, J 34-19, Lara, R 11-8, Below, D 11-6, Cruz, L 13-8, Perez, W 11-8, Johnston, A 14-11, Scribner, E 13-10. T--2:36. A--6414 Plate Umpire - Matt Kane, Field Umpire #1 - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #2 - John Grasso, Field Umpire #3 - Kris Engstrand