Eight-run sixth inning gives Long Island second consecutive win
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 2, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 10-2 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the blowout victory
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Bryan Sabatella and Cody Puckett talk about the win
After three scoreless innings, Sugar Land broke through in the top of the fourth against Ducks starter Ian Marshall on a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Jon Weber. The Ducks responded immediately in the bottom of the frame, as Cody Puckett launched a solo home run to left field off of Skeeters starter Shane Loux.
Long Island blew the game open in the sixth inning when they sent 11 batters to the plate and scored eight runs off of Skeeters reliever Andrew Carpenter. A two-run double from Lew Ford, a two-run homer from Puckett, a run-scoring single by Mike Blanke and a three-run homer by Bryan Sabatella put the Ducks in front 9-1.
The Skeeters scratched out one more run in the eighth on Denny Almonte’s RBI double. However, Long Island got it right back in the bottom of the frame on a RBI double from Anthony Vega.
Marshall (2-0) earned the win, tossing six innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out three. Carpenter (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning. Loux did not factor into the decision but allowed one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings.
Sabatella, Ford and Puckett each had two hits to pace the Ducks at the plate. Sabatella and Puckett each had three RBI and two runs scored as well.
The Ducks go for a sweep of their three-game set with the Skeeters on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35. Left-hander Eric Niesen takes the mound for the Ducks against Skeeters righty Sean Gallagher. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive 2015 Ducks Magnet Schedules, courtesy of the QuackerJack Foundation. It’s also the first Sunday Family Funday of the year! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 12:50 to 1:05. Following the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
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 live, with live streaming video and audio, on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
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Duck Tales: Cody Puckett’s two home runs were his third and fourth of the season. He has now hit four of Long Island’s seven home runs thus far in 2015. Last year, the infielder launched 10 home runs in his first season with the Ducks. It was also the first time a Duck had multiple homers in a game since Joash Brodin launched two longballs on August 26 at Somerset…Bryan Sabatella’s three-run homer in the sixth was his first as a member of the Ducks. The Long Island native has now picked up seven hits in his last 11 at-bats and has four RBI, five runs and three walks in his last three games…Long Island’s eight-run sixth inning was their largest run-scoring inning of the season. The Ducks never scored eight runs in a single inning during the 2014 season, with their season high being seven on August 19 at Bridgeport. The 10 runs and 12 hits by the Ducks on Saturday were also season highs…Ian Marshall earned his second win in as many starts with six innings of one run (unearned) ball. In his two starts this year, the righty has giving up just six hits and one walk while striking out five over 11 innings. Ducks starting pitchers have compiled a 1.29 ERA in nine games this season, allowing just seven earned runs in 48 and two-thirds innings of work. In that span, they have yielded 29 hits and 12 walks while striking out 31 batters.
Game Date: 05/02/2015 Sugar Land Skeeters 2 AT Long Island Ducks 10 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG D.Martin LF 4 1 1 0 .256 B.Sabatella RF 3 2 2 3 .270 B.Weems SS 3 1 0 0 .364 P.Redman DH 5 1 2 0 .200 T.Scott C 4 0 0 0 .206 L.Ford CF 4 1 2 2 .250 D.Almonte CF 4 0 2 1 .205 A.Vega LF,PR 1 0 1 1 .333 C.Wallace 1B 4 0 1 0 .368 C.Puckett 3B 5 2 2 3 .303 J.Weber DH 4 0 0 1 .000 J.Morales 1B 2 1 1 0 .240 P.Palmeiro 3B 4 0 1 0 .219 B.Davis 2B 4 1 1 0 .250 E.Gomez RF 3 0 0 0 .130 M.Blanke C 4 1 1 1 .167 A.Zazueta 2B 4 0 0 0 .105 E.Komatsu CF,LF 3 1 0 0 .095 D.Lyons SS 4 0 0 0 .161 34 2 5 2 35 10 12 10 Sugar Land 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 - 2 5 0 L Island 0 0 0 1 0 8 0 1 x - 10 12 2 2B--D.Martin (3), D.Almonte (1), B.Sabatella (3), P.Redman (1), L.Ford 2 (2), A.Vega (1), J.Morales (1). HR--B.Sabatella (1), C.Puckett 2 (4). RBI--D.Almonte (6), J.Weber (1), B.Sabatella 3 (5), L.Ford 2 (7), A.Vega (1), C.Puckett 3 (6), M.Blanke (2). E--B.Sabatella (1), D.Lyons (2). LOB--Sugar Land 7, L Island 6. DP--B. Weems(SS) - C. Wallace(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land S.Loux 5.0 2 1 1 2 2 1 2.00 A.Carpenter (L,0-1) 0.2 7 8 8 1 0 2 19.64 D.Loop 1.1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0.00 A.Martin 1.0 2 1 1 1 1 0 7.20 8 12 10 10 5 7 3 L Island I.Marshall (W,2-0) 6.0 3 1 0 1 3 0 0.00 A.Diaz 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1.80 M.Soren 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 13.50 B.Kern 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.70 9 5 2 1 2 8 0 SO--T.Scott, D.Almonte, J.Weber 2, P.Palmeiro, E.Gomez 2, A.Zazueta, B.Sabatella, P.Redman, C.Puckett, B.Davis, M.Blanke, D.Lyons 2. BB--B.Weems, E.Gomez, B.Sabatella 2, J.Morales 2, E.Komatsu. BF--S.Loux 18 (35), A.Carpenter 10 (19), D.Loop 6 (19), A.Martin 6 (23), I.Marshall 24 (42), A.Diaz 3 (18), M.Soren 5 (8), B.Kern 4 (14). P-S--S.Loux 50-33, A.Carpenter 33-22, D.Loop 37-19, A.Martin 24-14, I.Marshall 83-51, A.Diaz 18-14, M.Soren 10-9, B.Kern 18-10. T--2:44. A--5004 Plate Umpire - Nate Caldwell, Field Umpire #1 - John Grasso, Field Umpire #2 - Derek Moccia