Long Island native tosses seven strong innings to even series at two
(Central Islip, Sept. 29, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 6-3 on Saturday night in Game Four of the Atlantic League Championship Series at Bethpage Ballpark. The best-of-five series is now tied at two games apiece.
Sugar Land grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out RBI double to right field by Matt Chavez off Ducks starter Dennis O’Grady. Long Island responded right away in the bottom of the inning, as Jordany Valdespin and Daniel Fields scored on wild pitches by Skeeters starter Dallas Beeler.
The Ducks extended their lead to 4-1 in the second with three consecutive two-out hits, including a two-run double to right by Valdespin. Two more runs in the third on a two-out, two-run single to center by Cody Puckett widened Long Island’s advantage to five.
The Skeeters closed to within 6-2 in the seventh on Alvaro Rondon’s RBI single to left. Another run in the ninth on back-to-back two-out doubles by Albert Cordero and Denis Phipps made it a 6-3 ballgame, but pinch hitter Javier Betancourt then struck out to end the ballgame.
O’Grady (1-0) earned the win, tossing seven innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out four. Beeler (0-2) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on seven hits and a walk over two and one-third innings with five strikeouts. Carlos Pimentel and Fernando Abad pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to secure the win.
Puckett led the Flock with three hits in the game. Valdespin and Fields each added a pair of hits.
The Ducks and Skeeters will now play a winner-take-all Game Five of the Atlantic League Championship Series on Sunday evening. Game time is slated for 5:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 4:05 (3:50 for full season ticket holders). The first 500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Thundersticks. Left-hander Jake Fisher (8-7, 3.92; 1-0, 1.98) takes the mound for the Ducks against Skeeters southpaw James Russell (8-4, 2.36; 1-0, 2.08).
Tickets for the game, and all Ducks home playoff games, are on sale now! Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, CLICKING HERE or visiting the Ducks mobile app. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks official Facebook page, YouTube channel and at LIDucks.com.
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 40 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 70 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: 09/29/2018 Sugar Land Skeeters 3 AT Long Island Ducks 6 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Barnes, B LF 2 0 1 0 .296 Valdespin, J 2B 5 1 2 2 .405 Thomas, T RF 4 0 0 0 .289 Fields, D CF 3 1 2 0 .270 Giansanti, A CF 4 1 1 0 .342 Ford, L DH 4 0 1 0 .308 Chavez, M 1B 4 0 1 1 .306 Cabrera, R C 4 1 1 0 .364 Silverio, J SS 4 0 1 0 .316 Washington, D 1B 4 1 1 0 .206 Norris, D C 4 0 0 0 .286 Williams, M RF 4 0 1 0 .242 Cordero, A 3B 4 2 2 0 .286 Silva, R LF 4 0 0 0 .161 Phipps, D DH 4 0 1 1 .265 Puckett, C 3B 4 1 3 2 .385 Rondon, A 2B 3 0 1 1 .207 Lyons, D SS 4 1 1 0 .219 Betancourt, J PH 1 0 0 0 .000 34 3 8 3 36 6 12 4 Sugar Land 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 - 3 8 1 L Island 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 x - 6 12 0 2B--Chavez, M 1B (2), Cordero, A 3B 2 (5), Phipps, D DH (3), Valdespin, J 2B (4). RBI--Chavez, M 1B (7), Phipps, D DH (1), Rondon, A 2B (4), TOTALS 3 (0), Valdespin, J 2B 2 (6), Puckett, C 3B 2 (3), TOTALS 4 (0). SB--Giansanti, A CF (3). CS--Barnes, B LF (1). E--Barnes, B LF (1). LOB--Sugar Land 6, L Island 7. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land Beeler, D (L,0-2) 2.1 7 6 6 1 5 0 9.53 Kubo, Y 3.2 5 0 0 0 5 0 0.00 Loop, D 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.25 West, M 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.70 8 12 6 6 1 13 0 L Island OGrady, D (W,1-0) 7.0 6 2 2 2 4 0 3.00 Pimentel, C 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.50 Abad, F 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 1.50 9 8 3 3 2 7 0 WP--Beeler, D 3 (3). SO--Thomas, T, Giansanti, A, Chavez, M 2, Norris, D, Cordero, A, Betancourt, J, Valdespin, J, Fields, D, Ford, L 2, Cabrera, R, Washington, D, Williams, M, Silva, R 3, Puckett, C, Lyons, D 2. BB--Barnes, B 2, Fields, D. BF--Beeler, D 15 (54), Kubo, Y 16 (16), Loop, D 3 (16), West, M 3 (12), OGrady, D 28 (50), Pimentel, C 3 (23), Abad, F 5 (20). P-S--Beeler, D 61-37, Kubo, Y 58-47, Loop, D 10-7, West, M 10-8, OGrady, D 94-62, Pimentel, C 10-7, Abad, F 14-11. T--2:48. A--3193 Plate Umpire - Tom Gandolfo, Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Tim Rosso, Field Umpire #3 - Matt Kane