Ducks tally season-high 22 hits; Flock hits four home runs

(Waldorf, Md., July 22, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 15-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Regency Furniture Stadium.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series-opening win

The Ducks scored five runs in the top of the second on Mark Minicozzi’s RBI single, Mike Blanke’s three-run home run, and Anthony Vega’s solo homer. Long Island added two more in the third on Dan Lyons’ two-run homer, and six more in the fourth. Fehlandt Lentini’s solo home run and sac fly, Ruben Gotay’s two-run single, and RBI singles from Blanke and Mike Dowd did the damage.

Southern Maryland scored in the fourth on Gary Brown’s two-run home run, but the Ducks added two more in the eighth on Lentini’s RBI single and Delta Cleary Jr.’s RBI groundout.

Darin Downs (8-5) earned the win, striking out six over six innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits. Gaby Hernandez (1-7) surrendered the loss, giving up 11 runs on 12 hits and two walks with five strikeouts over three and one-third innings.

Minicozzi led the way at the plate with five hits, while Blanke collected four. Both Lyons and Dowd scored three runs apiece. Every Ducks starter recorded a hit.

The Ducks and Blue Crabs continue their three-game series Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m. from Regency Furniture Stadium. Fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming audio will also be available online by CLICKING HERE. Bruce Kern (4-1, 2.40 ERA) toes the rubber for Long Island against fellow righty Daryl Thompson (3-6, 5.35 ERA).

Long Island returns home on Monday, July 25 to start a three-game series with the New Britain Bees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s Irish Night at the ballpark, presented by Shandon Court. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Stadium Cups. In addition, it’s a LaVida Massage Monday. Free massages will be available on the concourse during the game, and one lucky fan will go home with a special massage package, courtesy of LaVida Massage of Smithtown, the official massage therapy and skin care center of the Ducks. 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.

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 35 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 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 to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15{508e0238204740d3d9c141f5965096b8721e890fc8446b80b243ba5070871f7e} of the US population.

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

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 Game Date: 07/22/2016 Long Island Ducks 15 AT Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 2 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG S Maryland AB R H BI AVG Vega, A LF 4 1 1 1 .277 Richardson, A CF 5 0 1 0 .200 Lentini, F RF 5 1 3 3 .321 Nelson, B 3B 4 0 1 0 .294 Cleary Jr., D CF 6 0 1 1 .322 Wilson, Z DH 4 0 2 0 .274 Puckett, C 3B 5 2 2 0 .285 Snyder, M 1B 4 0 0 0 .296 Lyons, D SS 5 3 2 2 .306 Molina, G C 3 0 1 0 .333 Minicozzi, M 1B 6 2 5 1 .340 Susini, N C 1 0 0 0 .135 Gotay, R 2B 6 1 2 2 .283 Marte, A LF 4 0 2 0 .251 Dowd, M C 5 3 2 1 .309 Walton, J RF 3 1 0 0 .261 Blanke, M DH 5 2 4 4 .258 Brown, G 2B 4 1 2 2 .216 Garcia, E SS 4 0 0 0 .226 47 15 22 15 36 2 9 2 L Island 0 5 2 6 0 0 0 2 0 - 15 22 0 S Maryland 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 9 1 2B--Minicozzi, M 1B 2 (3), Wilson, Z DH (24). HR--Vega, A LF (5), Lentini, F RF (6), Lyons, D SS (6), Blanke, M DH (7), Brown, G 2B (2). RBI--Vega, A LF (35), Lentini, F RF 3 (44), Cleary Jr., D CF (23), Lyons, D SS 2 (32), Minicozzi, M 1B 2 (9), Gotay, R 2B 2 (29), Dowd, M C (27), Blanke, M DH 4 (36), TOTALS 15 (0), Brown, G 2B 2 (11), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Walton, J RF (2). SF--Lentini, F RF (4). SB--Walton, J RF (1). E--Richardson, A CF (1). LOB--L Island 11, S Maryland 8. DP--G. Brown(2B) - E. Garcia(SS) - M. Snyder(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Downs, D (W,8-5) 6.0 7 2 2 0 6 1 3.60 Hansen, K 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Burawa, D 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Lomangino, J 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.51 9 9 2 2 0 8 1 S Maryland Hernandez, G (L,1-7) 3.1 12 11 11 2 5 4 5.16 Marshall, I 4.2 10 4 4 3 1 0 6.19 Carson, R 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.57 9 22 15 15 5 7 4 HB--Downs, D (5). SO--Vega, A, Cleary Jr., D 2, Lyons, D, Gotay, R, Dowd, M, Blanke, M, Wilson, Z, Snyder, M 2, Molina, G 2, Marte, A, Garcia, E 2. BB--Vega, A 2, Puckett, C, Lyons, D, Dowd, M. BF--Downs, D 26 (432), Hansen, K 3 (3), Burawa, D 3 (8), Lomangino, J 5 (64), Hernandez, G 24 (382), Marshall, I 26 (87), Carson, R 3 (70). P-S--Downs, D 90-64, Hansen, K 11-7, Burawa, D 12-9, Lomangino, J 15-9, Hernandez, G 72-42, Marshall, I 84-52, Carson, R 16-10. T--2:53. A--4236 Plate Umpire - Donald Mayer, Field Umpire #1 - Justin Sims, Field Umpire #2 - John Epperson