Ducks use longballs to take series opener
 

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 17, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 3-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series-opening victory

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Steve McQuail and Billy Buckner talk about the win

Both teams put up runs in the second frame. Somerset took a 1-0 lead on Mat Gamel’s solo homer in the top of the inning off of Ducks starter Billy Buckner. Jon Griffin responded with a solo shot of his own for Long Island to tie the game in the home half of the frame. The Patriots retook the lead 2-1 in the third thanks to Aharon Eggleston’s sacrifice fly.

The Ducks went ahead 3-2 in the fifth on Steve McQuail’s two-run homer to left off of Somerset starter Randy Boone. Closer Ryan Kussmaul finished the win off for the Ducks with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Buckner (7-1) earned the win, tossing five and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four. Boone (4-3) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits over six innings with no walks and one strikeout. Amalio Diaz and Donnie Veal each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Ducks. Kussmaul earned his 22nd save of the season in the final inning.

Griffin and McQuail led the Ducks with a home run each.

The Ducks continue their three-game set with Somerset on Saturday night. 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). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a postgame Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for discounts at Dick’s Sporting Goods as fans exit the ballpark following the fireworks show. Right-hander Ian Marshall gets the ball for the Ducks against Patriots southpaw Sean Bierman.

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 of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station 103.9-FM LI News Radio. The broadcast can also be heard online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

###
 

Duck Tales: Jon Griffin’s solo home run in the second inning was his team-leading 11th of the season. It also ties him with Lancaster’s Kevin Rivers for the most homers in the Atlantic League this year. The first baseman has now gone deep in two of the last three games after going 12 games without a home run…Steve McQuail’s two-run home run in the fifth inning was his second longball in as many games. The Wantagh native also went deep for a solo blast on Thursday at Lancaster, in what was his first start with the Flock. Long Island has now hit 48 home runs as a team this season, including 26 at Bethpage Ballpark…Billy Buckner tossed his second consecutive strong start against the Patriots. In his last two outings, the righty has allowed just three runs over 11 and two-thirds innings (2.38 ERA) on seven hits and five walks while striking out 12. The Ducks have won eight of the 10 starts that Buckner has made this season, and the former big leaguer has earned a win in each of his last three starts…Long Island’s bullpen tossed three and one-third scoreless innings of relief on Friday. J.C. Romero, Donnie Veal, Amalio Diaz and Ryan Kussmaul combined to allow just one hit and one walk while striking out three batters to secure the win. Veal has now made three consecutive scoreless appearances since joining the Flock. Kussmaul has not given up a run in four straight outings, and Diaz has yielded just two runs in his last 18 appearances, posting a 0.90 ERA in that span.

 Game Date: 07/17/2015 Somerset Patriots 2 AT Long Island Ducks 3 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG V.Zarrillo CF 4 0 1 0 .190 B.Sabatella RF 4 0 0 0 .290 A.Eggleston LF 3 0 1 1 .317 D.Cleary Jr. CF 4 0 1 0 .296 D.Vidal 1B 4 0 0 0 .275 C.Puckett 3B 4 0 1 0 .269 M.Burgess RF 4 0 0 0 .250 R.Ruiz DH 4 0 0 0 .350 G.Hopkins 3B 4 0 1 0 .261 J.Griffin 1B 3 1 1 1 .240 M.Gamel DH 4 1 2 1 .165 M.Blanke C 3 1 1 0 .313 N.Spears 2B 2 0 0 0 .268 S.McQuail LF 3 1 1 2 .333 R.Andino SS 3 1 0 0 .236 B.Davis 2B 3 0 1 0 .212 J.Skelton C 3 0 1 0 .240 D.Lyons SS 3 0 1 0 .307 31 2 6 2 31 3 7 3 Somerset 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 6 0 L Island 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 x - 3 7 0 2B--A.Eggleston (13), D.Lyons (14). HR--M.Gamel (5), J.Griffin (11), S.McQuail (2). RBI--A.Eggleston (23), M.Gamel (21), J.Griffin (50), S.McQuail 2 (3). SF--A.Eggleston (3). SB--D.Cleary Jr. (17). LOB--Somerset 6, L Island 4. DP--B. Davis(2B) - C. Puckett(3B) - J. Griffin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset R.Boone (L,4-3) 6.0 5 3 3 0 1 2 2.88 A.Carignan 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.95 D.Sattler 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.92 8 7 3 3 0 5 2 L Island B.Buckner (W,7-1) 5.2 5 2 2 2 4 1 4.88 J.Romero 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.84 D.Veal 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 A.Diaz 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.46 R.Kussmaul (S,22) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.55 9 6 2 2 3 7 1 SO--A.Eggleston, D.Vidal 2, M.Burgess, G.Hopkins, N.Spears, J.Skelton, C.Puckett, R.Ruiz, M.Blanke, S.McQuail, B.Davis. BB--N.Spears 2, R.Andino. BF--R.Boone 23 (370), A.Carignan 4 (118), D.Sattler 4 (102), B.Buckner 23 (222), J.Romero (29), D.Veal 4 (10), A.Diaz 4 (140), R.Kussmaul 3 (149). P-S--R.Boone 74-43, A.Carignan 9-8, D.Sattler 15-11, B.Buckner 94-55, J.Romero 3-3, D.Veal 18-10, A.Diaz 16-10, R.Kussmaul 13-8. T--2:26. A--5566 Plate Umpire - Manolo Alejandro, Field Umpire #1 - Frank Leparik, Field Umpire #2 - John Grasso