Ford, Castillo and Snider all hit homers for Flock
(Bridgewater, N.J., May 2, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 7-6 on Wednesday night in the middle game of a three-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.
The Ducks struck first in the second inning when Lew Ford lined a leadoff solo home run to left field. Somerset answered in the bottom of the second when Mike Fransoso reached on a two-out error and scored on Julio Borbon’s RBI double.
Long Island responded quickly with a four-run third inning off Patriots starter Duane Below. Wilkin Castillo’s solo homer to left, Jordany Valdespin’s RBI double and Travis Snider’s two-run homer to left-center highlighted the inning. Somerset closed to within 5-4 though with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth against Ducks starter Matt Larkins. Borbon’s two-run triple and Endy Chavez’s RBI single did the damage.
Valdespin doubled and scored on an error in the fifth to increase the lead to two. However, Alex Castellanos tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run homer to left. It stayed that way until the ninth when Castellanos reached on a two-out error, moved to second on a walk and scored on Aaron Dudley’s walk-off double.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Larkins pitched five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out three. Below lasted three innings, allowing five runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Logan Kensing (2-0) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Carlos Pimentel (0-1) took the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk in one and two-thirds innings.
Valdespin led the Flock with two hits and two runs, while Snider drove in two runs.
The Ducks and Patriots wrap up their three-game set on Thursday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m. at TD Bank Ballpark. Fans 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. Left-hander Bennett Parry (Season Debut) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Patriots righty Cory Riordan (0-0, 1.58).
Following a week-long, season-opening road trip, the Ducks will return to Long Island for Opening Night on Friday, May 4 against the Blue Crabs. 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). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive QuackerJack OYO Minifigures, courtesy of P.C. Richard & Son. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:15 to enjoy team introductions and traditional Opening Night pomp and circumstance. Tickets for the game, and all 2018 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 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: 05/02/2018 Long Island Ducks 6 AT Somerset Patriots 7 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Valdespin, J 2B 5 2 2 1 .500 Borbon, J CF 4 1 2 2 .350 Holt, T CF 3 0 0 0 .188 Chavez, E RF 5 0 1 1 .154 Snider, T RF 4 1 1 2 .211 Trapp, J 2B 5 0 1 0 .300 Ford, L DH 4 1 1 1 .316 Roller, K DH 3 1 0 0 .125 Washington, D 1B 4 0 1 0 .273 Castellanos, A 3B 5 2 2 2 .286 Puckett, C 3B 2 0 0 0 .143 Dorn, D LF 4 0 1 0 .125 Fields, D LF 4 0 0 0 .200 Rodriguez, A PH 0 0 0 0 .273 Castillo, W C 4 1 1 1 .154 Dudley, A 1B 5 0 2 1 .333 Lyons, D SS 4 1 1 0 .133 Weisenburger, A C 3 1 0 0 .000 Fransoso, M SS 3 2 2 0 .300 34 6 7 5 37 7 11 6 L Island 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 6 7 2 Somerset 0 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 1 - 7 11 1 2B--Valdespin, J 2B 2 (2), Washington, D 1B (2), Lyons, D SS (2), Borbon, J CF (4), Dudley, A 1B (2). 3B--Borbon, J CF (1). HR--Snider, T RF (1), Ford, L DH (2), Castillo, W C (1), Castellanos, A 3B (2). RBI--Valdespin, J 2B (7), Snider, T RF 2 (5), Ford, L DH (6), Castillo, W C (1), TOTALS 5 (0), Borbon, J CF 2 (4), Chavez, E RF (1), Castellanos, A 3B 2 (3), Dudley, A 1B (2), TOTALS 6 (0). SB--Fransoso, M SS (3). CS--Holt, T CF (2). E--Valdespin, J 2B (2), Lyons, D SS (1), Castellanos, A 3B (1). LOB--L Island 4, Somerset 10. DP--J. Valdespin(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - D. Washington(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Larkins, M 5.0 7 4 3 3 3 0 5.40 OGrady, D 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Creasy, J 1.0 2 2 2 1 2 1 9.00 Pimentel, C (L,0-1) 1.2 2 1 0 1 3 0 0.00 8.2 11 7 5 6 8 1 Somerset Below, D 3.0 5 5 5 0 2 3 15.00 Antonini, M 2.2 1 1 0 2 3 0 0.00 Roe, N 1.1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Molleken, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Kensing, L (W,2-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9 7 6 5 3 8 3 SO--Valdespin, J, Snider, T, Ford, L, Washington, D, Puckett, C, Fields, D 3, Chavez, E, Trapp, J, Roller, K, Castellanos, A, Dorn, D 2, Dudley, A, Weisenburger, A. BB--Holt, T, Puckett, C 2, Borbon, J, Roller, K 2, Rodriguez, A, Weisenburger, A, Fransoso, M. BF--Larkins, M 26 (26), OGrady, D 3 (6), Creasy, J 5 (10), Pimentel, C 9 (16), Below, D 14 (14), Antonini, M 11 (17), Roe, N 5 (10), Molleken, D 4 (7), Kensing, L 3 (10). P-S--Larkins, M 85-58, OGrady, D 11-4, Creasy, J 25-13, Pimentel, C 34-23, Below, D 48-32, Antonini, M 39-25, Roe, N 16-8, Molleken, D 16-12, Kensing, L 12-7. T--2:45. A--3137 Plate Umpire - Tim McCaffrey, Field Umpire #1 - Matt Chris, Field Umpire #2 - Derek Moccia