Five-run seventh proves too large for Ducks to overcome
(Bridgewater, N.J., April 21, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 9-3 on Thursday night in the opening game of the 2016 regular season.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the season opener
The Ducks erupted for three two-out runs in the opening inning against Patriots starter Mickey Storey. A RBI single by Dan Lyons and a two-run double by Blake Tekotte did the damage. Somerset answered with two runs in the second on a run-scoring fielder’s choice from Eric Farris and a RBI triple by Mycal Jones off of Ducks starter John Brownell.
Aharon Eggleston tied the game in the third with a solo home run to right field. It stayed even until the bottom of the seventh when Somerset plated five runs to take an 8-3 lead. A two-run double by Eric Farris highlighted the scoring. Farris’ bases loaded walk in the eighth rounded out the scoring.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Brownell pitched five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four. Storey lasted four innings, yielding three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Efrain Nieves (1-0) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief, giving up just one hit while striking out two. Eury De La Rosa (0-1) took the loss, allowing two hits, four runs and one walk.
Lentini led the Flock with three hits, while Sean Burroughs added two.
The Ducks and Patriots continue their four-game set on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from TD Bank Ballpark. 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. Left-hander Darin Downs takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots southpaw Jeremy Horst.
Following a week-long road trip, Long Island will return home on Thursday, April 28 for the 2016 home opener against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Game time is slated 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 Bud Harrelson Garden Gnomes, courtesy of P.C. Richard and Son. Fans are also encouraged to arrive early for a special pre-game ceremony recognizing two Ducks players along with traditional Opening Night pomp and circumstance. 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 34 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{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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Game Date: 04/21/2016 Long Island Ducks 3 AT Somerset Patriots 9 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG Lentini, F RF 4 1 3 0 .750 Robinson, T CF 5 0 0 0 .000 Cleary Jr., D LF 3 0 1 0 .333 Eggleston, A LF 5 3 2 1 .400 Ford, L CF 4 0 0 0 .000 LaHair, B 1B 3 1 1 0 .333 Burroughs, S 1B 3 1 2 0 .667 Fields, M DH 4 2 3 0 .750 Lyons, D SS 4 1 1 1 .250 Guzman, C RF 3 1 1 1 .333 Tekotte, B DH 4 0 1 2 .250 Vidal, D 3B 4 1 1 1 .250 Puckett, C 3B 4 0 0 0 .000 Farris, E 2B 4 1 1 4 .250 Blanke, M C 4 0 0 0 .000 Jones, M SS 4 0 1 2 .250 Barber, B 2B 4 0 0 0 .000 Kral, R C 3 0 1 0 .333 34 3 8 3 35 9 11 9 L Island 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 8 1 Somerset 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 1 x - 9 11 0 2B--Burroughs, S 1B (1), Tekotte, B DH (1), Fields, M DH (1), Farris, E 2B (1), Kral, R C (1). 3B--Jones, M SS (1). HR--Eggleston, A LF (1). RBI--Lyons, D SS (1), Tekotte, B DH 2 (2), TOTALS 3 (0), Eggleston, A LF (1), Guzman, C RF (1), Vidal, D 3B (1), Farris, E 2B 4 (4), Jones, M SS 2 (2), TOTALS 9 (0). HP--Burroughs, S 1B (1), Guzman, C RF (1). SF--Jones, M SS (1). SH--Cleary Jr., D LF (0). E--Puckett, C 3B (1). LOB--L Island 6, Somerset 11. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Brownell, J 5.0 8 3 3 1 4 1 5.40 Blewett, D 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 De La Rosa, E (L,0-1) 0.0 2 4 4 1 0 0 99.99 Vance, K 0.1 1 1 1 1 0 0 27.03 Casey, J 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Lomangino, J 1.0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0.00 8 11 9 8 7 8 1 Somerset Storey, M 4.0 7 3 3 0 2 0 6.75 Nieves, E (W,1-0) 3.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Thomas, M 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Little, C 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9 8 3 3 0 6 0 WP--Lomangino, J (1). HB--De La Rosa, E (1), Storey, M (1). SO--Lyons, D, Tekotte, B 2, Puckett, C 2, Barber, B, Robinson, T 2, Eggleston, A, Fields, M, Guzman, C 2, Vidal, D, Farris, E. BB--LaHair, B 2, Fields, M, Guzman, C, Vidal, D, Farris, E, Kral, R. BF--Brownell, J 24 (24), Blewett, D 4 (4), De La Rosa, E 4 (4), Vance, K 3 (3), Casey, J 2 (2), Lomangino, J 7 (7), Storey, M 20 (20), Nieves, E 10 (10), Thomas, M 3 (3), Little, C 3 (3). P-S--Brownell, J 82-53, Blewett, D 19-10, De La Rosa, E 10-5, Vance, K 14-6, Casey, J 6-4, Lomangino, J 30-14, Storey, M 67-43, Nieves, E 37-23, Thomas, M 7-6, Little, C 8-6. T--2:42. A--5655 LI, B3, PC mound visit; LI, B7, PC mound visit; Weather: 70's, Pt. Cloudy, wind r-l Plate Umpire - Freddie DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Tim McCaffrey, Field Umpire #2 - Ian Kelley