(Central Islip, N.Y., July 20, 2012) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 2-1 in waddle-off fashion on Friday night to take the first game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.
POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Lyons and Monti talk about the dramatic victory
Jason Monti and Jason Lane locked in a pitcher’s duel, exchanging zeroes through the first eight innings of the game. Monti (7-4) picked up the win, tossing a complete game and allowing one unearned run on five hits while striking out 10. Lane did not factor into the decision, throwing seven innings of two-hit baseball while striking out six batters.
The Skeeters grabbed the game’s first run with two outs in the top of the ninth on an error that scored Steve Moss. However, Long Island would rally for two runs in the ninth inning against Skeeters reliever Gary Majewski (2-2) to win the game. Bryant Nelson’s RBI single to center tied the game, and after the Flock loaded the bases, Dan Lyons singled to right to plate the winning run.
Six different Ducks picked up a hit on the night.
The Ducks host the Skeeters in the second game of a three-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Huntington Honda. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans. 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Mike Loree will get the start for the Ducks against Skeeters lefty and former Major Leaguer Scott Kazmir.
Tickets for the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark Box Office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, or going online to www.liducks.com. Fans unable to make the game can follow the action live on the radio at MyCountry 96.1 FM and online at LIDucks.com by clicking the Watch Live icon on the homepage. Streaming video and audio will be provided by iBN, the Internet Broadcast Network.
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Duck Tales: With the win, the Ducks picked up their seventh waddle-off win of the year and third against Sugar Land. Dan Lyons collected his second walk-off hit of the season, with the first one coming in the Ducks’ last game against the Skeeters on July 1, which clinched the First Half Liberty Division title…Jason Monti finished with 10 strikeouts on the night, the second most strikeouts by a Ducks pitcher this season. Nick Singleton struck out 11 Patriots batters on Wednesday night. Monti also picked up his second consecutive complete game, with his first one coming on July 15 against the Bluefish in a rain-shortened seven inning game…Tonight’s game was also the final of Jason Monti’s professional career. He finishes with a career record of 29-19 in six seasons, including a mark of 8-5 while with Long Island. The seven wins this season tie a career high, done previously in 2009 with Rockford of the Frontier League…With a double in the first inning, Timo Perez stroked his first extra-base hit in a Ducks uniform. Ray Navarette leads the Atlantic League with 38 extra-base hits this season…The victory improved the Ducks record against the Sugar Land Skeeters to 8-3 in 2012. Long Island has won five consecutive games over the Atlantic League’s newest franchise after sweeping a four-game set from June 28 to July 1. Four of the last five games between the two teams and seven of the 11 games overall have been decided by one run, with the last three being by a 2-1 margin.
GAME DATE: 07/20/2012 Sugar Land Skeeters 1 AT Long Island Ducks 2 YTD YTD Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG O.Castro 3B 3 0 0 0 .300 R.Gorecki CF 4 0 0 0 .266 B.Bell CF 3 0 2 0 .295 T.Perez RF 4 0 1 0 .194 A.Bates LF 4 0 1 0 .364 R.Navarrete 2B 3 0 1 0 .310 J.Pressley 1B 3 0 1 0 .271 M.Canham PR 0 1 0 0 .222 M.Mejia DH 4 0 0 0 .304 B.Sing 1B 3 1 0 0 .277 S.Moss RF 4 1 1 0 .230 B.Nelson DH 4 0 1 1 .256 M.Hagen 2B 4 0 0 0 .231 S.Williams 3B 4 0 0 0 .289 O.Martinez C 4 0 0 0 .280 K.Binick LF 2 0 1 0 .271 I.Suarez SS 4 0 0 0 .207 M.Fleishman LF 1 0 1 0 .320 J.McOwen PH 0 0 0 0 .248 D.Lyons SS 3 0 1 1 .276 J.Johnson C 3 0 0 0 .194 33 1 5 0 31 2 6 2 Sugar Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 5 0 L Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 2 6 3 2B--J.Pressley (12), T.Perez (1). RBI--B.Nelson (48), D.Lyons (38). SH--B.Bell (0). SB--S.Moss (3). E--R.Navarrete (6), B.Sing (4), S.Williams (4). LOB--Sugar Land 8, L Island 8. DP--R. Navarrete(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - B. Sing(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Sugar Land J.Lane 7.0 2 0 0 1 6 0 2.59 R.Giron 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.70 G.Majewski (L,2-2) 0.1 3 2 2 2 0 0 2.11 8.1 6 2 2 4 7 0 L Island J.Monti (W,7-4) 9.0 5 1 0 2 10 0 3.22 9 5 1 0 2 10 0 SO--B.Bell, A.Bates, J.Pressley 2, M.Mejia 2, M.Hagen 2, I.Suarez 2, R.Gorecki, B.Sing 2, S.Williams 2, K.Binick, J.Johnson. BB--O.Castro, J.Pressley, R.Navarrete, B.Sing, J.McOwen, D.Lyons. BF--J.Lane 24 (162), R.Giron 5 (28), G.Majewski 6 (153), J.Monti 36 (329). P-S--J.Lane 115-75, R.Giron 22-13, G.Majewski 24-10, J.Monti 119-83. T--2:46. A--5538 Kraig Binick ejected in the bottom of the fifth by HP umpire Ronnie Whiting for arguing balls and strikes Umpires: Plate Ump - Ronnie Whiting, Field Ump #1 - Marty Bauer, Field Ump #2 - David Mills