(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2026) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 6-1 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of a three-game series and finale of the 2026 regular season at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. With the win, the Ducks clinched the Second Half North Division Championship and a berth in the 2026 Atlantic League playoffs.
Southern Maryland took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on Carlos Rojas’ RBI single to left field off Ducks starter Michael Dominguez. Long Island answered in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Jorge Bonifacio and Aaron Antonini to go in front 2-1. Anthony Garcia added a two-out RBI single to center in the second to make it 3-1 Ducks.
Bonifacio led off the third inning with a 384-foot solo home run to left field off Blue Crabs starter Eduardo Rivera, stretching the Ducks lead to three. The longball made the five-year MLB veteran the first player in Long Island Ducks history to hit 30 home runs in a single season. Two more runs came home for the Flock in the sixth on Marcus Chiu’s 427-foot leadoff solo homer to center and Henry Kusiak’s two-out 410-foot solo homer to left-center.
Dominguez (7-5) earned the win, tossing five innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits while striking out six. Rivera (0-2) took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in four innings with five strikeouts. Four Ducks relievers combined to pitch four scoreless innings of relief to secure the win.
Bonifacio led the Ducks offense with three hits, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, two RBIs and a run. Antonini added two hits, an RBI and a walk, while Wilmer Difo chipped in with two hits and a run.
The Ducks now head to the 2026 Atlantic League playoffs, which will begin with the best-of-five North Division Championship Series against the first half champion Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. Game One will take place on Tuesday night at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). Game Two will take place on Wednesday night, also at 6:35 p.m., before the series shifts to Meritus Park Friday-Sunday for Games Three, Four (if necessary) and Five (if necessary).
Tickets for all Ducks playoff games are now available and can be purchased by visiting the ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the games can follow all the action on Dugout TV, powered by HomeTeam Network. Subscribe today by CLICKING HERE.
The Long Island Ducks are entering their 26th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for five consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 730 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 27-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,450 players to MLB organizations while drawing nearly 50 million fans to its 10 state-of-the-art ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Follow the action on DugoutTV.org.
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