Pair of homers gives Long Island series win on road
(Bridgewater, N.J., July 12, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 7-2 on Sunday night in the finale of a three-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series-clinching win
The Ducks got the scoring started in the first inning, going up 1-0 on Randy Ruiz’s RBI single to left. Ruiz extended the lead to 2-0 with a solo homer in the fourth off of Somerset starter Randy Boone. Bryan Sabatella added another run with a RBI single in the fifth.
The Patriots got on the board in the sixth when David Vidal hit a RBI single off of Ducks starter Billy Buckner. Mike Blanke gave Long Island the run right back with a solo homer in the seventh, but Aharon Eggleston made it a two-run ballgame once again in the home half of the inning with a RBI single.
Long Island pulled away for good with three runs in the ninth inning. Sabatella drew a bases loaded walk before Reegie Corona scored two with a single to right off of reliever Andrew Carignan. Nick Struck wrapped up the win with a 1-2-3 ninth frame.
Buckner (6-1) earned the win for Long Island, tossing six innings and allowing one run on two hits. He walked three and struck out eight. Boone (4-2) suffered the loss for Somerset, allowing three runs on nine hits across six innings while walking none and striking out two. Donnie Veal pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the eighth for the Ducks.
Blanke led the way with three hits and the homer for the Ducks. Sabatella, Corona, and Ruiz each had a pair of hits as well.
The Ducks open up a four-game series with the Lancaster Barnstormers on Monday night. A suspended game from May 18 will be completed prior to the start of Monday’s originally scheduled nine inning game. The first contest will begin in the bottom of the sixth inning with the teams tied at three, and will count for the first-half record of both teams. The suspended game will be completed at 6:00 p.m. from Clipper Magazine Stadium, prior to the start of the original game with righty Ian Marshall toeing the rubber for the Ducks against Lancaster southpaw Bryan Morgado. Fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
Long Island returns home on Friday, July 17 to open up another three-game set against the Patriots. 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 Ducks Logo T-Shirts, courtesy of the YMCA of Long Island. It will also be a Fowl Pole, Pizza Hut K-Man and Air Trampoline Sports Friday at the ballpark. 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.
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CLICK HERE to view Sunday’s box score