Early runs hold up as Long Island earns third straight win

(Sugar Land, Texas, Aug. 8, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 7-3 on Saturday night in the finale of a four-game series at Constellation Field.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series clinching victory

Delta Cleary, Jr. put the Ducks in front with a first inning solo home run to right field off Skeeters starter Josh Geer. Daryle Ward answered in the bottom of the first with a two-out, two-run homer to right off of Ducks starter Bobby Blevins.

Long Island erupted for four more runs in the second to take a 5-2 lead. Back-to-back two-out, two-run singles by Dan Lyons and Cody Puckett highlighted the inning. A RBI double by Kevin Russo in the second cut the lead to one, but Jon Griffin stretched it back to three in the fifth with a two-out RBI single to center. Lyons added a RBI double to left-center in the ninth to round out the scoring.

Blevins (2-3) earned the win, tossing five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. Geer (4-4) took the loss, surrendering six runs on eight hits and five walks in five innings with five strikeouts. Four Ducks relievers combined to record the final 12 outs of the game, allowing just one single and one walk.

Lyons led the Flock with three hits and three RBI at the plate. Puckett added two hits and two RBI, while Cleary, Jr. chipped in with two hits and three runs scored.

The Ducks return home on Sunday to open up a four-game set against the Camden Riversharks. Game time is slated for 5:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 4:05 (3:50 for full season ticket holders). It’s Jewish Heritage Night at the ballpark, and the Ducks will be running promotions, videos, and music with a Jewish theme. There will also be kosher food available for purchase, courtesy of Hunki’s Kosher Pizza of Plainview. In addition, it’s a Sunday Family Funday! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 4:20 to 4:35 p.m. Following the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Left-hander Rich Hill gets the start for the Ducks against Riversharks righty Eric Smith.

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. Those unable to make the game can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming video and audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE.

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 Game Date: 08/08/2015 Long Island Ducks 7 AT Sugar Land Skeeters 3 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Sugar Land AB R H BI AVG F.Lentini RF 5 0 1 0 .261 J.Dominguez CF 4 0 1 0 .277 D.Cleary Jr. CF 4 3 2 1 .286 A.Zazueta 2B 4 0 0 0 .276 D.Lyons DH 5 1 3 3 .304 D.Young RF 3 1 1 0 .269 C.Puckett 2B 5 1 2 2 .270 D.Ward DH 4 1 1 2 .235 B.Sabatella LF 3 0 0 0 .278 T.Scott 1B 4 0 2 0 .246 M.Blanke C 4 0 1 0 .290 C.Wallace C 3 0 0 0 .263 J.Griffin 1B 4 0 1 1 .233 K.Cross C 1 0 0 0 .217 S.McQuail 3B 3 1 1 0 .179 J.Limonta LF 3 1 1 0 .237 C.Hughes SS 3 1 0 0 .118 K.Russo SS 3 0 1 1 .260 P.Palmeiro 3B 3 0 0 0 .238 36 7 11 7 32 3 7 3 L Island 1 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 - 7 11 1 Sugar Land 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 7 2 2B--D.Lyons (17), S.McQuail (1), K.Russo (13). HR--D.Cleary Jr. (1), D.Ward (2). RBI--D.Cleary Jr. (27), D.Lyons 3 (50), C.Puckett 2 (36), J.Griffin (57), D.Ward 2 (17), K.Russo (21). SB--B.Sabatella (26). CS--D.Cleary Jr. (5). E--M.Blanke (3), J.Dominguez (1), K.Russo (10). LOB--L Island 7, Sugar Land 4. DP--A. Zazueta(2B) - K. Russo(SS) - T. Scott(1B), C. Hughes(SS) - J. Griffin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island B.Blevins (W,2-3) 5.0 6 3 3 0 4 1 4.97 D.Veal 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.80 N.Struck 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.53 J.Romero 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.72 P.Crider 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.90 9 7 3 3 1 5 1 Sugar Land J.Geer (L,4-4) 5.0 8 6 6 5 5 1 4.05 A.Johnston 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.87 T.Gustafson 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.38 D.Runzler 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 A.Carpenter 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 0 7.28 9 11 7 7 5 5 1 WP--J.Geer 4 (6). SO--F.Lentini 2, B.Sabatella, M.Blanke, C.Hughes, J.Dominguez, C.Wallace 3, P.Palmeiro. BB--D.Cleary Jr., B.Sabatella 2, S.McQuail, C.Hughes, D.Young. BF--B.Blevins 21 (185), D.Veal 3 (40), N.Struck 3 (134), J.Romero 4 (64), P.Crider 3 (164), J.Geer 27 (366), A.Johnston 3 (165), T.Gustafson 3 (22), D.Runzler 3 (3), A.Carpenter 5 (139). P-S--B.Blevins 96-69, D.Veal 9-7, N.Struck 6-4, J.Romero 14-8, P.Crider 9-6, J.Geer 94-58, A.Johnston 8-7, T.Gustafson 8-6, D.Runzler 8-7, A.Carpenter 14-11. T--2:43. A--6347 Skeeters catcher Chris Wallace was ejected i the top of the ninth inning for arguing a play at the plate. Weather: Partly Cloudy, 96 Degrees Plate Umpire - Greg Oros, Field Umpire #1 - 1B Doug Williams, Field Umpire #2 - 3B Eric Davis