Ducks overcome 4-0 and 7-4 deficits to earn series-opening win

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 12, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 10-7 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the comeback victory

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Ruben Gotay and Fehlandt Lentini talk about the come-from-behind win

A four-run first inning put the Barnstormers on top early against Ducks starter John Brownell. Josh Bell’s RBI single and a two-run home run to left field by Sean Halton highlighted the inning. Long Island got on the scoreboard in the fourth on Cody Puckett’s RBI double off Barnstormers starter Joey Maher.

Three more runs in the fifth for the Flock tied up the ballgame at four. Fehlandt Lentini’s RBI single and Puckett’s two-run double did the damage. However, a two-out, three-run homer to right by Caleb Gindl in the sixth put Lancaster back in front 7-4.

Long Island would trim the deficit to two with a run in the seventh on Dan Lyons’ RBI fielder’s choice. Then, a five-run eighth inning put the Ducks in front 10-7. A two-run single by Lentini and a two-out, two-strike, three-run double by Ruben Gotay accounted for the scoring.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Brownell pitched six innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walk while striking out two. Maher lasted five and two-thirds innings, yielding four runs on nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Eriberto Garcia (1-0) collected the win after tossing a scoreless eighth inning, walking one and striking out one. Evan Meek (2-1) took the loss, surrendering four runs on one hit and three walks in one-third of an inning. Todd Coffey earned his 21st save with a perfect ninth inning.

Lentini and Gotay each had three hits and three RBI to lead the Flock, with Lentini also scoring three times. Puckett added two hits and three RBI as well.

The Ducks and Barnstormers continue their three-game set on Saturday night. 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). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by NSHOA. In addition, members of the Star Wars franchise, including Darth Vader himself, will be on hand to meet fans and take pictures throughout the game. Ducks staff members will also be handing out coupons for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans as they exit the ballpark following the fireworks show. Right-hander Chris McCoy takes the mound for the Ducks against Barnstormers southpaw Kelvin De La Cruz.

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 the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will also be available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by 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 35 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{508e0238204740d3d9c141f5965096b8721e890fc8446b80b243ba5070871f7e} of the US population.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.

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 Game Date: 08/12/2016 Lancaster Barnstormers 7 AT Long Island Ducks 10 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Gindl, C CF 5 2 2 3 .298 Lentini, F RF 4 3 3 3 .328 Robinson, T LF 4 1 0 0 .248 Vega, A CF 3 2 1 0 .264 Hobson, K 1B 5 0 1 0 .304 Lyons, D SS 4 0 0 1 .289 Bell, J 3B 4 1 1 1 .302 Puckett, C 3B 4 1 2 3 .280 Halton, S RF 4 1 2 2 .298 Gotay, R 1B 5 0 3 3 .305 McDade, M DH 3 1 1 0 .269 Colvin, T DH 5 0 0 0 .190 Ahrens, K SS 3 0 1 0 .271 Dowd, M C 3 2 1 0 .299 Cutler, C C 4 0 0 0 .280 Wessinger, M 2B 3 1 2 0 .202 Kajimoto, Y 2B 3 1 1 0 .271 Scura, C LF 3 1 0 0 .143 35 7 9 6 34 10 12 10 Lancaster 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 7 9 1 L Island 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 5 x - 10 12 2 2B--Gindl, C CF (28), Ahrens, K SS (22), Puckett, C 3B (14), Gotay, R 1B (16), Wessinger, M 2B (10). HR--Gindl, C CF (8), Halton, S RF (20). RBI--Gindl, C CF 3 (59), Bell, J 3B (66), Halton, S RF 2 (58), TOTALS 6 (0), Lentini, F RF 3 (56), Lyons, D SS (41), Puckett, C 3B 3 (59), Gotay, R 1B 3 (45), TOTALS 10 (0). SH--Scura, C LF (0). SB--Lentini, F RF 3 (35). E--Hobson, K 1B (6), Dowd, M C (11), Wessinger, M 2B (10). LOB--Lancaster 5, L Island 8. DP--Y. Kajimoto(2B) - J. Bell(3B) - K. Hobson(1B), M. Wessinger(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - R. Gotay(1B), M. Wessinger(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - R. Gotay(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster Maher, J 5.2 9 4 4 2 5 0 5.65 Jackson, J 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.52 Andrelczyk, P 1.0 1 1 0 1 1 0 3.06 Meek, E (L,2-1) 0.1 1 4 4 3 0 0 4.86 Fujie, H 0.2 1 1 1 1 0 0 2.84 8 12 10 9 7 6 0 L Island Brownell, J 6.0 9 7 7 3 2 2 3.19 Mincone, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 Garcia, E (W,1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 Coffey, T (S,21) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.28 9 9 7 7 4 4 2 WP--Maher, J (2). PB--Dowd, M. SO--Robinson, T 2, Bell, J, McDade, M, Lentini, F, Lyons, D 2, Puckett, C, Gotay, R, Dowd, M. BB--Robinson, T, McDade, M, Ahrens, K, Kajimoto, Y, Lentini, F, Vega, A 2, Lyons, D, Puckett, C, Dowd, M, Wessinger, M. BF--Maher, J 26 (73), Jackson, J (133), Andrelczyk, P 6 (196), Meek, E 5 (29), Fujie, H 4 (48), Brownell, J 29 (543), Mincone, J 3 (7), Garcia, E 4 (11), Coffey, T 3 (154). P-S--Maher, J 91-60, Jackson, J 3-1, Andrelczyk, P 28-18, Meek, E 17-5, Fujie, H 14-9, Brownell, J 115-66, Mincone, J 14-8, Garcia, E 14-7, Coffey, T 6-5. T--3:05. A--4613 13-minute umpire's delay in the top of the fifth inning Plate Umpire - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #1 - Steve Leonardo, Field Umpire #2 - Warren Nicholson