Six Ducks relievers help secure series-opening win

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2016) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots 8-6 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series-opening victory

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez, Ruben Gotay and Kyle Hansen talk about the win

The Ducks jumped on the scoreboard right away in the first inning with solo home runs from Fehlandt Lentini and Cody Puckett off Patriots starter Randy Boone. The Patriots plated a run in the second on Luis Mateo’s RBI fielder’s choice off Ducks starter D.J. Mitchell, but an RBI double by Mike Blanke in the bottom of the frame put the Ducks ahead 3-1.

Four runs in the third put the Patriots on top 5-3. Yovan Gonzalez’s RBI double, Carlos Guzman’s two-run double and an RBI single by Brian Van Kirk did the damage. Long Island answered back though in the bottom of the third on Dan Lyons’ two-run triple and Mike Dowd’s RBI single to go in front 6-5. It stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh when Ruben Gotay’s two-out, two-run single to center extended the lead to 8-5.

The Patriots pulled within two in the eighth on Scott Kelly’s RBI infield single, but Amalio Diaz retired David Vidal on a groundout to strand the tying runs in scoring position. Mitchell did not factor into the decision, as he lasted three innings and allowed five runs on six hits and five walks.

Kyle Hansen (1-1) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one. Boone (0-2) took the loss, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks over two and two-thirds innings while striking out two. Todd Coffey earned his 20th save with a perfect ninth inning.

Lentini, Lyons and Gotay each collected two hits to lead the Flock offensively. Six Ducks relievers combined to allow just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their four-game set on Tuesday 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). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Baseball Caps, courtesy of People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union. It’s also a Two-fer Tuesday, and fans purchasing tickets to the game online at LIDucks.com or via the Ducks mobile app can receive a special buy one, get one free offer by entering the promo code “BOGO” at checkout (max four total tickets per transaction). In addition, it’s a Humana Senior Discount Tuesday. Senior citizens (65 or older with valid ID) will receive a 25{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} discount and a special gift package, courtesy of Humana, when purchasing a ticket to the game at the box office (limited to the first 50 tickets purchased). Right-hander Nick Struck takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots righty Shaun Garceau.

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’ official YouTube channel. Streaming video and audio will be available online 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{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} of the US population.

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

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 Game Date: 08/08/2016 Somerset Patriots 6 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Zarrillo, V CF,LF 4 0 0 0 .273 Vega, A LF 4 0 0 0 .270 Kelly, S 2B,SS 4 0 2 1 .251 Lentini, F RF 4 2 2 1 .322 Farris, E 2B,CF 4 0 0 0 .292 Cleary Jr., D CF 4 2 1 0 .312 Vidal, D 3B 4 0 1 0 .347 Puckett, C 3B 3 2 1 1 .280 LaHair, B DH 5 1 0 0 .276 Lyons, D SS 4 1 2 2 .298 Roller, K 1B 3 1 0 0 .259 Gotay, R 2B 4 1 2 2 .296 Gonzalez, Y C 5 2 2 1 .262 Colvin, T DH 4 0 0 0 .198 Guzman, C RF 3 2 3 2 .262 Dowd, M C 4 0 1 1 .292 Mateo, L SS 1 0 0 1 .221 Blanke, M 1B 4 0 1 1 .248 Van Kirk, B LF,PR 3 0 2 1 .207 36 6 10 6 35 8 10 8 Somerset 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 6 10 0 L Island 2 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 x - 8 10 0 2B--Gonzalez, Y C (13), Guzman, C RF (15), Van Kirk, B LF,PR (3), Cleary Jr., D CF (9), Gotay, R 2B (14), Blanke, M 1B (13). 3B--Lyons, D SS (3). HR--Lentini, F RF (7), Puckett, C 3B (8). RBI--Kelly, S 2B,SS (19), Gonzalez, Y C (23), Guzman, C RF 2 (40), Mateo, L SS (9), Van Kirk, B LF,PR (7), TOTALS 6 (0), Lentini, F RF (52), Puckett, C 3B (54), Lyons, D SS 2 (40), Gotay, R 2B 2 (38), Dowd, M C (32), Blanke, M 1B (38), TOTALS 8 (0). SB--Kelly, S 2B,SS 2 (29). CS--Farris, E 2B,CF (5). LOB--Somerset 10, L Island 5. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset Boone, R (L,0-2) 2.2 7 6 6 2 2 2 9.60 Little, C 2.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.49 Bleich, J 2.0 2 2 2 0 4 0 4.50 Morrow, B 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.91 8 10 8 8 2 7 2 L Island Mitchell, D 3.0 6 5 5 5 0 0 4.83 Hansen, K (W,1-1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.57 Crider, P 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.91 Burawa, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.93 Shuman, S 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.92 Diaz, A 1.1 2 1 1 1 2 0 2.25 Coffey, T (S,20) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.94 9 10 6 6 7 9 0 WP--Bleich, J (1), Burawa, D (2). SO--Zarrillo, V, Farris, E 3, Vidal, D, LaHair, B 2, Roller, K, Gonzalez, Y, Vega, A 3, Puckett, C, Lyons, D, Gotay, R, Dowd, M. BB--Zarrillo, V, Kelly, S, Farris, E, Vidal, D, Roller, K 2, Guzman, C, Vega, A, Puckett, C. BF--Boone, R 17 (73), Little, C 8 (197), Bleich, J 9 (27), Morrow, B 3 (79), Mitchell, D 19 (42), Hansen, K 3 (26), Crider, P 5 (123), Burawa, D 4 (34), Shuman, S 2 (29), Diaz, A 7 (153), Coffey, T 3 (143). P-S--Boone, R 60-40, Little, C 28-19, Bleich, J 39-30, Morrow, B 13-9, Mitchell, D 74-38, Hansen, K 12-7, Crider, P 23-12, Burawa, D 21-12, Shuman, S 9-6, Diaz, A 32-21, Coffey, T 11-6. T--3:27. A--4446 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Tom Magier, Field Umpire #2 - JB Torres