Randy Ruiz hits two home runs, drives in four in loss

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 1, 2014) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Bridgeport Bluefish 9-4 on Tuesday night at Bethpage Ballpark in the third game of a five-game series.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from Randy Ruiz’s four-RBI performance

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Randy Ruiz talk about the game

Long Island grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run from Randy Ruiz off Bridgeport starter Tomo Ohka. Ruiz took Ohka deep for again a solo home run in the third to extend the lead to three. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth by Ruiz increased Long Island’s advantage to four.

The Bluefish responded in the top of the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Denny Almonte off Ducks starter Shaun Garceau to cut the deficit to three. Bridgeport then scored six runs in the eighth to take a 7-4 lead. A two-run double from Almonte and a grand slam from Juan Martinez highlighted the inning. Two more runs in the ninth rounded out the scoring.

Ohka (3-6) picked up the win, yielding four runs over seven innings on five hits and two walks with one strikeout. Brett Lorin (0-1) received the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief. Garceau received a no-decision, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over seven and one-third innings.

Ruiz led the Ducks with two hits and four runs batted in.

Long Island and Bridgeport continue their five-game set on Wednesday night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by The Rinx at Hidden Pond Park. Right-hander Jared Lansford takes the mound for the Ducks against Bluefish righty D.J. Mitchell.

Tickets for the game and every Ducks regular season home game are now on sale. Fans can purchase their tickets by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling 631-940-TIXX or by CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action with live streaming video and audio available on the Ducks official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

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Duck Tales: With two home runs on Tuesday, Randy Ruiz now has seven home runs on the season, good for third on the team. It was also Ruiz’s second multi-home run game of the year. The first came on May 28 at Lancaster. In addition, Ruiz’s four RBI performance was his first of the year and sixth overall multi-RBI game. He recorded a five-RBI game on May 28 at Lancaster and a seven-RBI game on June 18 at Camden. Ruiz has now hit safely in his last nine contests…Fehlandt Lentini went 1-4 Tuesday and has now hit safely 25 of his last 26 games. With the hit, Lentini became the first player in the Atlantic League to reach 90 hits this season. He currently leads the league in hits, doubles (21), stolen bases (28) and at-bats (260)…With Bridgeport’s win Tuesday night, the 2014 Ferry Cup Series is now tied at four. The Ducks have won the Ferry Cup three times since its inception (2009, 2011, 2013), and no team has ever won it in back-to-back seasons. Bridgeport holds a slim 138-135 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams, but the Ducks have a 77-62 lead at Bethpage Ballpark.

 Game Date: 07/01/2014 Bridgeport Bluefish 9 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD Bridgeport AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Simmons CF 5 0 1 0 .296 F.Lentini RF 4 0 1 0 .335 P.Redman RF 5 1 2 0 .262 C.Puckett 2B 5 1 1 0 .285 R.Castro 3B 5 2 2 0 .243 L.Ford CF 3 0 0 0 .349 J.Towles C 3 2 2 1 .343 R.Ruiz DH 3 2 2 4 .298 L.Lopez DH 4 1 3 0 .219 B.Harris 3B 4 0 0 0 .279 D.Almonte LF 4 1 1 3 .209 A.Bailey LF 4 0 0 0 .266 A.Gallagher 1B 4 1 1 1 .160 J.Brodin 1B 2 0 1 0 .251 J.Martinez 2B 4 1 1 4 .216 K.Castillo C 3 0 0 0 .230 M.Richard SS 4 0 0 0 .271 D.Lyons SS 3 1 0 0 .263 38 9 13 9 31 4 5 4 Bridgeport 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 2 - 9 13 1 L Island 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 5 0 2B--P.Redman (10), R.Castro 2 (8), J.Towles (9), D.Almonte (10), J.Brodin (10). HR--J.Martinez (4), R.Ruiz 2 (7). RBI--J.Towles (26), D.Almonte 3 (24), A.Gallagher (1), J.Martinez 4 (23), R.Ruiz 4 (35). HP--D.Lyons (3). SF--D.Almonte (1), R.Ruiz (2). SB--J.Brodin (10). E--J.Simmons (3). LOB--Bridgeport 8, L Island 7. DP--C. Puckett(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Brodin(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bridgeport T.Ohka (W,3-6) 7.0 5 4 4 2 1 2 5.00 T.Gustafson 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.05 W.Abreu 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.48 9 5 4 4 4 2 2 L Island S.Garceau 7.1 7 4 4 4 3 0 4.48 B.Lorin (L,0-1) 0.2 3 3 3 1 1 1 2.73 D.Kopp 1.0 3 2 2 0 1 0 4.36 9 13 9 9 5 5 1 WP--S.Garceau (3). HB--T.Ohka (7). SO--P.Redman, R.Castro, D.Almonte 2, J.Martinez, C.Puckett 2. BB--J.Towles 2, L.Lopez, A.Gallagher, J.Martinez, F.Lentini, L.Ford, J.Brodin 2. BF--T.Ohka 29 (310), T.Gustafson 3 (126), W.Abreu 5 (84), S.Garceau 32 (357), B.Lorin 6 (110), D.Kopp 6 (46). P-S--T.Ohka 93-60, T.Gustafson 8-5, W.Abreu 27-15, S.Garceau 109-67, B.Lorin 20-8, D.Kopp 17-13. T--2:55. A--4389 Plate Umpire - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #1 - Frank Leparik, Field Umpire #2 - Dave Speranza