Ducks drop second game of series

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 23, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 7-2 on Friday night in front of a past-capacity crowd of 6,119 at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Bryant Nelson’s two-run double

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Josh Barfield talk about the game

Both teams traded zeroes until the fourth when Somerset put together a six-run frame. Two-run singles by Angel Sanchez and Aharon Eggleston along with a RBI single by Jonny Tucker highlighted the inning.

After another Patriot run in the fifth, Long Island responded with two runs in their half of the inning. Bryant Nelson’s two-run double to left cut the deficit to five, but that was as close as they would come.

Pats starter Graham Taylor (8-5) earned the win, tossing seven innings, yielding two unearned runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Ducks starter James Houser (8-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings.

Josh Barfield and Kraig Binick led the Flock with two hits apiece.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their four-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. A Ducks legend returns to the ballpark on Saturday night, as 2004 Atlantic League champion and “All-Time Team” Member Kimera Bartee will be in attendance. Kimera will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch and then will sign autographs and take pictures with fans on the main concourse behind home plate through the third inning. It’s also Dick’s Sporting Goods Saturdays at the ballpark! Ducks staffers will 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. Right-hander Bob Zimmermann toes the rubber for the Ducks against Patriots righty Erik Arnesen.

Tickets for the game and all Ducks regular season home games 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 attend the game can follow all the action live on the radio home of the Ducks, 103.9-FM WRCN, and online, with streaming video and audio available on the Ducks official YouTube channel, youtube.com/ducksbaseball.

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Duck Tales: With a single in the fourth inning, Ramon Castro extended his hitting streak to six consecutive games and has earned at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 starts. During those 11 starts, the former Major Leaguer is hitting .333 (15-for-45), raising his season average to .265…Bryant Nelson extended his hitting streak to five with his two-run double in the fifth. The switch hitter has also earned hits in 10 of his last 12 games. Nelson also picked up his ninth two-RBI game and 14th multi-RBI contest on the year, which leads the team…With a double and a single, Josh Barfield earned his 16th two-hit game of the season. The former big leaguer now has 25 multi-hit contests in 2013. Kraig Binick had a pair of infield hits and now has seven two-hit games on the year. The third-year Duck has a total of 11 multi-hit games this season…Friday’s crowd of 6,119 was the Ducks’ 11th past-capacity crowd of the season at Bethpage Ballpark. Long Island is now 8-3 this season when there is a past-capacity crowd at the Duck Pond. The Ducks have hosted 626 sellouts all-time, an Atlantic League record.

 GAME DATE: 08/23/2013 Somerset Patriots 7 AT Long Island Ducks 2 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG J.Tucker CF 5 1 1 1 .255 J.Barfield 2B 4 1 2 0 .313 A.Eggleston LF 5 0 2 2 .292 R.Navarrete 1B 5 0 0 0 .233 Y.Sanchez 1B 4 0 0 0 .338 B.Nelson 3B 4 0 1 2 .285 C.Smith 3B 4 2 0 0 .273 B.Hall SS 4 0 1 0 .260 J.Baisley DH 4 1 1 0 .248 W.Otanez DH 3 0 0 0 .167 J.Cortes RF 4 0 2 0 .269 R.Castro C 4 0 1 0 .265 A.Sanchez SS 3 1 2 3 .245 R.Strieby LF 4 0 1 0 .283 A.Donachie C 3 1 0 0 .251 A.Bailey RF 3 0 0 0 .254 B.Stevens 2B 3 1 0 0 .237 K.Binick CF 4 1 2 0 .265 35 7 8 6 35 2 8 2 Somerset 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 - 7 8 2 L Island 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 2 8 3 2B--J.Baisley (14), J.Cortes (4), J.Barfield (20), B.Nelson (27). RBI--J.Tucker (51), A.Eggleston 2 (49), A.Sanchez 3 (7), B.Nelson 2 (63). HP--Y.Sanchez (1). SF--A.Sanchez (1). E--C.Smith (24), A.Sanchez (2), B.Nelson (26), B.Hall (6), R.Strieby (2). LOB--Somerset 6, L Island 9. DP--B. Stevens(2B) - A. Sanchez(SS) - Y. Sanchez(1B), B. Stevens(2B) - A. Sanchez(SS) - Y. Sanchez(1B), J. Barfield(2B) - B. Hall(SS) - R. Navarrete(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset G.Taylor (W,8-5) 7.0 7 2 0 2 7 0 3.46 F.Hernandez 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 9 8 2 0 3 9 0 L Island J.Houser (L,8-3) 3.2 3 5 5 3 5 0 3.30 J.Lansford 0.1 2 1 0 0 0 0 3.29 C.McCoy 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 4.91 E.Threets 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9.00 E.Ramos 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 N.DeBarr 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.12 9 8 7 5 3 7 0 HB--J.Houser (4). SO--J.Tucker, Y.Sanchez, C.Smith, J.Cortes, A.Sanchez, A.Donachie 2, B.Hall 2, W.Otanez 2, R.Castro, R.Strieby, A.Bailey 3. BB--C.Smith, A.Donachie, B.Stevens, J.Barfield, W.Otanez, A.Bailey. BF--G.Taylor 30 (573), F.Hernandez 8 (8), J.Houser 18 (378), J.Lansford 3 (169), C.McCoy 8 (35), E.Threets 3 (66), E.Ramos 4 (7), N.DeBarr 4 (448). P-S--G.Taylor 103-69, F.Hernandez 26-16, J.Houser 82-46, J.Lansford 9-6, C.McCoy 26-16, E.Threets 11-8, E.Ramos 15-11, N.DeBarr 8-5. T--2:57. A--6119 Umpires: Plate Ump - Andrew Steinberg, Field Ump #1 - Allen Barnfield, Field Ump #2 - Marty Bauer