Pair of two-run home runs help Flock overcome 5-2 deficit
 

(Central Islip, N.Y., June 16, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 6-5 before a past-capacity crowd of 7,103 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

The Ducks opened the scoring in the first inning on Emilio Bonifacio’s sacrifice fly to center field. The Barnstormers responded with three in the second to take the lead, courtesy of RBI singles by K.C. Hobson, Nate Coronado and Vladimir Frias.

An error in the second plated David Washington to trim Long Island’s deficit to 3-2, but solo homers by Blake Gailen and Grant Desme in the third off Ducks starter Matt Larkins increased Lancaster’s lead to 5-2. The Ducks closed back to within one in the bottom of the third on Travis Snider’s mammoth two-run home run to right-center off Barnstormers starter Joe Gardner.

It stayed 5-4 until the bottom of the sixth when Washington’s opposite-field two-run homer to left gave the Flock the lead at 6-5. Lancaster put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but the Ducks preserved their advantage.

Larkins (5-1) picked up the win, pitching six innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits while striking out one. Gardner (3-3) took the loss, yielding six runs on four hits and four walks over five and one-third innings with three strikeouts. Francisco Rodriguez earned his ninth save with a scoreless ninth inning, stranding the tying run at third base.

The Ducks and Barnstormers wrap up their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). Celebrate Father’s Day with a Sunday Family Funday! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 12:50 to 1:05. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Left-hander Bennett Parry (3-0, 2.10) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Barnstormers righty Jonathan Albaladejo (5-2, 4.26).

Tickets to the game, and all 2018 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 on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on the Ducks official Facebook page, YouTube channel and at LIDucks.com.

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 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 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.

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

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 Game Date: 06/16/2018 Lancaster Barnstormers 5 AT Long Island Ducks 6 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Sandford, D CF 5 0 2 0 .278 Valdespin, J 2B 4 1 1 0 .346 Noel, R 2B 4 0 0 0 .346 Bonifacio, E SS 2 1 0 1 .288 Gailen, B RF 5 1 2 1 .288 Snider, T RF 3 2 1 2 .269 Casteel, R C 3 1 1 0 .333 Ford, L DH 4 0 1 0 .253 De La Rosa, A C 1 0 0 0 .218 Sole, A PR 0 0 0 0 .219 Hobson, K 1B 5 1 2 1 .176 Washington, D 1B 3 2 1 2 .254 Desme, G LF 4 2 3 1 .370 Ard, T 3B 2 0 0 0 .254 Robinson, T LF,PR 0 0 0 0 .284 Fields, D CF 3 0 1 0 .243 Coronado, N DH 4 0 2 1 .222 Cabrera, R C 3 0 0 0 .266 Frias, V SS 4 0 2 1 .351 Vega, A LF 3 0 0 0 .138 Garcia, C 3B 4 0 1 0 .338 39 5 15 5 27 6 5 5 Lancaster 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 15 1 L Island 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 x - 6 5 2 2B--Sandford, D CF (4), Desme, G LF (2). 3B--Valdespin, J 2B (6). HR--Gailen, B RF (9), Desme, G LF (1), Snider, T RF (6), Washington, D 1B (8). RBI--Gailen, B RF (39), Hobson, K 1B (2), Desme, G LF (3), Coronado, N DH (4), Frias, V SS (15), TOTALS 5 (0), Bonifacio, E SS (18), Snider, T RF 2 (33), Washington, D 1B 2 (25), TOTALS 5 (0). SF--Bonifacio, E SS (4). SB--Sandford, D CF (28), Noel, R 2B 2 (25), Sole, A PR (4). E--Hobson, K 1B (1), Fields, D CF (3), Cabrera, R C (2). LOB--Lancaster 9, L Island 2. DP--J. Valdespin(2B) - E. Bonifacio(SS) - D. Washington(1B), J. Valdespin(2B) - E. Bonifacio(SS) - D. Washington(1B), V. Frias(SS) - K. Hobson(1B), M. Larkins(P) - E. Bonifacio(SS). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster Gardner, J (L,3-3) 5.1 4 6 6 4 3 2 4.57 Lakind, J 2.1 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.64 Brazoban, H 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 8 5 6 6 4 7 2 L Island Larkins, M (W,5-1) 6.0 12 5 5 0 1 2 2.76 Perez, W 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.60 OGrady, D 1.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2.11 Rodriguez, F (S,9) 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1.93 9 15 5 5 2 4 2 SO--Casteel, R, Hobson, K, Coronado, N, Garcia, C, Valdespin, J, Bonifacio, E, Snider, T, Ford, L 2, Washington, D, Vega, A. BB--Noel, R, De La Rosa, A, Bonifacio, E, Snider, T, Washington, D, Ard, T. BF--Gardner, J 24 (191), Lakind, J 6 (73), Brazoban, H 2 (32), Larkins, M 28 (206), Perez, W 3 (77), OGrady, D 5 (87), Rodriguez, F 5 (58). P-S--Gardner, J 91-53, Lakind, J 26-17, Brazoban, H 8-7, Larkins, M 85-56, Perez, W 9-6, OGrady, D 23-15, Rodriguez, F 20-8. T--2:46. A--7103 Ryan Casteel ejected by home plate umpire John Grasso in the top of the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes Plate Umpire - John Grasso, Field Umpire #1 - Mel Chettum, Field Umpire #2 - Warren Nicholson