Ducks and Patriots combined for 21 runs and 33 hits
 

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 22, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 12-9 on Sunday evening in the finale of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

Somerset opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by Alfredo Rodriguez. Long Island answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double by Travis Snider, a two-run double by Lew Ford and an RBI single by Daniel Fields.

After a sac fly by Yovan Gonzalez in the second made it a 4-2 game, Ford connected for a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the inning to put the Ducks ahead 6-2. The Patriots trimmed the lead to 6-5 in the fourth on Mike Fransoso’s sac fly to left and a two-run single by Gonzalez. However, a three-run bottom of the fourth, highlighted by RBI singles from Ford and Fields and a run-scoring double from Puckett restored the Ducks four-run advantage at 9-5.

In the fifth inning, a sac fly to right by Oberste coupled with an error that scored Nate Coronado cut Long Island’s lead to two. It stayed that way until the eighth when the Patriots plated four runs to take the lead for good. Craig Massey’s RBI double, Rodriguez’s RBI single, a bases loaded walk to Oberste and an RBI infield single by Fransoso did the damage.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Matt Larkins pitched three innings for the Ducks, yielding two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Duane Below lasted four innings for the Patriots, allowing nine runs on 14 hits and a walk while striking out five. Mike Antonini (3-2) earned the win with two scoreless innings, yielding one hit while striking out four. Colton Murray (0-2) took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits and a walk. Nate Roe collected his first save with a scoreless ninth.

Emilio Bonifacio had four hits and two runs for the Flock, while Ford added three hits, five RBIs and three runs scored. Fields also had three hits and drove in two runs.

The Ducks hit the road on Monday to begin a four-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Fans 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. Left-hander Jake Fisher (4-4, 3.95) gets the start for the Ducks against Barnstormers righty Jonathan Albaladejo (6-4, 3.49).

Long Island returns home on Monday, July 30 to open a three-game series against the Somerset Patriots. 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). It’s Suffolk County Boy Scouts Night, presented by BNB Bank, and the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks T-Shirts. It’s also a Bowlero Friday! As fans exit the ballpark following the game, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for a special “buy one game of bowling, get one free” offer, courtesy of Bowlero. Tickets to the game, and all Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, CLICKING HERE or downloading the Ducks mobile app.

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: 07/22/2018 Somerset Patriots 12 AT Long Island Ducks 9 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Massey, C 2B 6 3 4 1 .356 Valdespin, J 2B 3 1 1 0 .361 Flores, R LF 5 1 0 0 .314 Washington, D 1B 2 0 0 0 .213 Rodriguez, A SS 5 1 3 3 .305 Bonifacio, E CF 5 2 4 0 .335 Chavez, E RF 5 1 1 0 .253 Snider, T RF 5 2 2 1 .289 Kelly, S PH,RF 1 0 0 0 .175 Ford, L DH 5 3 3 5 .294 Coronado, N 3B 4 2 1 0 .333 Ard, T 1B,3B 5 0 1 0 .291 Oberste, M DH 3 2 2 2 .176 Puckett, C 2B,3B 4 1 2 1 .225 Fransoso, M CF 3 0 2 2 .306 Fields, D LF 5 0 3 2 .234 Gonzalez, Y C 3 1 2 2 .258 Afenir, A C 4 0 1 0 .224 Blanke, M 1B 4 1 1 0 .294 Lyons, D SS 5 0 0 0 .211 39 12 16 10 43 9 17 9 Somerset 1 1 0 3 2 0 0 4 1 - 12 16 0 L Island 4 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 - 9 17 2 2B--Massey, C 2B 2 (10), Oberste, M DH (1), Bonifacio, E CF (15), Snider, T RF (16), Ford, L DH (18), Puckett, C 2B,3B (12), Fields, D LF (8). 3B--Fransoso, M CF (5). HR--Ford, L DH (7). RBI--Massey, C 2B (25), Rodriguez, A SS 3 (32), Oberste, M DH 2 (3), Fransoso, M CF 2 (29), Gonzalez, Y C 2 (21), TOTALS 10 (0), Snider, T RF (55), Ford, L DH 5 (53), Puckett, C 2B,3B (18), Fields, D LF 2 (21), TOTALS 9 (0). SF--Oberste, M DH (1), Fransoso, M CF (1), Gonzalez, Y C (4). SH--Fransoso, M CF (0). SB--Massey, C 2B 3 (15), Rodriguez, A SS 2 (13), Coronado, N 3B (1), Snider, T RF (2). E--Washington, D 1B (5), Ard, T 1B,3B (6). LOB--Somerset 10, L Island 9. DP--A. Rodriguez(SS) - C. Massey(2B) - M. Blanke(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset Below, D 4.0 14 9 9 1 5 1 3.81 Molleken, D 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 5.00 Antonini, M (W,3-2) 2.0 1 0 0 0 4 0 1.42 Roe, N (S,1) 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.34 9 17 9 9 2 13 1 L Island Larkins, M 3.0 3 2 2 0 3 0 3.77 Sosa, L 0.1 3 3 3 1 0 0 8.22 Silvestre, H 1.1 1 2 1 2 1 0 6.75 Cuas, J 1.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.08 Pimentel, C 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.28 Murray, C (L,0-2) 0.0 4 4 4 1 0 0 6.75 Pinder, B 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 9.90 Pike, C 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 0 13.50 9 16 12 11 6 8 0 PB--Afenir, A. SO--Flores, R 2, Rodriguez, A 2, Coronado, N 2, Gonzalez, Y, Blanke, M, Valdespin, J, Washington, D 2, Bonifacio, E, Snider, T 2, Ard, T 2, Puckett, C, Fields, D 2, Afenir, A 2. BB--Flores, R, Rodriguez, A, Coronado, N, Oberste, M, Gonzalez, Y, Blanke, M, Puckett, C, Afenir, A. BF--Below, D 27 (308), Molleken, D 7 (118), Antonini, M 7 (115), Roe, N 4 (140), Larkins, M 12 (245), Sosa, L 5 (119), Silvestre, H 8 (8), Cuas, J 6 (18), Pimentel, C 3 (155), Murray, C 5 (57), Pinder, B 5 (52), Pike, C 5 (13). P-S--Below, D 106-72, Molleken, D 33-22, Antonini, M 31-24, Roe, N 19-9, Larkins, M 52-32, Sosa, L 24-16, Silvestre, H 27-15, Cuas, J 30-16, Pimentel, C 15-10, Murray, C 10-5, Pinder, B 18-13, Pike, C 23-13. T--3:53. A--4766 Plate Umpire - Ryan Benson, Field Umpire #1 - Joe Iglio, Field Umpire #2 - Calvin Baker