Nine unanswered runs erase early 5-0 lead

(Bridgewater, N.J., Sept. 13, 2013) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 9-5 on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Long Island scores five runs over the first two innings

The Ducks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Patriots starter David Harden. Josh Barfield’s RBI triple and Bill Hall’s sac fly to right highlighted the inning. Three more in the third on a run-scoring error, a RBI single by Lew Ford and a RBI double by Barfield increased the advantage to five.

Somerset responded with two in the second off Ducks starter Bill Murphy. Corey Smith’s solo homer and a sac fly from Angel Sanchez cut the score to 5-2. Jeff Baisley’s two-strike, two-out three-run homer in the third tied the game at five.

Eddy Martinez-Esteve put the Pats on top with a solo homer in the fourth, and Smith added a two-run shot in the fifth to extend the lead to 8-5. Smith’s RBI single in the eighth rounded out the scoring.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Murphy allowed four runs on two hits and four walks in two and one-third innings while Harden gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits in four innings. Josh Lowey (14-8) picked up the win, tossing four scoreless innings while striking out six, and Bob Zimmermann (4-4) took the loss, surrendering four runs on six hits in two innings.

Ford, Barfield and Nelson each had two hits to pace the Flock.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their three-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. from TD Bank Ballpark. Fans 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 by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Shaun Garceau takes the mound for Long Island against Patriots southpaw Graham Taylor.

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.

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 GAME DATE: 09/13/2013 Long Island Ducks 5 AT Somerset Patriots 9 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG L.Ford CF 4 2 2 1 .375 J.Tucker 2B 3 0 0 0 .261 J.Barfield 2B 4 1 2 2 .297 A.Eggleston LF 3 2 0 0 .295 B.Nelson 3B 4 0 2 0 .295 C.Aldridge RF 3 2 1 0 .287 B.Hall DH 3 0 0 1 .237 C.Smith DH 4 2 3 4 .273 A.Bailey RF 4 0 0 0 .256 J.Baisley 3B 4 2 1 3 .237 R.Castro C 4 1 1 0 .260 J.Cortes CF 3 0 1 0 .289 R.Strieby 1B 4 0 0 0 .246 E.Martinez-Este 1B 4 1 3 1 .352 K.Binick LF 3 1 1 0 .269 A.Sanchez SS 3 0 0 1 .235 D.Lyons SS 4 0 0 1 .210 B.Peterson C 4 0 0 0 .000 34 5 8 5 31 9 9 9 L Island 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 8 0 Somerset 0 2 3 1 2 0 0 1 x - 9 9 1 2B--J.Barfield (22), R.Castro (11), C.Aldridge (23). 3B--J.Barfield (2). HR--C.Smith 2 (20), J.Baisley (10), E.Martinez-Esteve (5). RBI--L.Ford (5), J.Barfield 2 (36), B.Hall (63), D.Lyons (26), C.Smith 4 (84), J.Baisley 3 (51), E.Martinez-Esteve (48), A.Sanchez (11). SF--B.Hall (4), A.Sanchez (2). E--J.Baisley (11). LOB--L Island 4, Somerset 8. DP--B. Nelson(3B) - R. Strieby(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island B.Murphy 2.1 2 4 4 4 1 1 5.50 B.Zimmermann (L,4-4) 2.0 6 4 4 1 1 3 4.47 J.Lansford 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.22 E.Threets 1.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 7.36 E.Ramos 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.93 D.Herrera 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.03 J.Lansford 1.0 1 1 1 2 0 0 4.20 8 9 9 9 9 5 4 Somerset D.Harden 4.0 6 5 4 1 4 0 3.39 J.Lowey (W,14-8) 4.0 2 0 0 0 6 0 2.89 J.Hunton 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.23 9 8 5 4 1 10 0 PB--R.Castro. SO--L.Ford, B.Nelson 2, B.Hall 2, A.Bailey, R.Castro, R.Strieby, D.Lyons 2, A.Eggleston, C.Aldridge 2, J.Baisley, B.Peterson. BB--K.Binick, J.Tucker 2, A.Eggleston 2, C.Aldridge 2, C.Smith, J.Baisley, J.Cortes. BF--B.Murphy 12 (582), B.Zimmermann 13 (415), J.Lansford 2 (196), E.Threets 5 (110), D.Herrera 3 (92), J.Lansford 6 (217), D.Harden 19 (434), J.Lowey 14 (630), J.Hunton 3 (225). P-S--B.Murphy 51-25, B.Zimmermann 59-37, J.Lansford 4-4, E.Threets 25-12, E.Ramos 1-1, D.Herrera 13-9, J.Lansford 22-11, D.Harden 68-47, J.Lowey 47-35, J.Hunton 15-8. T--3:09. A--5804 Weather: Clear, 70 degrees Umpires: Plate Ump - Marty Bauer, Field Ump #1 - Andrew Steinberg, Field Ump #3 - Allen Barnfield