Eight-run fourth not enough for Long Island, as Lancaster scores six over final two innings

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2017) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Lancaster Barnstormers 9-8 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME VIDEO: Highlights from Saturday’s contest

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Alex Burg talk about the game

Lancaster put together a three-run third inning against Ducks starter Alfredo Simon to take the first lead of the game. RBI singles by Beau Amaral and Trayvon Robinson along with a sacrifice fly from Sean Halton accounted for the scoring.

Long Island responded with an eight-run fourth inning against Barnstormers starter Luis Gonzalez and reliever John Kuchno to take an 8-3 lead. RBI singles by Delta Cleary Jr. and Elmer Reyes, a three-run double to left-center field by Marc Krauss and a three-run home run to center by Alex Burg, all with two outs, highlighted the frame.

The advantage remained five until the top of the eighth when Lancaster struck for three two-out runs of their own to close the gap to 8-6. Steve Clevenger’s two-run homer to right-center and Nate Coronado’s RBI single did the damage. Sean Halton then knocked a three-run home run off the foul pole in left during the top of the ninth to put the ‘Stormers in front.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Simon pitched five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out four. Gonzalez lasted three and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Anthony Carter (4-2) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning, and Amalio Diaz (3-4) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on two hits in the ninth inning with two strikeouts. Scott Shuman earned his first save of the year with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

Cleary Jr. led the Flock with three hits, while Giovanny Alfonzo added two. Matt Marsh made his debut on the mound for the Ducks and pitched two scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and striking out one.

The Ducks and Barnstormers wrap up their three-game set on Sunday evening. Game time is slated for 5:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 4:05 (3:50 for full season ticket holders). Sunday marks the return of Jewish Heritage Night, and throughout the game, fans will be able to enjoy special music and promotions to celebrate the festivities. Kosher food will also be available for purchase during the game. It’s also a Sunday Family Funday at the ballpark! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field for an autograph session with the Ducks from 4:20 to 4:35. After the game, kids and kids at heart can take part in Kids Run the Bases, presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Right-hander Henderson Alvarez (2-1, 2.88) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Barnstormers righty Brad Bergesen (9-7, 4.36).

Tickets to the game, and all 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 37 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 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 to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15{fe96d6e17d87505a1465284f96a4c69c9ad7d7051973bed0757ffc13536530ff} of the US population.

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

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 Game Date: 08/19/2017 Lancaster Barnstormers 9 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Amaral, B CF 5 1 1 1 .296 Cleary Jr., D CF 5 1 3 1 .267 Robinson, T LF 5 1 3 1 .280 Reyes, E 2B 5 1 1 1 .287 Garner, C DH 4 1 0 0 .278 Ford, L LF 4 1 1 0 .290 Halton, S 3B 4 2 2 4 .264 Krauss, M RF 4 1 1 3 .295 Weber, G 2B 5 0 1 0 .303 Gotay, R 1B 4 1 1 0 .266 Clevenger, S 1B 5 1 3 2 .264 Burg, A C 4 2 1 3 .234 Milledge, L RF 4 1 2 0 .270 Pyles, D DH 4 0 0 0 .204 Coronado, N SS 4 1 3 1 .345 Songco, A PH 1 0 0 0 .256 Clark, T C 4 1 1 0 .169 Alfonzo, G 3B 4 1 2 0 .300 Lyons, D SS 4 0 1 0 .260 40 9 16 9 39 8 11 8 Lancaster 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 - 9 16 0 L Island 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 - 8 11 2 2B--Milledge, L RF 2 (16), Coronado, N SS (8), Krauss, M RF (25). HR--Halton, S 3B (24), Clevenger, S 1B (3), Burg, A C (11). RBI--Amaral, B CF (16), Robinson, T LF (31), Halton, S 3B 4 (79), Clevenger, S 1B 2 (12), Coronado, N SS (19), TOTALS 9 (0), Cleary Jr., D CF (37), Reyes, E 2B (46), Krauss, M RF 3 (73), Burg, A C 3 (34), TOTALS 8 (0). HP--Garner, C DH (6). SF--Halton, S 3B (10). SB--Robinson, T LF (16), Coronado, N SS 2 (10), Clark, T C (4). CS--Robinson, T LF (3), Milledge, L RF (4). E--Gotay, R 1B (6), Alfonzo, G 3B (15). LOB--Lancaster 6, L Island 8. DP--R. Gotay(1B) - D. Lyons(SS) - G. Alfonzo(3B) - A. Burg(C). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster Gonzalez, L 3.2 8 6 6 3 2 0 7.27 Kuchno, J 1.0 3 2 2 1 2 1 3.33 Moskos, D 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.46 Munson, K 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.94 Carter, A (W,4-2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.18 Shuman, S (S,1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.79 9 11 8 8 4 8 1 L Island Simon, A 5.0 8 3 3 0 4 0 4.75 Marsh, M 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Crider, P 1.0 4 3 3 0 1 1 3.51 Diaz, A (L,3-4) 1.0 2 3 3 0 2 1 2.33 9 16 9 9 0 8 2 WP--Kuchno, J (2). PB--Clark, T. HB--Diaz, A (2). SO--Amaral, B 2, Garner, C 3, Halton, S, Clevenger, S, Clark, T, Reyes, E 2, Krauss, M, Gotay, R 2, Songco, A, Alfonzo, G, Lyons, D. BB--Ford, L, Krauss, M, Gotay, R, Burg, A. BF--Gonzalez, L 22 (44), Kuchno, J 8 (104), Moskos, D 4 (178), Munson, K 3 (199), Carter, A 3 (183), Shuman, S 3 (198), Simon, A 22 (199), Marsh, M 7 (7), Crider, P 7 (175), Diaz, A 6 (192). P-S--Gonzalez, L 73-46, Kuchno, J 28-20, Moskos, D 18-12, Munson, K 11-6, Carter, A 10-6, Shuman, S 21-13, Simon, A 74-49, Marsh, M 18-13, Crider, P 22-12, Diaz, A 24-16. T--3:34. A--6843 Plate Umpire - David Speranza, Field Umpire #1 - Frank Iurilli, Field Umpire #2 - Silvio Martinez Jr.