Three-run double in eighth proves to be the difference

(Central Islip, N.Y., July 3, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 7-5 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series opener

POSTGAME VIDEO: Kevin Baez and Dan Lyons talk about the ballgame

Somerset struck first with two runs in the opening inning against Ducks starter Ian Marshall. A RBI double by Michael Burgess and a RBI single by Mat Gamel, both with two outs, did the damage. Long Island responded in the bottom of the second on a two-out three-run home run to left field by Dan Lyons off of Patriots starter Lucas Irvine.

The Pats took the lead back at 4-3 on a two-out RBI single to right by Burgess in the third and a two-out RBI single to right by Vinny Zarrillo in the fourth. However, the Ducks rallied to tie the game in the seventh on a RBI single to right by Delta Cleary, Jr.

In the eighth, the Patriots jumped back in front for good on a two-out three-run double to left field by James Skelton. Randy Ruiz cut the deficit to two with a two-out RBI single to center in the ninth, but the Ducks would get no closer.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Marshall pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out five. Irvine pitched six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Kyler Newby (6-2) picked up the win despite allowing a run on one hit and one walk in one inning. J.C. Romero (0-1) suffered the loss, yielding a run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Jon Hunton earned his 18th save despite giving up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Lyons and Reegie Corona each had three hits to lead the Flock offensively.

The Ducks and Patriots continue their three-game series on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for season ticket holders). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Pyrotecnico Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Atlantic Honda. In addition, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for discounts at Dick’s Sporting Goods to fans following the fireworks show. Right-hander Bobby Blevins takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots righty Randy Boone.

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 of the action live on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will also be available online via the Ducks’ official YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.

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Duck Tales: Lew Ford extended his on-base streak to 26 consecutive games with two hits and a walk. During the streak, the outfielder/bench coach is batting .422 (43-for-102) with 12 doubles, one homer, 19 RBI and 20 runs. The former big leaguer also earned his fourth consecutive multi-hit game and eighth multi-hit contest in his last nine games. In those nine games, Ford has batted .432 (16-for-37). He leads the Ducks with 25 two-hit games and 32 multi-hit contests…Dan Lyons hit his fifth home run of the season with a three-run blast in the second inning. Those five homers are more than he has hit in a single season in his first four years with the Flock. All of the shortstop’s longballs have come since the beginning of June. His three hits gave him his sixth three-hit game of 2015 and 15th multi-hit contest…Friday’s crowd of 7,005 was the second-largest of the season at Bethpage Ballpark. The most was 7,087, which occurred on Thursday night. The sold out crowd was Long Island’s fourth of the season and 643rd all-time, which is an Atlantic League record. Since the inaugural 2000 season, the Ducks have welcomed a league record 6,445,318 fans through the gates of Bethpage Ballpark.

 Game Date: 07/03/2015 Somerset Patriots 7 AT Long Island Ducks 5 YTD YTD Somerset AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG T.Neal DH 5 1 2 0 .282 B.Sabatella RF 4 1 0 0 .301 A.Eggleston LF 5 0 2 0 .314 D.Cleary Jr. LF 5 1 2 1 .331 D.Vidal 3B 5 2 1 0 .284 L.Ford CF 4 0 2 0 .354 M.Burgess RF 5 1 3 2 .260 R.Ruiz DH 5 0 1 1 .317 M.Gamel 1B 5 0 1 1 .149 P.Redman PR 0 0 0 0 .229 G.Hopkins 2B 4 1 1 0 .271 J.Griffin 1B 5 0 0 0 .239 N.Spears SS 3 2 1 0 .271 R.Corona 2B 4 1 3 0 .325 J.Skelton C 4 0 2 3 .273 M.Blanke C 2 0 0 0 .298 V.Zarrillo CF 3 0 1 1 .250 B.Davis 3B 3 1 1 0 .193 C.Puckett 3B 1 0 0 0 .270 D.Lyons SS 4 1 3 3 .327 39 7 14 7 37 5 12 5 Somerset 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 - 7 14 0 L Island 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 - 5 12 1 2B--M.Burgess 2 (6), G.Hopkins (12), J.Skelton (10), L.Ford (25), B.Davis (1). 3B--N.Spears (2). HR--D.Lyons (5). RBI--M.Burgess 2 (10), M.Gamel (16), J.Skelton 3 (18), V.Zarrillo (1), D.Cleary Jr. (17), R.Ruiz (19), D.Lyons 3 (37). SB--B.Sabatella (19). E--I.Marshall (2). LOB--Somerset 7, L Island 9. DP--B. Davis(3B) - D. Lyons(SS) - R. Corona(2B), R. Corona(2B) - C. Puckett(3B) - J. Griffin(1B), R. Corona(2B) - D. Lyons(SS) - J. Griffin(1B), G. Hopkins(2B) - M. Gamel(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Somerset L.Irvine 6.0 8 3 3 2 8 1 2.60 K.Newby (W,6-2) 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 0 4.85 A.Carignan 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.47 J.Hunton (S,18) 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 3.16 9 12 5 5 4 9 1 L Island I.Marshall 7.0 9 4 4 0 5 0 3.04 J.Romero (L,0-1) 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 0 5.40 N.Struck 0.0 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.10 F.DeJiulio Jr. 1.1 2 0 0 1 0 0 3.05 9 14 7 7 2 6 0 WP--J.Hunton (1). SO--M.Gamel 3, G.Hopkins, N.Spears, J.Skelton, B.Sabatella 2, D.Cleary Jr., R.Ruiz, J.Griffin 2, M.Blanke, B.Davis, D.Lyons. BB--N.Spears, V.Zarrillo, B.Sabatella, L.Ford, M.Blanke 2. BF--L.Irvine 27 (300), K.Newby 4 (107), A.Carignan 4 (100), J.Hunton 6 (104), I.Marshall 29 (303), J.Romero 3 (7), N.Struck 3 (93), F.DeJiulio Jr. 6 (93). P-S--L.Irvine 100-65, K.Newby 16-8, A.Carignan 12-8, J.Hunton 22-12, I.Marshall 100-70, J.Romero 11-8, N.Struck 12-5, F.DeJiulio Jr. 26-15. T--3:09. A--7005 Blake Davis ejected in the bottom of the sixth for arguing balls and strikes...Nick Struck and Blake Davis ejected in the top of the eighth for arguing balls and strikes Plate Umpire - Richard Katz, Field Umpire #1 - Matt Criss, Field Umpire #2 - Derek Moccia