Former big leaguers each launch three-run homer in rout
(Waldorf, Md., April 28, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 12-2 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Long Island plated the game’s first run in the opening inning when Travis Snider plated Jordany Valdespin on a fielder’s choice. Cory Vaughn tied the game for Southern Maryland in the bottom of the second with a one-out solo home run to left-center off Ducks starter Jake Fisher.
An inning later, the Ducks exploded for five runs off Blue Crabs starter Sean O’Sullivan to take the lead back at 6-1. Lew Ford’s two-run single and David Washington’s mammoth three-run home run to right field highlighted the inning. Another run in the fourth on Snider’s two-out RBI single made it a six-run ballgame.
After the Blue Crabs closed to within 7-2 in the fifth, the Ducks got the run back in the seventh when Ford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Valdespin’s three-run homer to right and Washington’s RBI single to center in the eighth rounded out the scoring.
Fisher (1-0) earned the win, tossing five innings of two-run ball, allowing eight hits and no walks while striking out three. O’Sullivan (0-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits over three innings with one walk and one strikeout. Ashur Tolliver, Jake Dunning and Carlos Pimentel combined for four scoreless and hitless innings of relief, allowing just one base runner.
Valdespin led the Flock at the plate with four hits, three runs batted in and four runs scored. Washington added two hits and four RBI, while Tyler Holt reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances, collecting a hit, four walks and two runs.
The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 2:05 p.m. at Regency Furniture 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. Right-hander John Brownell toes the rubber for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty Brandon Cumpton.
Following a week-long, season-opening road trip, the Ducks will return to Long Island for Opening Night on Friday, May 4 against the Blue Crabs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive QuackerJack OYO Minifigures, courtesy of P.C. Richard & Son. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:15 to enjoy team introductions and traditional Opening Night pomp and circumstance. Tickets for the game, and all 2018 Ducks home games, are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
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: 04/28/2018 Long Island Ducks 12 AT Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 2 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG S Maryland AB R H BI AVG Valdespin, J 2B 5 4 4 3 .556 Wong, J 2B 4 1 2 0 .375 Holt, T CF 1 2 1 0 .200 Garcia, E SS 4 0 1 0 .222 Snider, T RF 4 1 1 2 .143 Strausborger, R DH 4 0 1 1 .444 Ford, L DH 3 1 1 3 .429 Paul, X LF 4 0 1 0 .250 Garcia, R PH 0 0 0 0 .000 Rodriguez, D 1B 4 0 0 0 .333 Washington, D 1B 5 1 2 4 .222 Vaughn, C CF 3 1 1 1 .143 Puckett, C 3B 5 0 1 0 .125 Martinez, F 3B 4 0 2 0 .500 Fields, D LF 5 0 1 0 .250 Gonzalez, J C 3 0 0 0 .286 Castillo, W C 4 1 0 0 .000 Green, A PH 1 0 0 0 .000 Lyons, D SS 3 2 0 0 .000 Bladel, J RF 3 0 0 0 .286 35 12 11 12 34 2 8 2 L Island 1 0 5 1 0 0 1 4 0 - 12 11 0 S Maryland 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 8 1 2B--Puckett, C 3B (1), Garcia, E SS (1), Strausborger, R DH (1). HR--Valdespin, J 2B (2), Washington, D 1B (1), Vaughn, C CF (1). RBI--Valdespin, J 2B 3 (4), Snider, T RF 2 (2), Ford, L DH 3 (3), Washington, D 1B 4 (4), TOTALS 12 (0), Strausborger, R DH (1), Vaughn, C CF (1), TOTALS 2 (0). HP--Ford, L DH (1), Lyons, D SS (1), Vaughn, C CF (1). SB--Valdespin, J 2B (1), Martinez, F 3B (1). E--Wong, J 2B (1). LOB--L Island 6, S Maryland 6. DP--J. Wong(2B) - E. Garcia(SS) - D. Rodriguez(1B), J. Wong(2B) - E. Garcia(SS) - D. Rodriguez(1B), J. Wong(2B) - E. Garcia(SS) - D. Rodriguez(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island Fisher, J (W,1-0) 5.0 8 2 2 0 3 1 3.60 Tolliver, A 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Dunning, J 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Pimentel, C 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 9 8 2 2 0 8 1 S Maryland OSullivan, S (L,0-1) 3.0 6 6 5 1 1 1 15.00 Russo, D 2.0 1 1 1 2 1 0 4.50 Frazier, P 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Mariano Jr., R 1.2 3 5 5 5 1 1 27.00 Runion, S 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Watson, S 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 9 11 12 11 8 6 2 HB--Pimentel, C (1), Mariano Jr., R 2 (2). SO--Washington, D 3, Puckett, C, Lyons, D 2, Strausborger, R, Paul, X, Vaughn, C 2, Martinez, F, Gonzalez, J, Green, A, Bladel, J. BB--Holt, T 4, Snider, T, Garcia, R, Castillo, W, Lyons, D. BF--Fisher, J 22 (22), Tolliver, A 3 (3), Dunning, J 3 (3), Pimentel, C 7 (7), OSullivan, S 16 (16), Russo, D 8 (8), Frazier, P 3 (3), Mariano Jr., R 14 (14), Runion, S (6), Watson, S 3 (3). P-S--Fisher, J 78-53, Tolliver, A 14-9, Dunning, J 16-8, Pimentel, C 25-15, OSullivan, S 59-37, Russo, D 39-20, Frazier, P 9-6, Mariano Jr., R 53-23, Runion, S 5-4, Watson, S 8-6. T--2:51. A--3889 Plate Umpire - Silvio Martinez, Field Umpire #1 - Kris Engstrand, Field Umpire #2 - Jorge Tehran