Long Island nearly overcomes seven-run deficit but finishes a run shy
 

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 30, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Lancaster Barnstormers 9-8 on Thursday night in the finale of a four-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

Lancaster opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning on RBI single by Vladimir Frias and Rico Noel off Ducks starter Hector Silvestre. The Ducks closed to within one in the third on an RBI double down the right field line by Taylor Ard. However, the Barnstormers extended their advantage to 6-1 with a four-run fourth. Two runs scored on a fielding error, and Ryan Casteel picked up a two-run double.

Cody Puckett scampered home on a wild pitch by Lancaster starter John Anderson in the fourth, but a stolen base and a two-run homer by Casteel in the sixth increased the ‘Stormers advantage to 9-2. The Ducks stormed right back with four runs in the sixth to close the gap to three on back-to-back two-run singles by Jordany Valdespin and Daniel Fields.

Taylor Ard made it a one-run game at 9-8 with a towering two-run homer to left-center in the eighth. However, Long Island could not push across the tying run.

Anderson (5-2) picked up the win, tossing five innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out four. Silvestre (2-1) suffered the loss, surrendering nine runs (four earned) on eight hits and five walks over six innings with five strikeouts. Huascar Brazoban earned his first save with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two.

Ard had two hits and three RBIs for the Ducks, while Valdespin added two hits, two RBIs and two runs.

The Ducks hit the road on Friday to open a three-game weekend series against the York Revolution. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at PeoplesBank Park. 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 Matt Larkins (7-4, 4.16) gets the start for the Ducks against Revolution righty Joe Van Meter (3-3, 3.94).

Long Island returns home on Tuesday, September 4th to begin a three-game series against the New Britain Bees. 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 Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the ballpark, and there will be several breast cancer awareness organizations and coalitions in attendance with information about the services they provide. Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular. It’s also a Two-Fer Tuesday and an Unused Ticket Day at the ballpark.

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: 08/30/2018 Lancaster Barnstormers 9 AT Long Island Ducks 8 YTD YTD Lancaster AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Sandford, D CF 4 1 0 0 .279 Valdespin, J 2B 4 2 2 2 .337 Bortnick, T 2B 3 2 1 0 .194 Fields, D CF 3 1 1 2 .260 Gailen, B RF 5 1 1 0 .285 Ford, L LF 5 0 2 0 .307 Robinson, T DH 5 2 2 0 .296 Ard, T DH 4 1 2 3 .292 Casteel, R 1B 3 2 2 4 .314 Washington, D 1B 5 0 0 0 .228 Bell, J 3B 4 0 0 0 .198 Williams, M RF 5 0 0 0 .279 Frias, V SS 5 1 1 1 .288 Navarro, D C 5 1 2 0 .255 De La Rosa, A C 4 0 0 0 .213 Puckett, C 3B 5 2 2 0 .230 Noel, R LF 4 0 1 1 .305 Lyons, D SS 2 1 1 0 .222 37 9 8 6 38 8 12 7 Lancaster 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 0 0 - 9 8 0 L Island 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 2 0 - 8 12 3 2B--Bortnick, T 2B (12), Casteel, R 1B (19), Ard, T DH (18), Navarro, D C (2). HR--Casteel, R 1B (11), Ard, T DH (15). RBI--Casteel, R 1B 4 (56), Frias, V SS (35), Noel, R LF (25), TOTALS 6 (0), Valdespin, J 2B 2 (54), Fields, D CF 2 (35), Ard, T DH 3 (58), TOTALS 7 (0). HP--Fields, D CF (4). SB--Sandford, D CF 2 (67), Bortnick, T 2B 2 (20), Gailen, B RF (13), Robinson, T DH (18), Valdespin, J 2B (29), Fields, D CF 2 (12). E--Washington, D 1B (9), Puckett, C 3B (16), Lyons, D SS (13). LOB--Lancaster 7, L Island 9. DP--V. Frias(SS) - T. Bortnick(2B) - R. Casteel(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lancaster Anderson, J (W,5-2) 5.0 5 2 2 4 4 0 3.06 Granitz, G 0.2 5 4 4 1 1 0 2.61 Lakind, J 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.00 Westphal, L 1.0 1 2 2 0 1 1 3.86 Brazoban, H (S,1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.07 9 12 8 8 5 9 1 L Island Silvestre, H (L,2-1) 6.0 8 9 4 5 5 1 6.19 OGrady, D 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.83 Pimentel, C 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.44 Abad, F 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 9 8 9 4 6 6 1 WP--Anderson, J (8), Granitz, G (1). HB--Westphal, L (1). SO--Sandford, D, Robinson, T 2, Bell, J, Frias, V, De La Rosa, A, Valdespin, J, Washington, D 4, Williams, M 3, Puckett, C. BB--Sandford, D, Bortnick, T 2, Casteel, R 2, Bell, J, Valdespin, J, Fields, D, Ard, T, Lyons, D 2. BF--Anderson, J 23 (269), Granitz, G 8 (173), Lakind, J 5 (162), Westphal, L 5 (32), Brazoban, H 3 (149), Silvestre, H 33 (167), OGrady, D 3 (206), Pimentel, C 3 (212), Abad, F 4 (49). P-S--Anderson, J 106-56, Granitz, G 26-15, Lakind, J 15-11, Westphal, L 16-8, Brazoban, H 11-8, Silvestre, H 117-67, OGrady, D 8-7, Pimentel, C 12-8, Abad, F 21-12. T--3:31. A--4873 Plate Umpire - Kris Engstrand, Field Umpire #1 - Silvio Martinez, Field Umpire #2 - Frank Iurilli