Three-RBI night and quality start give Long Island fifth straight win
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2018) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Road Warriors 4-2 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series before a past-capacity crowd of 6,579 at Bethpage Ballpark.
Long Island strung together four one-out hits in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. RBI singles to right field by Taylor Ard and David Washington highlighted the inning. A two-out, two-run home run to left-center field by Washington in the third off Road Warriors starter Raul Rivera-Alicea doubled the lead to four.
The Road Warriors cut their deficit to 4-2 with single runs in the sixth and seventh off Ducks starter Matt Larkins. An RBI double by Gustavo Pierre and an error that plated Matt Hibbert did the damage. However, the visitors stranded the tying runs on base in the seventh and could not pull even.
Larkins (7-4) earned the win, tossing seven innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out four. Rivera-Alicea (4-13) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings with four strikeouts. Francisco Rodriguez collected his 25th save with a scoreless ninth, striking out one.
Washington led the Flock with two hits and three RBIs, while Ard and Lew Ford each added two hits as well.
The Ducks and Road Warriors 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). The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Frisbees, courtesy of Renewal by Andersen of Long Island. Bring out the whole family as well for our Sunday Family Funday activities! Prior to the game, fans will be invited onto the field 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 Dennis O’Grady (5-3, 4.17) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Road Warriors righty Felix Baez-Pool (3-9, 5.18).
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. 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 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: 08/25/2018 Road Warriors 2 AT Long Island Ducks 4 YTD YTD R Warriors AB R H BI AVG L Island AB R H BI AVG Martinez, O SS 5 0 3 0 .243 Valdespin, J 2B 4 0 0 0 .339 Rodriguez, M 2B 5 0 0 0 .249 Williams, M RF 4 1 1 0 .293 Fernandez-Diaz, CF 3 0 0 0 .248 Ford, L LF 4 1 2 0 .295 Julio-Ruiz, J 1B 3 1 1 0 .293 Ard, T 1B 3 1 2 1 .295 Pierre, G 3B 4 0 1 1 .269 Washington, D DH 4 1 2 3 .232 Gomez, E DH 4 0 1 0 .232 Navarro, D C 4 0 1 0 .238 Escobar, E C 4 0 0 0 .237 Puckett, C 3B 3 0 1 0 .227 Hibbert, M RF 3 1 0 0 .208 Vega, A CF 3 0 1 0 .177 Ray, A LF 4 0 1 0 .239 Lyons, D SS 3 0 0 0 .215 35 2 7 1 32 4 10 4 R Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 - 2 7 1 L Island 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x - 4 10 1 2B--Julio-Ruiz, J 1B (12), Pierre, G 3B (21), Puckett, C 3B (16). HR--Washington, D DH (21). RBI--Pierre, G 3B (40), TOTALS (0), Ard, T 1B (55), Washington, D DH 3 (64), TOTALS 4 (0). SB--Vega, A CF (20). E--Pierre, G 3B (22), Valdespin, J 2B (15). LOB--R Warriors 9, L Island 5. DP--O. Martinez(SS) - J. Julio-Ruiz(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA R Warriors Rivera-Alicea, R (L,4-13) 7.0 8 4 4 1 4 1 4.66 Cruz, L 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2.53 8 10 4 4 1 5 1 L Island Larkins, M (W,7-4) 7.0 5 2 2 3 4 0 4.16 Abad, F 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Rodriguez, F (S,25) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.36 9 7 2 2 3 6 0 WP--Larkins, M 2 (2). SO--Rodriguez, M, Fernandez-Diaz, J 2, Julio-Ruiz, J, Ray, A 2, Valdespin, J 2, Washington, D 2, Lyons, D. BB--Fernandez-Diaz, J, Julio-Ruiz, J, Hibbert, M, Ard, T. BF--Rivera-Alicea, R 29 (487), Cruz, L 4 (260), Larkins, M 30 (404), Abad, F 4 (40), Rodriguez, F 4 (140). P-S--Rivera-Alicea, R 101-63, Cruz, L 15-10, Larkins, M 85-54, Abad, F 12-10, Rodriguez, F 15-9. T--2:23. A--6579 Plate Umpire - Larry Rosenberg, Field Umpire #1 - Fred DeJesus, Field Umpire #2 - Silvio Martinez