Ducks fall for first time in seven games on bases loaded walk in ninth
(Bridgewater, N.J., Aug. 17, 2015) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Somerset Patriots 5-4 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at TD Bank Ballpark.
GAME AUDIO: Highlights from the series opener
The Ducks opened the scoring in the third on Dan Lyons’ run-scoring groundout and a RBI single by Sean Burroughs off of Patriots starter Zach Clark. The Patriots responded with two runs in the third and two in the fourth off of Ducks starter Darin Downs to take a 4-2 lead. David Vidal’s two-run home run to left, a RBI double by James Skelton and a RBI single by Aharon Eggleston did the damage.
However, Long Island answered back with two in the fifth to tie the game at four. Another RBI single by Burroughs and a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Puckett highlighted the scoring. It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth when Ricky Claudio drew a bases loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch with two outs to win the game for Somerset.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Downs pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on six hits and six walks while striking out two. Clark lasted four and two-thirds innings, yielding four runs on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Jon Hunton (2-3) picked up the win with a scoreless ninth inning, and Billy Buckner (7-3) suffered the loss, allowing an unearned run on a hit and three walks while striking out three in one and two-thirds innings of relief.
Burroughs led the Flock with three hits and two RBI, while Mike Blanke added two hits.
Long Island and Somerset continue their four-game set on Tuesday night. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. from T.D. Bank Ballpark. Right-hander John Brownell takes the mound for the Ducks against Patriots righty R.J. Seidel. Fans can follow all of the action live on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Streaming audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE.
The Ducks will return home on Friday, August 21 to begin a three-game homestand with the Camden Riversharks. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 6:35, with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It will be a Fowl Pole Friday at the Duck Pond! If a select Ducks player hits a home run off of either foul pole during the game, one lucky Ducks fan will win $50,000. The Ducks will be running their Friday night Pizza Hut K-Man and Air Trampoline Sports Friday promotions as well. 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.
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Game Date: 08/17/2015 Long Island Ducks 4 AT Somerset Patriots 5 YTD YTD L Island AB R H BI AVG Somerset AB R H BI AVG F.Lentini RF 5 1 1 0 .291 R.Andino SS 4 0 0 0 .254 D.Cleary Jr. CF 4 2 1 0 .289 A.Eggleston LF 2 2 1 1 .311 D.Lyons SS 4 1 1 1 .316 D.Vidal 3B 3 1 2 2 .269 S.Burroughs DH 4 0 3 2 .333 M.Burgess DH 4 0 0 0 .251 C.Puckett 3B 3 0 0 1 .275 A.Donachie 1B 2 0 0 0 .229 M.Blanke C 4 0 2 0 .284 N.Spears 2B 5 0 1 0 .256 A.Vega LF 4 0 1 0 .293 R.Claudio RF 3 1 2 1 .400 S.McQuail 1B 4 0 1 0 .183 J.Garcia Reyes CF 3 0 0 0 .167 R.Gebhardt 2B 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Skelton C 4 1 1 1 .213 36 4 10 4 30 5 7 5 L Island 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 4 10 1 Somerset 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 - 5 7 0 2B--J.Skelton (12). HR--D.Vidal (7). RBI--D.Lyons (58), S.Burroughs 2 (36), C.Puckett (41), A.Eggleston (38), D.Vidal 2 (49), R.Claudio (1), J.Skelton (23). HP--D.Cleary Jr. (4), D.Lyons (11). SH--A.Eggleston (0), D.Vidal (0), R.Claudio (0), J.Garcia Reyes (0). SB--D.Cleary Jr. 2 (27), R.Claudio (3). E--C.Puckett (13). LOB--L Island 8, Somerset 12. DP--N. Spears(2B) - R. Andino(SS) - A. Donachie(1B). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA L Island D.Downs 7.0 6 4 4 6 2 1 4.66 B.Buckner (L,7-3) 1.2 1 1 0 3 3 0 4.41 8.2 7 5 4 9 5 1 Somerset Z.Clark 4.2 8 4 4 1 2 0 5.68 K.Newby 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.06 B.Boshers 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.67 A.Carignan 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.32 J.Hunton (W,2-3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.21 9 10 4 4 1 7 0 WP--D.Downs (7), B.Boshers (3). HB--Z.Clark 2 (3). SO--F.Lentini 2, S.Burroughs, A.Vega, S.McQuail, R.Gebhardt 2, R.Andino, D.Vidal, N.Spears 2, J.Skelton. BB--C.Puckett, R.Andino, A.Eggleston 2, D.Vidal, M.Burgess, A.Donachie 3, R.Claudio. BF--D.Downs 33 (156), B.Buckner 10 (291), Z.Clark 24 (63), K.Newby 5 (187), B.Boshers 4 (152), A.Carignan 3 (166), J.Hunton 3 (166). P-S--D.Downs 109-57, B.Buckner 35-20, Z.Clark 77-48, K.Newby 17-11, B.Boshers 18-11, A.Carignan 15-9, J.Hunton 10-7. T--2:55. A--5096 SOM, T5, PC to mound; LI, B7, C to mound Weather: High 90's; some clouds Plate Umpire - Joe Cruz, Field Umpire #1 - Steve Leonardo, Field Umpire #3 - JB Torres