Game 15: Ducks at Barnstormers

First things first: a Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Today, the Ducks complete a three-game set at Clipper Magazine Stadium as well as a six game home-and-home series against the Lancaster Barntormers. Lancaster took the first three game on Long Island, but the Ducks have returned the favor so far in South-Eastern Pennsylvania. After the Ducks won a thrilling 10-8 ballgame Friday night, less theatrics were needed for a 5-0 win Saturday. Six Ducks pitchers combined to toss the first shutout of the season, limiting the Barnstormers to just four hits. In addition, it was also the first time that Lancaster was shut out this year.

The first real threat of the game came for the Barnstormers in the bottom of the third inning. Lancaster loaded the bases against Ducks starter Jared Lansford on a pair of walks and an infield single, but Lansford bounced back nicely, striking out Cole Garner and Fred Lewis to end the inning. Long Island took the lead the next half inning on a two-run, two-out double from Dan Lyons; his first of three extra-base hits on the evening.

Lansford went three scoreless innings in his first professional start since April 12, 2008, striking out five in the process. Fernando Hernandez, Eric Niesen, Brett Lorin, Jeremy Accardo and Leo Rosales combined to keep Lancaster off the scoreboard for the final six innings of the ballgame. That included another bases loaded opportunity for the Barnstormers in the fifth – an opportunity in which they once again failed to capitalize. A three-run home run from Joash Brodin in the ninth provided the Flock with three more insurance runs, and completed the scoring for the night.

CLICK HERE to read a full recap from Saturday’s game.

The Ducks have now won two straight against the Barnstormers after losing the previous three. Lancaster, who entered the three-game home series on a six-game winning streak, has now dropped its last two.

Southpaw Matt Way toes the rubber for the Ducks in today’s contest. The Sitka, Alaska native makes his third start of the season. He is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA so far. Way’s last start came against the Barnstormers Tuesday, May 6 on Long Island. That night, Way did not factor into the decision, tossing five innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks. Barnstormers’ starter Chris Schwinden, who also started that same game against Way, gets the ball today as well. Schwinden left that game with the lead after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and six strikeouts over six innings. However, the Ducks rallied late to spoil Schwinden’s opportunity for a win. He is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts this season.

Here are tonight’s game notes:

Ducks vs. Barnstormers: Today marks the sixth meeting of the season between the Ducks and Barnstormers and the third of 10 meetings between the two at Clipper Magazine Stadium in 2014. Long Island and Lancaster have played 179 games against each other all-time, with the Ducks holding a 95-84 advantage in the series and a 50-42 edge in Lancaster. The Barnstormers lead the 2014 season series three games to two.

High Five for Fehlandt: Friday night, Fehlandt Lentini became the first Ducks player since Ben Broussard on May 31, 2013 against the York Revolution to record five hits in a ballgame. It marked Lentini’s second consecutive game of at least four hits, and the third of the year for the Ducks (Lew Ford, 5/6 vs. Lancaster). With nine hits over Friday and Saturday’s contest, Lentini increased his average from .233 to .352. It was Lentini’s fifth multi-hit game of the year as well, and he drove in two runs with a clutch two-out base hit in the ninth to pick up his fifth multi-RBI game, which leads the Flock. With a walk last night, Lentini also currently owns the longest on-base streak for the Ducks this year at nine games.

Ford’s Fury: With two more hits Friday, Lew Ford earned his fifth consecutive multi-hit game, and sixth of the year to lead Long Island. The last time he earned multiple hits in five straight games was July 16-21, 2011. Ford went 1-3 Saturday night, giving him a seven-game hitting streak, the longest by a Duck this season, which has raised his batting average from .185 to .382. Through those seven games, Ford has also scored nine runs with seven RBI.

Brodin is Back: After being held without a home run through his first 12 games of the year, Brodin has now hit home runs in consecutive nights. A two-run homer Friday night, along with a three-run shot Saturday night, has now given Brodin two home runs and eight RBI on the season.

Other Streaks Continue: Cody Puckett has picked up hits in five straight games and in seven of his last eight, raising his average from .174 to .291 in the process.

Countdown to 6 Million: Thursday’s crowd of 3,897 at Bethpage Ballpark increased the all-time attendance at the Duck Pond to 5,971,936. Long Island is now just 28,064 fans away from reaching the magical 6 million fan mark. Upon doing so, the Ducks will have achieved the milestone faster than any other professional sports team with a ballpark the size of Bethpage Ballpark (capacity 6,002).

On the Air: Today’s game will be broadcast on the radio home of the Ducks and Long Island’s home for news, traffic and weather, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. The game can also be heard online by CLICKING HERE. Marc Schwartz will call the play-by-play.

Finally, here are tonight’s lineups:

Ducks
#24 Fehlandt Lentini – CF
#5   Chris McClendon – 3B
#20 Lew Ford – DH
#22 Joash Brodin – 1B
#13 Adam Bailey – LF
#15 Jon Myers – RF
#30   Sergio Miranda – 2B
#26 Anthony Armenio – C
#30 Dan Lyons – SS

#25 Matt Way – LHP

Barnstormers
#1   Yusuke Kajimoto – 2B
#7   Greg Golson – RF
#2   Blake Gailen – CF
#8   Cole Garner – DH
#54 Brock Kjeldgaard – 1B
#14 Fred Lewis – LF
#31 Tony Delmonico – 3B
#6   Casey Frawley – SS
#4   Juan Apodaca – C

#20 Chris Schwinden – RHP

We’ll be updating this post throughout the night from Clipper Magazine Stadium, so be sure to refresh often.

UPDATE (1:22): Barnstormers score three in the first, including a two-run home run from Cole Garner. 3-0 Lancaster

UPDATE (1:50): Lancaster adds four more runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Blake Gailen. 7-0 Barnstormers.

UPDATE (2:19): A RBI single from Jon Myers in the top of the fourth gets the Ducks on the board! Through four innings, Lancaster leads 7-1

UPDATE (2:58): Lancaster adds a run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Yusuke Kajimoto. 8-1 Barnstormers through six.

UPDATE (3:53): Barnstormers take the final game of the series 8-1. Recap to follow shortly.