Spring Training Game 2: Ducks vs. Bluefish

The Ducks take center stage at Bethpage Ballpark today, as fans will be introduced to the 2014 team for the very first time. Today is the Second Annual Fan Fest at the Duck Pond, and baseball fans of all ages will be treated to a fun-filled day with activities for everyone. Among the activities will be the annual Season Ticket Holder Barbecue, QuackerJack’s Birthday Party for Kids Club Members and fun on the concourse for the general public with the Bounce House, brand new DuckTail Inflatable Slide, Speed Pitch and Photo Booth all open. Best of all, it’s all FREE and the weather is expected to be FANTASTIC!

Here’s a timeline for today’s events:

10:30 a.m. – West Gate opens for everyone to enter Fan Fest

11:00 a.m. – Ducks team stretching and batting practice begins, as does the Media Day press conference

11:30 a.m. – Exclusive VIP Season Ticket Holder Barbecue begins in the picnic area (runs through 1:00)

– Exclusive Kids Club Members party for QuackerJack begins in the Smokin Al’s Party Deck

12:40 p.m. – The 2014 Ducks will be introduced to fans along the first base line

1:05 p.m. – Spring Training game begins between the Ducks and Bridgeport Bluefish

Speaking of the spring training game, the Ducks and Bluefish both opened their spring training schedules on Friday at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. The two sides ended up playing 10 innings to get work in for everyone, and the Bluefish came out with an 8-4 win. Some key contributors for the Ducks in the game:

-RHP Bobby Blevins – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

-RHP Leo Rosales and RHP Josh Lansford: Scoreless inning apiece

-IF Chris McClendon: 1-5, RBI, R

-OF Adam Bailey: 2-4, BB

-OF Jon Myers: 1-3, 2 RBI, R

As for today’s starting lineup for the Ducks, it looks like this:

#22 Joash Brodin – DH
#5   Chris McClendon – 3B
#24 Fehlandt Lentini – RF
#20 Lew Ford – CF
#13 Adam Bailey – LF
#33 Ryan Strieby – 1B
#2   Cody Puckett – 2B
#27 Keith Castillo – C
#12 Dan Lyons – SS

#7   John Brownell – RHP

Bridgeport’s lineup looks like this:

#33 Michael Gilmartin – SS
#11 Sean Burroughs – 3B
#15 Brandon Boggs – LF
#20 Denny Almonte – RF
#27 Prentice Redman – DH
#22 Cody Overbeck – 1B
#7  James Simmons – CF
#9  Luis Rodriguez – C
#5  Juan Martinez – 2B

#28 Hunter Jones – LHP

Stay tuned here, as we will be updating this post throughout the game and as soon as we have a Bridgeport Bluefish starting lineup.

UPDATE (1:15): The Ducks are on the field, and we are underway at Bethpage Ballpark!

UPDATE (1:17): Fans can follow a live pitch-by-pitch of today’s game by CLICKING HERE.

UPDATE (1:26): John Brownell nearly got out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the first, but Cody Overbeck brought in three with a double to left. He was thrown out though trying to advance to third. 3-0 Bluefish

UPDATE (1:41): The Ducks answer with a run in the bottom of the first on Lew Ford’s RBI groundout to short. Fehlandt Lentini had a double, and Adam Bailey added a single in the inning. 3-1 Bluefish

UPDATE (1:55): Both sides rebound with scoreless innings in the second. Luis Rodriguez had a single, and Dan Lyons drew a walk.

UPDATE (2:05): Denny Almonte and Prentice Redman go back-to-back with solo home runs. Bluefish lead 5-1 midway through the third inning.

UPDATE (2:16): Former MLB pitcher Jeremy Accardo replaces John Brownell after three innings. Brownell’s final line: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 55 pitches, 33 strikes.

UPDATE (2:23): Bridgeport tacks on a run against Accardo in the fourth on a RBI groundout by Juan Martinez. 6-1 Bluefish

UPDATE (2:31): Long Island answers back against Jesse English with a run on Keith Castillo’s two-out RBI single to right. 6-2 Bridgeport

UPDATE (2:48): Bluefish lead it 7-2 after five innings of play. Newcomer Casey Barnes is now in after two innings of work from Accardo

UPDATE (3:04): It’s now 7-3 Ducks after six on as Adam Bailey scored on a wild pitch by DJ Mitchell. Lots of changes for the Flock. Jon Myers is now at third base, Sergio Miranda is a second, Joash Brodin is at first, Brian Peacock is catching and Anthony Armenio is now the designated hitter. For Bridgeport, Mike Richard took over at second base with Juan Martinez shifting over to third.

UPDATE (3:25): Both teams trade runs in the seventh inning. Bluefish lead 8-4 as we head to the eighth. Former MLB lefty Steve Garrison now in for the Ducks after two innings from Barnes.

UPDATE (3:42): We head to the ninth with the Bluefish leading 9-4. Fernando Hernandez on to pitch for the Flock.

UPDATE (3:55): Final score from Bethpage Ballpark, the Bluefish 9, the Ducks 4. Long Island’s spring training schedule continues Monday at 1:05 p.m when they host the semi-pro Long Island Black Sox.