Game 120: Ducks at Blue Crabs

Long Island’s offense returned in a big way on Saturday night, dominating for 10 runs and double digits in hits for a 10-4 win over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. With their second victory of the road trip, the Ducks stayed near the top of the Liberty Division’s second half standings, still in a tie for first place but only with the Somerset Patriots. Bridgeport’s loss dropped them to second place, behind by one game.

The Ducks received strong efforts in every aspect of the game in the third of four contests in Waldorf. At the plate, they took a 4-0 lead in the third inning. After making two quick outs, the Ducks had Fehlandt Lentini at the plate with no one on base. Lentini would strike out swinging, but catcher Keith Castillo was unable to handle a low pitch from starter Shaun Garceau. With Lentini aboard, the Ducks rallied for four runs, all with two outs. In a bases loaded situation, Randy Ruiz brought in a pair of runs with a two-run single to left. Cody Puckett added a RBI single of his own, before Anthony Vega walked with the bases loaded to complete the frame’s scoring. Two innings later, the Flock struck for four more runs to go on top 8-0. The bases were loaded yet again, this time for Steve McQuail. Garceau hit McQuail on the hand, but McQuail stayed in the game and picked up a RBI. Lentini’s infield RBI single and Delta Cleary Jr.’s two-run single that rolled past second and into right field would give the Ducks their big lead. Long Island starter Bobby Blevins looked fantastic on the mound, mixing his pitches and commanding the strike zone. He made it into the eighth inning before allowing a three-run homer to Craig Maddox for all of the Blue Crabs scoring. The Ducks got two of those runs back on Lentini’s two-run double in the ninth. Donnie Veal allowed a RBI double to Antone DeJesus in the bottom of the inning, but completed the win.

Blevins improved to 3-4 with the win, tossing eight innings and allowing three runs on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three, bringing his ERA to 4.26. Eight of nine starters scored at least one run for the Ducks. Lentini brought in three runs on three hits with a run scored to pace the offense. Vega, Cleary, Jr., and Mike Blanke each had a pair of hits as well.

CLICK HERE to listen to highlights from the big offensive night

CLICK HERE to view Saturday’s box score

The Ducks look for a win of the series on Sunday with Bruce Kern taking the mound. Kern, who has pitched once on this road trip already, is 7-4 with a 3.36 ERA in nine starts (35 appearances). The righty has allowed 33 runs (31 earned) on 75 hits in 83 innings. He has walked 22 and struck out 79, while opponents hit .240 against him. This will be Kern’s third straight start away from Bethpage Ballpark. He pitched on August 20 in Somerset and August 25 in Bridgeport. Against the Bluefish, he allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in a 6-2 loss, walking one and striking out six.

Southern Maryland is trying to earn a split of the series with Brian Grening on the hill. The 30-year-old enters at 3-8 with a 4.62 ERA in 16 starts (23 appearances). Through 97 and one-third innings, the right-hander has given up 59 runs (50 earned) on 117 hits with 28 walks and 61 strikeouts. Opposing hitters have a .294 average against the Colorado native. He last started on August 25 in Camden when the Crabs fell 6-2. Grening gave up three runs on 10 hits through six frames and took the loss.

On the Air: Today’s game will be broadcast on the Ducks’ official YouTube channel. Live streaming audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE. Chris Buckley will call the play-by-play. Fans can also follow a pitch-by-pitch account of the game via Pointstreak’s GameLive application by CLICKING HERE.

Finally, here are today’s starting lineups:

Ducks

#22 Fehlandt Lentini – RF
#5 Delta Cleary, Jr. – CF
#12 Dan Lyons – SS
#25 Sean Burroughs – 1B
#9 Mike Blanke – DH
#2 Cody Puckett – 3B
#27 Anthony Vega – LF#39 Nelfi Zapata – C
#11 Elmer Reyes – 2B

#30 Bruce Kern – RHP

Blue Crabs

#1 Fred Lewis – RF
#24 Casey Stevenson – 2B
#29 Zach Wilson – 1B
#8 Craig Maddox – C
#14 Bryant Nelson – 3B
#6 Jamar Walton – LF
#4 Casey Frawley – SS
#9 Tyler Wagner – RF
#3 Antone DeJesus – CF

#11 Brian Grening – RHP

Check back here for updates all game long as the Ducks and Blue Crabs complete their four-game series from Regency Furniture Stadium! You can also follow the Ducks on Twitter (@LIDucks) for updates all year long!

UPDATE (2:15): MID 1: Underway in Southern Maryland! No score going into the bottom of the frame.

UPDATE (2:26): BOT 1: Two-run double for Zach Wilson, 2-0 Crabs.

UPDATE (3:17): MID 5: Ducks still trailing 2-0 as we go to the home half of the frame.

UPDATE (3:47): BOT 6: Blue Crabs now lead 3-0 after Grant Zawadzki’s RBI double to left.

UPDATE (3:59): TOP 7: Ducks get on the board! 3-1 Crabs after Nelfi Zapata’s RBI double into the left field corner.

UPDATE (4:24): BOT 8: Southern Maryland adds a run on a run-scoring double play ball to go up 4-1. Ducks coming up to bat with three outs to go!

UPDATE (4:30): FINAL: Ducks fall 4-1 in the series finale.