Game 77: Ducks vs. Patriots

GAME TIME/LOCATION: 6:35 p.m. at Bethpage Ballpark (Central Islip, NY)

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Long Island Ducks (4-2, 44-32) take on the Somerset Patriots (5-2, 43-34) in the first series following the Atlantic League’s All-Star break. The Ducks won the First Half Liberty Division Title by two games over the Patriots, despite dropping three of ten meetings to Somerset. Friday marks the 315th all-time meeting between the two clubs. At Bethpage Ballpark, the Ducks are 81-77 versus the Patriots.

SUNDAY’S RESULT: Long Island used three home runs to power past Southern Maryland on Sunday, winning 9-6.

On the first pitch of the game, Anthony Vega smacked a solo shot over the left-center field wall, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Southern Maryland tied the game in the bottom of the inning on Alfredo Marte’s RBI single. The Blue Crabs took the lead in the second on Ryde Rodriguez’s solo home run, and extended the advantage to 3-1 in the third on Eric Garcia’s RBI single.

The Ducks stormed back with four runs in the fourth inning. Vega’s run-scoring single and Fehlandt Lentini’s three-run homer put the Ducks out in front 5-3. One inning later, Long Island scored four runs again, taking a 9-3 advantage. Mike Blanke’s two-run home run, Vega’s RBI triple, and Delta Cleary Jr.’s RBI single highlighted the frame.

Southern Maryland scored three late runs, but Todd Coffey closed the door in the ninth as the Ducks won 9-6.

Bruce Kern improved to 3-1, striking out seven over six innings. The righty surrendered three runs on eight hits and four walks. Former big-leaguer Daryl Thompson fell to 2-6, allowing seven runs (three earned) on 11 hits in four and one-third innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

Cleary Jr. led the Ducks with four hits. Over the four-game series in Southern Maryland, the center fielder was 9-for-18 with a triple, five RBIs, a sacrifice fly, and a stolen base.

ON THE MOUND: John Brownell looks to make it eight consecutive quality starts entering Friday’s series-opener. Over his past seven starts, a total of 52.1 innings, Brownell has an earned run average of 2.06 with 51 strikeouts. His most recent outing, July 8 in Southern Maryland, the fifth-year Duck allowed one run over seven innings with six strikeouts. The right-hander ranks first in all-time wins for Long Island with 42.

Will Oliver makes his fourth start for Somerset after starting 2016 with Reynoso of the Mexican League. Oliver meets the Ducks for the first time since his three-hit shutout in the 2015 Liberty Division Championship Series. The Newport, California native tossed a complete game against the Ducks in a must-win situation. In three starts since returning to New Jersey, Oliver is 0-1 with a 3.60 earned run average. The former Yankee farmhand has faced New Britain, Bridgeport, and Lancaster so far this season.

FOLLOW ALONG:  Tonight’s game will be broadcast on the Ducks’ flagship radio station, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. Streaming video and audio will be available online by CLICKING HERE.  In addition to updates in this post, fans can follow a pitch-by-pitch account of tonight’s game via Pointstreak’s Game Live application by CLICKING HERE.

DUCKS GAME NOTES: For tonight’s full Ducks game notes, please CLICK HERE.

Ducks
#27 Anthony Vega – LF
#22 Fehlandt Lentini – RF
#5 Delta Cleary Jr. – CF
#2 Cody Puckett – 3B
#12 Dan Lyons – SS
#26 Mark Minicozzi – 1B
#15 Ruben Gotay – 2B
#29 Mike Dowd – C
#21 Mike Blanke – DH

#7 John Brownell – RHP

Patriots
#1 Mycal Jones – CF
#91 Aharon Eggleston – LF
#3 Eric Farris – 2B
#8 David Vidal – 3B
#24 Bryan LaHair – DH
#20 Trayvon Robinson – RF
#4 Yovan Gonzalez – C
#9 Rob Kral – 1B
#14 Luis Mateo – SS

#26 Will Oliver – RHP

UPDATE (7:00): BOT 1: The Ducks take an early 2-0 lead over the Patriots as Vega scores on a wild pitch and Dan Lyons’ RBI sac fly.

UPDATE (7:26): TOP 3: The Patriots grab runs on Eric Farris’ RBI single and a wild pitch. LI and Somerset are squared at two.

UPDATE (7:58): TOP 5: The Patriots take a 3-2 lead over the Ducks as David Vidal’s two-out RBI single breaks the tie.

UPDATE (8:33): BOT 7: Mark Minicozzi homers! Mike Dowd hits a two-run shot! The Ducks now LEAD the Patriots 5-3!

UPDATE (8:58): BOT 8: Dan Lyons’ sacrifice fly and RBI gives the Ducks a 6-3 lead over the Patriots.

UPDATE (9:06): FINAL: The Comeback Quacks! Long Island uses the long ball to top Somerset 6-3 in the series-opener!