Games 4/5: Ducks at Blue Crabs (UPDATE: Postponed)

The rain continues to fall here in Waldorf, Maryland. The Ducks and Blue Crabs had their series opener on Tuesday night postponed due to inclement weather, and now today’s doubleheader is in jeopardy. It has been raining throughout the night and day, and the AccuWeather hourly forecast shows a 69 to 75% chance of rain from 5:00 to 10:00 tonight. Game one is scheduled to begin at 5:00 with game two following 30 minutes after the completion of the opener. Both games are slated for seven innings.

This trip to Southern Maryland is Long Island’s first visit since September 20, 2013. That day, the Flock defeated the Blue Crabs 4-1 in Game Three of the Liberty Division Championship Series to sweep the series and earn their third consecutive division title. After a roller coaster season for the Ducks, their performance in the LDCS was certainly impressive. John Brownell, who is scheduled to start on Thursday, tossed a complete game in the opener of the series, and Ryan Strieby went 7-for-12 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored in the three games.

Matt Way is scheduled to start game one, his first start for the Ducks of 2014. Way was dominant after joining Long Island late in 2012 and started Game Two of the Liberty Division Championship Series that year in Southern Maryland. The southpaw tossed eight innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out 10 to earn a win. He also picked up the victory in Game Five of that series with a scoreless inning of relief. However, the lefty dealt with several injuries last year including an elbow issue that ended his season in mid-August. After several months of rest and rehab this winter, Way has said that he is 100% healthy and ready to go.

On the other side, Ian Marshall will toe the rubber for Southern Maryland in the opener. The right-hander posted a solid season in 2013 with the Blue Crabs, going 12-8 with a 3.99 ERA in 27 starts. He made five starts against the Ducks during the regular season and went 2-1 with a 4.36 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 31 innings. His final start of 2013 came in Game Two of the LDCS against the Flock, and he gave up just three runs (two earned) in six innings of work. He left the game leading 5-2, but the Blue Crabs could not hold the lead in what was an eventual 6-5, 10-inning win for the Ducks.

Fernando Hernandez has been tabbed by manager Kevin Baez to start the second game and was originally slated to start Wednesday’s game in the series. The righty pitched three scoreless innings in the season opener, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out one. Hernandez has made 24 starts in his minor league career, and is one a few versatile arms in Long Island’s bullpen. With Jared Lansford rehabbing a lat strain, Hernandez will step into his spot in the starting rotation for the time being. Southern Maryland has not yet officially announced their starter for game two.

Here are some key notes for tonight’s games:

Head-to-Head: Today marks the first two meetings of the season between the Ducks and Blue Crabs and the first two of 10 meetings at Regency Furniture Stadium in 2014. Long Island and Southern Maryland have played 117 games against each other all-time, with the Blue Crabs holding a 67-50 advantage in the series and a 34-20 lead in Waldorf, Maryland. The Ducks won the 2013 season series between the two teams by an 11-9 margin.

Oh What a Relief They Are: The Ducks bullpen has been outstanding over the first three games of the season. Long Island relievers have combined to allow just one run over 17.1 innings, good for a 0.52 ERA. In that span, the relievers have also allowed just 14 hits and six walks while striking out eight. As for the starters, they have combined to walk just one batter while striking out 13 over 14 and one-third innings thus far.

Approaching Milestones: Lew Ford is one plate appearance away from 4,000, four home runs away from 100 and 11 RBI away from 500 in his minor league career… Joash Brodin is four RBI from reaching 300 in his professional career…Brian Peacock is four hits away from 400 in his professional career…Dan Lyons is two doubles away from 100 in his professional career.

On the Air: If played, both games of tonight’s doubleheader will be broadcast on the Long Island Ducks official YouTube channel. Live streaming audio will be available by CLICKING HERE. The North Shore LIJ/Southside Hospital pre-game show is slated to begin at 4:45 p.m., with first pitch following at 5:00. Michael Polak will have the play-by-play.

If  we end up having baseball, here are the starting lineups for game one:

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

#25 Matt Way – LHP

Blue Crabs
#11 Brian Barton – LF
#20 Jermaine Mitchell – CF
#15 Cyle Hankerd – RF
#38 Jose Julio-Ruiz – 1B
#44 CJ Ziegler – DH
#10 Nick Schwaner – 3B
#1   Amadeo Zazueta – SS
#2   Jake Opitz – 2B
#19 John Bowden – C

#21 Ian Marshall – RHP

We’ll keep you updated as soon as we receive any news regarding tonight’s twinbill. Stay tuned and refresh this post often for more throughout the day. In addition, you can follow the Ducks on Twitter @LIDucks for updates.

UPDATE (3:20): Word has just come down from the Blue Crabs that tonight’s game has been postponed due to inclement weather. Game one of today’s twinbill will be made up as part of a single admission doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 10:35 a.m. Both games will be seven innings, with a 30 minute break between the games. Game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader will be made up at a later date.

UPDATE (4:15): Here are the pitching for tomorrow’s twinbill:
Game 1: LHP Matt Way (LI) vs. RHP Ian Marshall (SMD)
Game 2: RHP Fernando Hernandez (LI) vs. LHP Brian Burres (SMD)

Game 2: Ducks at Patriots

The Ducks and Patriots continue their three-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. after the two teams needed 15 innings to decide Friday’s season opener. The weather forecast, which originally predicted rain for this evening, has dramatically improved. According to AccuWeather.com, it is currently sunny and in the upper-60’s. During the game, the chance of precipitation will be under 20% with temperatures dropping from the mid-60’s to the mid-50’s.

Long Island turns to right-hand pitcher Shaun Garceau to start the second game of the year. With the Ducks using eight relievers on Friday night, manager Kevin Baez stated this afternoon that he hopes starter will give them length. He was pleased with the six inning effort from John Brownell in the opener and hopes for that, if not more, from Garceau tonight. Garceau made two starts against the Patriots after joining the Ducks in September of 2013, and he was outstanding in both.

9/14: W, 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 105 pitches, 72 strikes
-4-0 win clinched the Second Half Liberty Division title for Long Island

9/26: W, 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 101 pitches, 77 strikes
-3-2 win gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead in the Atlantic League Championship Series

The Patriots will counter with left-hander Matt Maloney, who makes his Somerset debut. The southpaw spent parts of four seasons (2009-12) in the Major Leagues, playing three seasons with the Reds and one with the Twins. His career numbers in the big leagues: 5-9, 5.74 ERA, 31 G, 11 GS, 91.0 IP, 59 K. Last season, the former third round draft pick of the Phillies spent time with Single-A Lowell and Double-A Portland in the Red Sox organization, where he was teammates with Ducks lefty Eric Niesen. He combined to go 1-1 with a 3.54 ERA and two saves in 15 games. It was also the first time in his minor league career that he was a full-time relief pitcher.

Here are some key notes leading into tonight’s game:

Deep Into the Night: Friday night marked the fifth time in the last two seasons (playoffs included) that the Ducks and Patriots played extra innings. The two teams played a pair of 14 inning games during the 2013 regular season, with the Patriots winning 6-5 at home on July 1 and the Ducks winning 4-3 at home on August 25. Both teams then played 10 innings in Game Three of the 2013 ALCS and 16 innings in Game Four, with the Patriots winning both games.

Multi-Hit Starts: Designated hitter Ryan Strieby and third baseman Chris McClendon each picked up two hits on Friday night for their first multi-hit games of the year. Strieby collected 10 two-hit games and 12 multi-hit contests with the Ducks in 2013. McClendon earned 27 multi-hit games last year with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League.

Limiting the Strikeouts: Ducks batters struck out 19 times against Patriots pitching last night, which set a franchise record for the most in a single game. The previous high was 17, done on September 12, 2006 when the Ducks and Camden Riversharks played 18 innings.

On the Air: Tonight’s game can be heard live on Long Island’s home for news, traffic, weather and Ducks baseball, 103.9-FM LI News Radio. The game can also be heard online with live streaming audio by CLICKING HERE.

Here are the starting lineups for the Ducks and Patriots:

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

#28 Shaun Garceau – RHP

Patriots
#6   Jonny Tucker – 2B
#3   Nate Spears – 3B
#2   Luis Montanez – RF
#18 Dennis Raben – DH
#5   Ty Wright – LF
#32 Robbie Widlansky – 1B
#37 Damaso Espino – C
#12 Edwin Maysonet – SS
#8   Cory Harrilchak – CF

#22 Matt Maloney – LHP

We’ll be updating this post live throughout the game, so be sure to check back and refresh often for the latest from TD Bank Ballpark. You can also follow the Ducks on Twitter for game updates by heading to Twitter.com/LIDucks

UPDATE (5:15): Here’s a view from the cage during Ducks batting practice. Chris McClendon is swinging:

 

UPDATE (5:47): Well, we just had an interesting series of events here. During BP, it began to rain. First lightly, then heavier. That sent the Ducks scrambling off the field and the tarp crew scrambling to cover the field. However, by the time they got ready, the rain stopped, and the sun popped out. The result: a field that was slightly wet and a tremendous rainbow beyond the left field wall!

 

UPDATE (6:15): Worst site in baseball? That would be the tarp! Sadly, it has been put on the field here as some rain is once again falling. We’ll keep you updated if there is any delay to the start of tonight’s game.

UPDATE (6:34): Good news! The tarp has been taken off the field, and we are expected to begin on time at 7:05 p.m. Don’t forget, the pre-game show begins at 6:50 on 103.9-FM LI News Radio and online at http://www.linewsradio.com

UPDATE (7:05): The Patriots have taken the field, Joash Brodin is in the batter’s box, and we are ready to go at TD Bank Ballpark!

UPDATE (7:14): With one out in the top of the first, all of the ballpark lights above the field have shut off. We have a delay right now.

UPDATE (7:27): We have light once again at TD Bank Ballpark! The game should resume shortly.

UPDATE (7:49): Somerset strikes first as five straight hits to open the inning lead to three runs. 3-0 Patriots after one.

UPDATE (8:07): Two more runs come across for the Patriots in the second, and they now lead 5-0 after two.

UPDATE (8:24): Three more runs have scored for the Patriots in the third, and Shaun Garceau has been lifted from the game with one out in the inning. Righty Casey Barnes is now in the game.

UPDATE (8:47): Casey Barnes tosses a scoreless fourth inning, striking out two in the process!

UPDATE (9:12): The Ducks are on the scoreboard! Ryan Strieby picks up his third two-out hit of the year, a two-run single to right! Now a 9-2 game.

UPDATE (9:25): 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for Barnes, and Josh Lansford puts up a zero in the sixth. Nice job by the Ducks bullpen so far!

UPDATE (9:43): Lansford allowed two hits to start off the seventh, but gets three consecutive flyouts to keep the runners put. Score still 9-2 as we move to the eighth.

UPDATE (10:02): After a scoreless inning by Brett Lorin in the eighth, the Ducks are retired in order in the ninth. Patriots win 9-2. Stay tuned to LIDucks.com for a recap.