The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots, 9-4, on April 26 at TD Bank Ballpark, securing their seventh consecutive victory in the first game of the season.
Somerset took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning against Ducks starter Mike Loree on a two-run homer to right by Adam Mathews. Long Island rallied back to jump in front 3-2 on Brandon Sing’s sacrifice fly to right in the fifth and RBI doubles from Lew Ford and Josh Johnson in the sixth.
After a run-scoring triple by Freddy Sandoval tied the game in the sixth, Long Island put up a pair of three-run innings in the eighth and ninth to blow the game open. A sac fly from Reid Gorecki and a two-run single by Bryant Nelson did the damage in the eighth, while a two-run homer by Ray Navarette and a sac fly by Kraig Binick highlighted the ninth.
Navarette led the Ducks at the plate with his first five-hit game as a Duck. The second baseman finished five-for-five with two doubles, a homer, two RBI and three runs scored. Johnson added three hits, a run batted in and two runs in the win as well.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Loree allowed three runs on six hits while striking out three in five and one-third innings while Mike MacDonald pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits. Jeff Lyman (1-0) got the win in relief, tossing a perfect one and two-thirds innings, and Anthony Claggett (0-1) took the loss, yielding three runs on three hits in one and one-third innings of work.
Long Island will return home on Friday, May 4 for Opening Night, as the Ducks take on the Camden Riversharks. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m., with the Bethpage Ballpark gates opening at 6:05. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a “Whistle Guy” Bobblehead, courtesy of P.C. Richard & Son. Tickets for the game and all Ducks home games are available by visiting the Bethpage Ballpark Box Office, calling (631) 940-TIXX, or visit www.liducks.com.
