Long Island 3, So. Maryland 2

(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 3-2 in waddle-off fashion on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. 

Long Island broke a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the fourth inning on Sam Travis’ sacrifice fly to right field off Blue Crabs starter McKenzie Mills. The Ducks doubled the lead to two in the fifth when Jonathan Guzman scored from third on a double play ball. 

It stayed that way until the ninth when Southern Maryland rallied to tie the game on Alex Crosby’s two-out, two-run single to right. However, Long Island rallied to win it in the bottom of the ninth when Boog Powell’s sac fly to left scored pinch runner Trent Taylor. 

Neither starter factored into the decision. Ducks starter Joe Iorio tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out a career-high 10 batters. Mills threw eight innings of two-run ball, yielding five hits and six walks with one strikeout. Kevin Quackenbush (6-2) got the win despite allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in one inning. AJ Alexy (0-1) took the loss, conceding the winning run on two walks in one-third of an inning. 

The Ducks and Blue Crabs continue their three-game set on Wednesday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Ducks Yellow & Navy Baseballs, courtesy of Yellow Dog Lawn Care. It’s also a Waddle In Wednesday, and fans will be able to enjoy $25 off all replica Papas Playas jerseys (adult and youth) at the Waddle In Shop throughout the ballgame. Left-hander Kyle Lobstein (2-3, 4.44) takes the mound for the Ducks against Blue Crabs righty Liam O’Sullivan (8-3, 4.84).

Tickets to the game, and all home games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

High Point 9, Staten Island 4
 

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers overcame an early 3-0 deficit and went on to top the Staten Island Ferryhawks 9-4 on Tuesday night at Truist Point. Rockers starting pitcher Mickey Jannis became the third Rocker pitcher to win 10 games in a season as he improved to 10-4 on the season.

The Rockers maintained their one-game lead over Gastonia in the Atlantic League’s second half South Division race. High Point improved to 57-31 overall and 16-9 in the second half. The Honey Hunters, after a win over Spire City on Tuesday, stand at 56-32 overall and 15-10 in the second half.

The Ferryhawks took a 1-0 lead in the first when Chris Brito scored from third when Luis Castro was picked off first by Jannis. That lead grew to 3-0 in the third when Brandon Pugh hit a lead-off homer and Yoshi Tsutsugo singled home Angel Aguilar.

The Rockers knotted the game in the third when a pair of walks from Staten Island starter Nick Beardsley (L, 2-4) and a single by Shed Long, Jr. loaded the bases. Beau Taylor drew a walk to force home the first run before Zander Wiel delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.

Staten Island added a  run in the fourth for a 4-3 lead as Jack Elliott slapped a two-out double and scored on an RBI single by Brandon Pugh.

The Rockers surged back in front with a pair of runs in the fourth, taking a 5-4 lead. Ryan Grotjohn doubled and went to third on an infield single by D.J. Burt. Ben Aklinski followed with a triple in the right-center gap to plate both baserunners.

High Point grew its lead to 9-4 after scoring four runs in the fifth on just one hit. The Rockers took advantage of four walks issued by Staten Island hurlers as well as a pair of errors as Brian Parreira’s bases loaded double plated three of the four.

Jannis came out after five innings, allowing five hits and four runs while walking two and striking out 4. He received outstanding support from the bullpen as Jeremy Rhoads put the Ferryhawks down in order in the sixth and Sam Selman struck out the side in the seventh. Jameson McGrane picked up three strikeouts in the eighth before Ryan Dull closed it out with a three-up, three-down ninth.

“(Beardsley) got us the last time out,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe of the Staten Island starter who tossed six innings and allowed one run in a 5-1 Ferryhawk win on July 12. “The guys finally settled in and got themselves in a hitter’s count. He’ll get you into one.” Beardsley came out four innings on Tuesday, having allowed six hits and five runs while walking five and striking out two.

“Mickey (Jannis) settled in and his best stuff of the night in the fifth inning,” said Keefe. “In our four games last week, only four guys threw out of the bullpen and we knew the bullpen needed some work. The bullpen was awesome.”

Burt and Wiel each had a pair of hits to lead the Rockers while Parreira had three RBI and Wiel and Aklinski had two each. Pugh led the ‘Hawks with a pair of hits.

High Point and Staten Island will play the second game of the three game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The game will be live streamed on FLO Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.

NOTES: Jannis became the third Rocker pitcher to win 10 or more games in a season, joining Tommy Lawrence (11-3) in 2021 and Joe Van Meter (10-6) in 2019… He also became the third Atlantic League pitcher to hit the 10-win mark this season joining York’s Nick Raquet (11-6) and Gastonia’s Zach Mort (10-2).

Lancaster 7, York 3

Talk about ruining a strategy.

York manager Rick Forney brought in left-hander Zach Neff to face Shawon Dunston, Jr. in the top of the seventh inning, but Dunston spoiled the strategy with a two-out, three-run homer as the Lancaster Barnstormers defeated the York Revolution, 7-3, in the opener of a three-game series at WellSpan Park.

Ariel Sandoval had walked with one out in the seventh.  He stole second and took third on Wilson Garcia’s single into right.  Nelvin Correa struck out Joseph Carpenter for the second out, prompting Forney to make the change.

Dunston also tripled home a run in the fifth to put Lancaster ahead, 4-2.

Lancaster countered a two-run York first inning on a small ball attack.  In the third, the Barnstormers scored without the benefit of a base hit when Melvin Mercedes drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Yeison Coca and came home on an infield out by Andretty Cordero. 

The very next inning, Joseph Carpenter, Jack Conley and Trayvon Robinson all singled to load the bases.  Melvin Mercedes made J.T. Hintzen (7-5) pay with a two-run single into right.

Trent Giambrone, who homered in the first, doubled and scored on a two-base hit by Tomo Otosaka in the bottom of the fifth for York’s final run.

Brent Teller (9-4) threw six innings, allowing nine hits and three runs.  He walked none and struck out five in earning the victory.  Zach Warren, Nick Duron and Mike Adams combined for three hitless innings of relief against the Revs, chalking up five strikeouts.

Lancaster will send Jared Lakind (6-3) to the mound on Wednesday evening against right-hander Tom Sutera.  Fans may follow the action on FloBaseball, beginning at 6:25.

NOTES:  Plate umpire Bill Worthington was foraced to leave the game after being hit by a foul tip in the seventh…The game way delayed for 19 minutes…Dunston’s homer was his third off a lefty…Garcia had three singles and is 10-for-22 in his last five games…Teller threw his eighth quality start…Adams extended a scoreless inning streak to seven, and Duron extended his to six…Lancaster now trails, 9-4, in the War of the Roses, with eight games remaining, all in York.

Charleston 6, Lexington 0

Charleston’s Danny Wirchansky threw seven innings of three-hit ball while striking out seven in leading the Dirty Birds to a 6-0 win over Lexington. J.C. Perez and Dwight Smith, Jr. homered for Charleston with Smith’s homer marking his 18^th of the year. Wirchansky and a pair of relievers held the Counter Clocks to just four hits.

Gastonia 8, Spire City 3