(October 15, 2021, Central Islip, N.Y.) – The Lexington Legends defeated the Long Island Ducks 7-5 on Friday night in Game One of the Atlantic League Championship Series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. The Legends now lead the best-of-five series one game to none.

 

Courtney Hawkins gave the Legends a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo home run to left-center field off Ducks starter Brendan Feldmann. A sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Tillman Pugh in the second doubled Lexington’s lead to two. Long Island plated four runs in the third off Legends starter Eli Garcia to take a 4-2 lead. Steve Lombardozzi’s sac fly to right, RBI singles by Lew Ford and L.J. Mazzilli and a run-scoring error did the damage. However, a run-scoring wild pitch and a sac fly to right by Brandon Phillips in the fourth tied the game at four.

 

Lexington took the lead back in the sixth inning on an RBI single to center by Hawkins and an error that allowed Hawkins to score. Roberto Baldoquin’s sac fly to right in the eighth increased the Legends lead to 7-4. The Ducks rallied for a run in the ninth on a bases loaded walk by Deibinson Romero, but they could not pull even.

 

Neither starter factored into the decision. Feldmann lasted three and one-third innings, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks with one strikeout. Garcia pitched two and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Shawn Blackwell (1-0) picked up the win, tossing two scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one. Dylan Peiffer (0-1) took the loss, yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk over two innings with two strikeouts. Austin Adams collected his second save of the postseason despite conceding a run on a hit and three walks in the ninth.

 

The Ducks and Legends continue the Atlantic League Championship Series on Saturday afternoon with Game Two. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). Left-hander Darin Downs (6-5, 4.50 | 0-1, 5.40) takes the mound for the Ducks against Legends righty Francisco Jimenez (1-0, 6.19 | 0-0, 1.80).