Long Island 5, York 3 (10 innings)
(York, Pa., Aug. 9, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the York Revolution 5-3 in 10 innings on Saturday night in the opener of a three-game series at WellSpan Park.
Nick Heath and JC Encarnacion began the game with back-to-back solo home runs off Revolution starter Michael Horrell to give the Ducks an early 2-0 lead. Zander Wiel was hit by a pitch from Ducks starter Chris Ellis in the bottom of the first to make it a one-run game. An RBI single down the left field line by Wiel in the third tied the game at two.
Wiel drove in Jacob Rhinesmith with a two-out RBI double to left-center field in the fifth, giving the Revolution a 3-2 lead. However, Zach Racusin picked up a two-out RBI hit of his own in the seventh with a single to third base, tying the game at three. It stayed that way until the 10th inning when Ryan McBroom lifted a two-run double to center field, putting the Ducks in front 5-3.
Neither starter factored into the decision. Ellis tossed five inning of three-run ball, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out a season-high 10 batters. Horrell pitched six innings of two-run ball, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Ramon Santos (6-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, yielding a hit while striking out two. Brett Schulze (0-2) took the loss, conceding two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk in one inning with two strikeouts.
Heath led the Ducks offense with two hits, an RBI and two runs. McBroom added two hits and two RBIs, while Encarnacion chipped in with two hits, an RBI and a run.
The Ducks and Revolution wrap up their three-game series with a single admission doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at WellSpan Park. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the completion of game one, and both games are scheduled for seven innings. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (5-5, 6.20) takes the mound for the Ducks in game one against York southpaw Ethan Lindow (10-4, 5.00). Right-hander Sal Romano (1-0, 2.84) toes the rubber for Long Island in game two against Revolution lefty Zach Neff (6-4, 6.69).
The Ducks return home on Friday, August 16, to begin a three-game set against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. 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 Dental Health Bags, courtesy of the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for 20% off your entire check and 50% off your first online or mobile app order as fans exit the ballpark. Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
The Ducks are in their 24th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, led all MLB Partner Leagues in attendance in 2023, and have sold out a record 710 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
High Point 5, Charleston 4
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Brian Parreira slapped a bases-loaded single to right field in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the High Point Rockers a thrilling 5-4 win over the Charleston Dirty Birds. The win put the Rockers and Dirty Birds in a tie for first place in the Atlantic League’s South Division.
Parreira’s game-winning hit capped a night that saw the top South Division contenders battle through 11 innings. Both clubs are now tied for first with identical 19-10 second half records.
The Rockers took a 2-0 lead in the first when Martin Figueroa doubled to lead-off the bottom half of the inning and scored on a single by Ryan Grotjohn who was playing his first game in High Point since July 3. Grotjohn then stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch by Charleston starter Cristofer Ogando.
High Point starter Jonah Scolaro matched his season high with eight strikeouts in working the first five innings. He ran into trouble in the third when Charleston’s Joseph Rosa slammed a two-run homer and Keon Barnum followed with a solo shot to put the ‘Birds up 3-2.
The Rockers tied the game with a solo homer from Figueroa leading off the bottom of the third. Charleston forged a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh when Juan Sanatana doubled and scored on a single by Phillip Ervin.
Trailing by a run, the Rockers tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth as Figueroa drew a walk to start the frame. He moved to third on a single by Quincy Nieporte and scored on a single to center by Connor Owings.
Both clubs were held in check in the ninth and 10th innings. Rockers reliever Dakota Chalmers (W, 1-1) went three innings and fanned six hitters including five in a row at one point. He did not allow a base runner other than the ghost runner in extra innings via the international tie breaker rule.
Charleston’s Gerald Ogando (L, 2-3) came on in the 11th with the ghost runner on second. He hit Ben Aklinski with his first pitch then allowed a single by Evan Edwards to load the bases. After striking out Michael Martinez, Parreira singled to right, bringing in Owings with the winning run.
“This was playoff baseball,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “The tension in the ballpark and the atmosphere were just like a playoff game.”
The third and final game of the series is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start on Sunday at Truist Point. Fans will receive a free 2024 team photo and the gates will open early at 3 p.m. as players will be available for autographs. A win on Sunday for the Rockers would give them undisputed possession of first place in the ALPB South Division.
Southern Maryland 5, Gastonia 3
Staten Island 10, Hagerstown 5
Lexington 2, Lancaster 0