Long Island 11-2, Southern Maryland 5-6
Waldorf, Md., May 19, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks split a single-admission doubleheader with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Sunday afternoon at Regency Furniture Stadium, winning game one 11-5 before losing game two 6-2
Long Island took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one against Southern Maryland starter Ian Kahaloa thanks to a two-run home run to left field by Chance Sisco. The Ducks went ahead 3-0 in the second on a solo blast to left center field off the bat of Ryan McBroom. Southern Maryland got even at three apiece in the bottom of the second against Ducks starter Charlie Neuweiler on solo home runs from Aaron Hill and Matt Hibbert and a sacrifice fly by Isaias Quiroz.
The Flock then tallied eight unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined for an 11-3 advantage, highlighted by sacrifice flies from Scott Kelly and Manuel Geraldo, a two-run double from Tyler Dearden, a run-scoring base knock from Frank Schwindel, and an RBI double by Sisco as the visitors never looked back en route to the victory.
Neuweiler did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs on six hits (two home runs) in three innings of work, walking one and striking out four. Justin Alintoff (1-0) earned the win after tossing two scoreless frames on three this allowed and one strikeout. Kahaloa (1-3) suffered the loss, surrendering seven runs on six hits (two home runs) in three and two-thirds innings pitched, walking two and striking out three.
Sisco reached base all three times at the plate with a double, home run, 3 RBIs, a run scored, and a hit by pitch.
The Flock took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap on Dearden’s solo home run to left off Blue Crabs starter Alex Merithew. The Blue Crabs answered right back in the last of the first with three runs of their own for a 3-1 edge versus Long Island starter Mike Montgomery on an RBI double by Anthony Brocato, a run-scoring groundout from Juan Kelly and an RBI single by Aaron Hill. A Rixon Wingrove solo blast in the second got Long Island to within 3-2, but a solo shot by Ian Yetsko and a two-run double from Brocato in the fourth gave the game its final score of 6-2.
Merithew tallied a no-decision after pitching four innings and allowing two runs on four hits (two home runs) in four innings pitched, striking out two. Jason Creasy (2-0) picked up the win out of the bullpen firing two scoreless innings on two hits allowed and two strikeouts. Montgomery (0-1) was tagged with the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits (one home run) in three and two-thirds innings on the mound, walking two and striking out five.
Dearden led the way at the plate in the nightcap two extra base hits, including a double, home run, RBI and run scored.
The Ducks continue their road trip on Tuesday night when they open a three-game series against the Staten Island FerryHawks. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Stephen Woods Jr. (1-2, 8.31) gets the start for Long Island against Staten Island righty Mike Shawaryn (2-1, 5.21)
Long Island returns home on Friday, May 24, to begin a four-game series against the Lancaster Stormers. 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 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Doug Jennings Oversized Baseball Card as part of the 2004 Championship 20th Anniversary Series. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and as fans exit the ballpark, Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for 20% off your entire check (dine-in) and 50% off your first online or mobile app order from Tap Room. 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.
High Point Rockers 6-3, Charleston 2-2
HIGH POINT N,C – The High Point Rockers moved into first place in the South Division of the Atlantic League with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader sweep of the Charleston Dirty Birds at Truist Point. The Rockers won the opener 6-2 before Zander Wiel gave High Point a 3-2 win in the nightcap with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.
Sunday’s opening game victory also marked the 300th win for Rockers’ manager Jamie Keefe.
High Point began the day in third place in the South Division, trailing Charleston and Gastonia. With the Gastonia Baseball club splitting a twinbill with Lexington and the Rockers’ sweep of Charleston, High Point moved into a tie for first with Gastonia at 14-8 while Charleston fell to third at 13-9.
Wiel’s walk-off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh capped an outstanding pitching performance from the High Point staff. Starter Jonah Scolaro allowed a run on two hits in the first inning before setting down 13 consecutive Dirty Bird hitters. Austin Ross tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth as the Rockers’ staff combined to retire 18 consecutive Charleston hitters.
Trailing 1-0 after Delino Deshields led off the game with a double and scored on a single by Jared Carr, High Point scored a pair in the second on a two-run double by Brian Parrieria.
And that’s how the game remained until the seventh when Ryan Meisinger came on to close the game. But former MLB player Clint Frazier smacked a solo homer to left that tied the game at 2-2 and brought the Rockers to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
Charleston reliever Joan Martinez walked Martin Figueroa before Connor Owings doubled to put runners at second a third. Ben Aklinski received an intentional pass to load the bases and Wiel’s soft liner to center just escaped the grasp of Carr.
Meisinger (W, 1-0) earned the victory while Martinez (L, 0-2) took the loss.
The Rockers dominated the first game 6-2 over Charleston with two runs coming home on wild pitches, a pair of home runs by Ryan Grotjohn and Clayton Mehlbauer and 10 strikeouts from starting pitcher Ryan Weiss (W, 2-2).
The Rockers took an early lead after Figueroa scored on a wild pitch to go up 1-0. Charleston forced a tie on a sac fly from Rusber Estrada in the second.
Grotjohn smacked his first home run of the season for High Point to reclaim the lead in the bottom of the second inning. A sac fly from Owings plated Mehlbauer to increase the lead 3-1.
Evan Edwards scored on a wild pitch from Charleston starter Jalen Miller in the third for a 4-1 lead.
The Rockers strengthened their edge in the fourth after a homer from Mehlbauer upped the lead to 5-1.
A Grotjohn triple and a sac fly from Mehlbauer accounted for the 6-2 final.
Charleston’s Jalen Miller (L, 2-2) went three innings in the opener, allowing four runs on five hits.
NOTES: The first game win was No. 300 for Jamie Keefe fifth year as Rockers manager . . . For his career, Keefe is now in his 22nd season with a 1073-918 mark . . . The Rockers have won five straight games, matching their season-long winning streak set when they opened the season 5-0.
York 13, Lancaster 3
(May 19, 2024 – Lancaster, Pa.): The York Revolution responded to a blowout loss the night before and an adverse turn of events in the sixth inning on Sunday as the offense exploded, scoring ten runs in the final three innings for what became a dominant rubber match win, 13-3 over the Lancaster Stormers at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
York fell behind early as Lancaster struck first in the first inning. With Shawon Dunston Jr running from second, Cristian Santana hit a flare shot to shallow center field that bounced past a diving Donovan Casey, scoring Dunston on a one-out triple. Santana was stranded at third by Revs starter Will Stewart after a pop up and strike out, limiting the deficit to 1-0.
York’s offense got going in the third inning, loading the bases with one out for David Washington who hit a sky-high fly ball to right field where it was lost in the sun by right fielder Gaige Howard. The ball landed on the warning track for a double, allowing all three runs to score and put the Revs up 3-1.
Stewart cruised through five innings after the early triple. That included a stretch of six consecutive batters retired via ground balls while he faced one over the minimum from the second through the fifth.
The sixth inning is where chaos ensued. With runners on second and third with nobody out and the infield back, Santana hit a chopper to Paxton Wallace at third base. Wallace made the quick decision to throw to the plate where he had Dunston beat with the throw. However, Dunston was called safe at the plate, causing an uproar from the Revs dugout. In the process, Stewart was ejected along with Chris Vallimont from the dugout.
Denny Bentley was forced into the game, striking out Chris Proctor before a run-scoring single from Joseph Carpenter tied the game at 3-3.
Seemingly eager to avenge their ejected teammates, the Revs offense exploded for five in the top of the seventh inning. Wallace battled with two strikes and eventually reached on an error to start the frame against reliever Nolan Long, and Rudy Martin Jr following with a single to center. After Paul Mondesi advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, Matt McDermott took advantage of the short porch in right, leaving the yard with a three-run go-ahead shot. Casey added another with a sacrifice fly before Washington showed off his opposite field power, driving a solo home run to the lawn in left center field. Suddenly, York led 8-3.
A scary scene transpired in the top of the eighth inning. After Jacob Rhinesmith walked to start the inning, Wallace was hit in the helmet with a fastball. After a lengthy delay, Wallace was taken away on a cart and replaced by a debuting Alfredo Reyes.
Martin Jr walked before McDermott drove home another pair with a double to left center field. Casey capped off a four-run inning with a two-run double to right center to score Martin Jr and McDermott.
With York up 12-3, Frankie Bartow entered to pitch the eighth. After walking a batter and giving up a single, Bartow rolled an inning ending 6-4-3 double play, the season-high third ground ball double play for York pitching on the afternoon.
Rhinesmith capped off the offense’s biggest day of the season with a solo homer to right field in the top of the ninth. York’s offense scored a season high 13 runs, while 15 hits were one shy of a season high.
Tom Sutera allowed two one-out singles before retiring the next two hitters to finish the game. The third out came on a line drive to Washington at first base, the third such final out in five victories for the Revs at Clipper Magazine Stadium this season.
Notes: Stewart and Vallimont are the first two Revolution personnel ejected from a game this season. Kobe Kato extended his league-high on-base streak to 21 games with a seventh inning double. He remains tied with Santana for the longest streak in the league and has reached base in every game since the second contest of the season. McDermott’s third inning single extended his on-base streak to 18 games; he has reached in every game he has played since being acquired by York with hits in 16 of 18. McDermott drove in five and now has 13 extra-base hits, ranking in the league’s top five in that department. Washington has hit safely in all 15 games to begin his Revs career; he now has seven homers and 18 RBI in those 15 games with four RBI on Sunday. York is 5-1 in this season’s War of the Roses series. The win was the Revs’ 180th victory all-time vs Lancaster (180-164). The Revs now have a winning record all-time at Clipper Magazine Stadium (84-83). York improves to 9-3 on the road and 13-9 overall, remaining two games back of first place.
Up Next: York visits Southern Maryland on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. with lefty Ethan Lindow taking the ball in the opener. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and FloBaseball.TV beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Staten Island 5, Hagerstown 2
In the final matchup of the six game series between the Staten Island FerryHawks and the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, the FerryHawks claimed victory with a final score of 5-2.
Staten Island’s offense was led by Kolby Johnson, who contributed 2 RBIs, while Sandoval and Guzman each added 2 of their own to the scoresheet.
Pitcher Capuano delivered a solid performance for Staten Island, pitching 6 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts and solidifying the FerryHawks’ 7th straight win.
Hagerstown’s Cito Culver and Eury Perez managed to drive in a run each, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Staten Island’s lead. Despite efforts in the 9th, the Flying Boxcars couldn’t rally back and dropped game 6 from a packed Meritus Park – with a total attendance of 3091.
Lexington 0-2, Gastonia 2-1