Long Island 5, So. Maryland 4

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 28, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-4 in waddle-off fashion on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

Southern Maryland took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on Braxton Lee’s RBI double and K.C. Hobson’s RBI single off Ducks starter Ian Clarkin. An RBI single by Michael Baca in the third and a solo homer to center by Hobson in the fourth made it a 4-0 ballgame. 

Long Island cut the deficit in half in the fifth on sacrifice flies to center field by Anthony Peroni and Boog Powell off Blue Crabs starter Daryl Thompson. Brian Goodwin’s solo homer to center in the sixth made it a one-run game at 4-3. 

It remained that way until the bottom of the ninth when Joe DeCarlo launched a leadoff solo homer to left, tying the game at four. The Ducks then won it in the 10th when Sam Travis’ sac fly to right plated Powell with the winning run. 

Neither starter factored into the decision. Clarkin tossed six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out six.  Thompson threw six and one-third innings of three-run ball, allowing eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Kevin Quackenbush (2-2) picked up the win with two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three. Andre Scrubb (1-1) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks in one and one-third innings. 

Adeiny Hechavarria led the Flock offensively with two hits and two walks. Daniel Murphy also collected a pair of hits. 

The Ducks continue their homestand on Tuesday night when they open a three-game series against the York Revolution. It’s a Triple Play Tuesday at the ballpark! If the Ducks turn a triple play during the game, one lucky fan will win $25,000. Simply sign up prior to first pitch at the Ticket Kiosk on the main concourse to be eligible. Right-hander Wladimir Pinto (0-0, 5.68) gets the start for the Ducks against Revolution righty J.T. Hintzen (1-3, 8.39). 

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. Those unable to make the game can follow all the action live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

High Point 3, Frederick 1

Frederick dropped the rubber match on Sunday to the High Point Rockers, falling in yet another tight game, this time by a 3-1 score.

Frederick had issues all day with Mickey Jannis, but got the first two on in the first inning after a Luke Becker walk and Starlin Castro single. With runners on the corners, Craig Dedelow hit a ground ball to first base, and the throw to the plate was in time to cut down Becker.

In the second inning, Ryan Grotjohn hit a solo homer to left field to put the Rockers ahead by a 1-0 score. 

In the fourth inning after back-to-back one-out walks, Brian Parreira doubled down the right field line to score two more and extend the High Point lead to 3-0. 

In the fifth inning, Frederick got their only run of the game when Leobaldo Cabrera homered for his 11^th longball of the season, cutting the game to 3-1. 

Frederick got two runners on again in the sixth with no outs against Mickey Jannis, but Jannis responded with two strikeouts and a flyout to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, High Point had second and third with noboby out against Jeff Johnson. Frederick elected to intentionally walk John Nogowski to load the bases and take their chances against Zander Wiel. Johnson awarded that decision by striking Wiel out to strand the bases loaded.

In the bottom portion of the seventh, Frederick led things off with a base hit by Raudy Read. Two batters later, Leobaldo Cabrera drove a ball into the gap in right center field, but Read was cut down trying to score. 

Frederick had yet another chance in the eighth, once again getting Becker and Castro on with nobody out. This time, it was reliever Austin Ross who struck out the next three he faced to strand both runners.

Kyle Barraclough pitched the ninth inning, and after allowing a leadoff single to Read, got Wilson Garcia to line into a double play. After a strikeout, Barraclough locked down his first save with the Rockers, clinching the series win.

York 5, Charleston 2

(May 28, 2023 – Charleston, WV):  Carlos Espinal was dominant in his first start as the York Revolution knocked off the Charleston Dirty Birds, 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at GoMart Ballpark.

Espinal (1-0) allowed just two hits over a career-high 5.1 shutout innings with just one walk and a career-high-tying seven strikeouts.

Revs catcher Ryan January kept things scoreless through three, pouncing on the rebound of a potential wild pitch and diving to tag out Yefri Perez attempting to score from third base for the final out of the inning, dashing a Charleston threat.

Jacob Rhinesmith hammered an opposite field homer to left center, his first of the season, to lead off the fourth and spot the Revs a 1-0 lead.

Trey Martin doubled down the left field line with two outs in the fourth and scored as Drew Mendoza lined a base hit to right, increasing the lead to 2-0.

The Revs padded the lead with a three-run sixth. Rhinesmith reached for the third time on the day as he was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Troy Stokes Jr. reached on an error to put two aboard, and with one out, Martin drove an RBI double to the gap in right center for a 3-0 lead. January tagged a two-out, two-run single to right and raced all the way to third on an error as the lead expanded to 5-0.

Espinal retired nine straight before issuing a one-out walk in the sixth. Tasker Strobel entered and retired Dwight Smith Jr. on a first pitch double play grounder to second base to end the inning and stranded two runners in a scoreless seventh.

Charleston made noise in the eighth, plating two runs on four hits to get back in the game. Revs lefty Derek Holland entered with the tying run at the plate and after jumping ahead of Justin O’Conner with an 0-2 count, was ejected by third base umpire Ronnie Withrow after a close pitch was ruled a ball. Blake Rogers was thrust into action early than anticipated, but finished the strikeout of O’Conner and handled a perfect ninth to record his fourth save.

The win is the fourth in the last five games and fifth in the last seven for the Revs who will go for a four-game series victory on Monday at 1:05 p.m.  Revs righty Jorge Martinez (2-2, 6.75) faces Charleston left-hander Danny Wirchansky (1-1, 2.31) in the finale. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, and FloBaseball.TV beginning at 12:45 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.

Lancaster at Gastonia, PPD (DH Monday at 1:35 pm)

Staten Island at Lexington, PPD (DH Monday at 1:05 pm)