Ducks Pull Out 10-6 Win Over Bears

By Brian Bohl on April 28, 2008

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — As he stepped to the podium on the eve of Opening Day, Dave LaPoint cited his team’s intelligence as a huge asset for the coming season.

Of course, a baseball team looks smart when every member of the lineup reaches base safely and the bullpen is stellar. The Ducks wasted a six-run lead before capitalizing on a key two-out Newark error in the sixth, pulling out a 10-6 victory over the Bears Sunday afternoon.

Donaldo Mendez lined run-scoring doubles in the second and third innings. The ninth-hitting shortstop finished 3-4 and also scored two runs, adding a nice defensive play to throw out the leadoff man in the eighth inning.

“We have good speed and our lineup has veteran guys who can get on base. That’s the key,” said Mendez, who played on last year’s Atlantic League champion Bears’ squad.

Ben Grezlovski retired all six batters he faced to hold the lead in the seventh and eighth innings, allowing the Ducks to take two of three in the season-opening series. The contest featured a combined 16 runs, three errors and eight walks. But the victory made it a thing of beauty for the manager.

“I would say it was very pretty because we got the first weekend out of the way,” LaPoint said.

Joe Magrane cruised through the first three innings after the Ducks staked him to a 6-0 lead. Carl Everett broke open the scoring with a RBI single in the first. Mendez and Brent Abernathy tacked on to the lead by lining consecutive run-scoring hits.

Four hits and a walk in the third inning chased Newark starter Matt Sweeney. Estee Harris’ one-out single plated Dominick Ambrosini before Robert Sandora added a RBI single. Mendez ended Sweeney’s effort, belting the third straight hit to score Harris before reliever David Pellegrine induced a double play to end the threat.

Magrane nearly gave it all back the next inning. Randall Simon started the fourth by turning on a fastball, blasting a home run that cleared both rows of advertisements in rightfield. The monster solo shot appeared to rattle the righty, who allowed four straight singles after a deep fly-out.

Mike Just came to the plate with runners on first and third. Magrane got the outcome he wanted: a comebacker to the mound. Yet the former Yankees’ farm-hand promptly added to his woes, blowing a sure double play by throwing the ball wide to second. Scott Knazek scored on the error and Vic Gutierrez came home on sac fly to cap the five-run inning.

“Once again a pitcher’s error cost us momentum,” said LaPoint, referencing Randy Leek’s fielding error in the first game. “We let them back in the game. But we didn’t back down from it, so I’m OK.”

The Ducks would also benefit from a poorly timed fielding miscue. Harris and Sandora both walked in the fifth against Pellegrine (0-1), advancing to second and third on a groundout. Abernathy then grounded sharply to short. Gutierrez fielded it but his throw went past Simon and into foul territory, allowing the go-ahead runs to score for an 8-6 lead.

Scott Rice (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 quality innings in relief of Magrane, surrendering just one run on a fifth-inning ground out to pick up the victory in his Atlantic League debut. Grezlovski made his third appearance in as many days, forcing five groundouts and one shallow fly-out against six batters faced. Closer Joe Valentine pitched a 1-2-3 ninth in a non-save situation.

“Ben was the most important guy out there today,” LaPoint said. “If he struggled, I was going to put Joe in for two innings. But we were very short today so we let him go. He was throwing strikes and usually when he’s throwing strikes, he has good fortune.”

Grezlovski was tagged for Saturday’s loss, allowing one hit and one run in a third of an inning. LaPoint went back to him again, continuing a trend set last season. Grezlovski’s 58 appearances were second on team in 2007, and he looks like he’ll be receiving regular work as the rotation is still unsettled.

“I pride myself on being ready every day,” Grezlovski said. “I feel more of a team player when I’m in there every day like that and getting ready to play as much as possible.”

Notes: The attendance at Citibank Park was 5,234. Pre-game rainy conditions contributed to the season’s first non-sellout…Pete Rose Jr.hit a two-run single in the eighth to add to the lead…The Ducks unveiled new Sunday attire. The new uniforms feature a sleeveless green shirt with orange number, black undershirts and white pants. In prior seasons, the team featured black shirt with orange numbers and white hats on Sundays.

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