Back To .500 on LI

By Brian Bohl on May 23, 2008

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Consistency on and off the field eluded the Ducks for most of May. Injuries and ineffectiveness necessitated a slew of roster moves as the team’s record slipped below .500.

But things may be picking up now. The Ducks continue to get healthy and are also getting a spark from new addition Alex Sanchez, who lined three hits for his second straight games to help his new club take three of four from first-place Camden following a 10-4 victory last night at Citibank Park.

Sanchez, who signed before Wednesday’s doubleheader, went 3-4 in his debut. He matched that production in his second contest, scoring a run and driving in another via a third-inning home run. The former Detroit Tiger finished just a triple short of the cycle as the Ducks (13-13) reached the break-even point for the first time since May 11.

“As a team, we think that if we get all together and get everybody back, then we still have the best team,” manager Dave LaPoint said. “Luckily, all the injuries happened to us early and we still have time to make up ground.”

Camden saw its lead over the Ducks drop to four games in the Liberty Division, though the Riversharks mounted a comeback in the eighth. Down 6-2, Camden loaded the bases with one out for Richard Lewis.

Todd Williams induced Lewis to hit a potential double-play grounder before second baseman Ray Navarrete dropped the transfer from the shortstop for an error. Gary Cates scored on that play and Ron Davenport plated the inning’s second run with a RBI ground out in the subsequent at-bat to make it 6-4.

Ex-Met Jason Phillips, who drilled a two-run homer in the fourth, came to bat with the runners on second and third. LaPoint then turned to Joe Valentine for a four-out save, and the closer delivered by getting Phillips to pop out to first on the second pitch to strand the potential tying runs in scoring position.

The Ducks added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the victory.

Sanchez has four runs, six hits, two RBIs and a homer in first nine at-bats, igniting the offense from the leadoff spot. The 31-year-old is a career .296 hitter in 427 major league games for five different organizations. Sanchez said he is looking to return to the show for the first time since splitting the 2005 season with San Francisco and Tampa Bay.

“I’m trying to help this team first and do a good job and then we’ll see what happens in the future,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch to start the first. Pete Rose Jr. brought him home by lifting a sacrifice fly and the Ducks added a second run thanks to a throwing error that scored Carl Everett for an early 2-0 lead. Sanchez extended the lead in the third, belting Chris Young’s offering off the second tier of advertisements in right field for a solo shot.

“When I stand at home plate, I see the pitches very good,” Sanchez said. “I’m seeing the ball good and I’m trying to hit the ball hard. Last night was my first game since winter ball.”

The Ducks did not make any roster moves before the contest, ending a stretch of eight transactions in a three-day whirlwind stretch. Manny Ulloa provided stability from the pitcher’s mound, improving to 2-1 thanks to a six-inning, five-hit outing.

Phillips’ two-run homer to left was the only runs Ulloa surrendered. The righty needed help in the sixth, getting the hook following consecutive singles to start the frame. Southpaw Ryan Knippschild struck out a lefty batter and Ben Grezlovski maintained the 3-2 lead, getting a big assist from Jamal Strong’s diving catch in foul territory to end the inning and the bases loaded threat.

“You have everyone out here playing hard and you just want to fit in and do whatever you can to help the team win,” Strong said.

Strong also was 3-4 with two RBIs. He shifted to left field so Sanchez can play his natural position in center, providing the highlight reel catch near the stands on Chris Walker’s fly ball.

“I’m looking at him thinking he’s going to ram his head into the side wall,” LaPoint said. “He never hesitated. He went all-out and I think when you have a good team and everyone feels good about themselves, they start making those plays.”

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