Ducks Too Much For Crabs, Win 10-6

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on April 25, 2009

Waldorf, MD – For the second straight night against the Long Island Ducks, the Blue Crabs never led and their late inning rally was much too little, much too late.  After jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning, a Ducks error in the third allowed the Blue Crabs to trim the lead to 6-3.  Long Island would restore a six run-lead, and two late-inning home runs by Crabs shortstop Travis Garcia would unfortunately come in a 10-6 loss.

After Blue Crabs starter Ryan Bicondoa set the Ducks down in order to begin the game, Friday night’s contest would ultimately be decided in the second inning.  Bicondoa gave up five consecutive singles to Duck hitters, and John Pachot really cleaned up with the bases loaded, stroking a bases-clearing 3-RBI triple into the right field corner of Regency Furniture Stadium.  After all of that activity, the Blue Crabs were already down 4-0, and former Minnesota Twin and Ducks centerfielder Lew Ford chipped in an RBI single to score Pachot.  Ford would then score on a Ron Davenport sac-fly to make it 6-0.  In all, Bicondoa was tagged for six earned runs and eight hits in the inning.

With two away in the home half of the third, Ducks rightfielder Raul Gonzalez dropped what should have been an easy fly-out off the bat of Travis Garcia, and Garcia ended up at third base on the play.  He would score on an RBI single off the bat of Pat Osborn, and Osborn would later score on an RBI double by Eric Crozier.  The third consecutive hit in the inning after the error came from Jeremy Owens, whose double plated Crozier to cut the lead in half at 6-3.

The Ducks quickly squelched the rally in the top of the fourth however, thanks to a solo homerun to left-center by Ray Navarrete, and an RBI single by Victor Rodriguez.  When reliever Jason Blanton came in for the fifth he struggled with his control, ended up in a bases loaded jam, and walked in a run with four straight balls to Preston Wilson of Long Island.  The insurance runs made the score 9-3 in favor of the Ducks.

Travis Garcia gave the Crabs a little bit of life in the seventh, with a solo homer to left field off southpaw reliever Troy Cate, cutting the Long Island lead to five.  After a Pachot RBI sac-fly in the ninth off Jim Ed Warden gave the Ducks an even 10 runs, Garcia checked in again with a mammoth home run that easily cleared the Red Hot & Blue Picnic Pavilion in left field at Regency Furniture Stadium with one out in the bottom of the ninth.  It was a two-run shot, after Chuck Jeroloman drew a leadoff, pinch hit walk.  Lefty reliever Jason Norderum was on the mound for the brief nervous moment for Long Island, but ultimately closed things down for the 10-6 victory.

While Bicondoa, who led the Crabs in victories last year with 13- good for second in the Atlantic League- took the loss, Ducks starter Ken Ray went five innings to pick up the win.  Ray scattered seven hits, allowing three runs, none of which were earned because of the Gonzalez error in the third.  He struck out seven, and walked no one.  Bicondoa’s final line read 4 innings pitched, 10 hits, eight runs, seven of which were earned, no walks and a strike out.

After two games, Blue Crabs starting shortstop Travis Garcia is 6 for 9, (.667), with the two home runs and five RBI.

The Blue Crabs will next be in action Saturday night at home at Regency Furniture Stadium against the Long Island Ducks for the third game of this four game season-opening series.  First pitch is at 6:35 p.m, and the stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m.  Scheduled starters are LHP Randy Leek for Long Island, and LHP John Halama, a nine-year Major League veteran, for Southern Maryland.

Long Island Ducks at Blue Crabs

Apr 24, 2009 at Waldorf, MD (Regency Furn Stadium)

Long Island Ducks 10 (2-0)           Blue Crabs 6 (0-2)

AB  R  H RBI                         AB  R  H RBI

Ford,L cf          5  1  1  1        Conroy,M lf        4  0  0  0

Navarrete,R 3b     3  1  1  1        Jeroloman,C ph     0  1  0  0

Wilson,P dh        3  1  1  1        Shanks,J dh        5  0  0  0

Harris,E ph        1  0  0  0        Garcia,T ss        5  3  3  3

Davenport,R lf     4  1  1  1        Osborn,P 3b        4  1  2  1

Rodriguez,V 1b     5  1  3  1        Crozier,E 1b       5  1  1  1

Gonzalez,R rf      5  2  2  0        Owens,J cf         5  0  1  1

Prieto,A ss        5  1  2  1        Burkhart,L c       4  0  1  0

Pachot,J c         4  1  3  4        Doetsch,S rf       2  0  1  0

Francia,J 2b       5  1  1  0        Just,M 2b          4  0  1  0

Ray,K p            0  0  0  0        Bicondoa,R p       0  0  0  0

Cate,T p           0  0  0  0        Blanton,J p        0  0  0  0

Hrynio,M p         0  0  0  0        Hensley,M p        0  0  0  0

Norderum,J p       0  0  0  0        James,M p          0  0  0  0

Warden,J p         0  0  0  0

Totals……      40 10 15 10        Totals……      38  6 10  6

Score by innings:                      R  H  E

———————————————-

Long Island Ducks     060 210 001   – 10 15  1

Blue Crabs            003 000 102   -  6 10  1

———————————————-

E – Gonzalez,R; Bicondoa,R. DP – Blue Crabs 1. LOB – Ducks 9; Blue Crabs 9.

2B – Prieto,A; Garcia,T; Crozier,E; Owens,J. 3B – Pachot,J. HR -

Navarrete,R(1); Garcia,T 2(2). SF – Davenport,R; Pachot,J. SB – Wilson,P;

Francia,J.

IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF Fly Gnd

Ray,K W 1-0           5.0  7  3  0  0  7   1  0  2  0   23 25   5  3

Cate,T                2.0  1  1  1  0  3   0  0  0  0    7  7   3  0

Hrynio,M              1.0  0  0  0  1  1   0  0  0  0    3  4   1  1

Norderum,J            1.0  2  2  2  1  0   0  0  0  0    5  6   2  1

Bicondoa,R L 0-1      4.0 10  8  7  0  1   0  0  1  0   22 24   4  7

Blanton,J             0.2  1  1  1  3  0   1  0  0  0    3  6   1  1

Hensley,M             2.1  1  0  0  0  1   0  0  0  0    8  8   3  3

James,M               1.0  0  0  0  0  1   0  0  0  0    3  3   1  1

Warden,J              1.0  3  1  1  0  0   0  0  0  0    4  5   1  1

WP – Ray,K; Blanton,J. HBP – by Bicondoa,R (Navarrete,R); by Ray,K

(Doetsch,S); by Ray,K (Osborn,P).

Strikeouts – Rodriguez,V; Gonzalez,R; Pachot,J; Conroy,M 3; Shanks,J 2;

Osborn,P; Crozier,E; Owens,J 2; Burkhart,L; Doetsch,S. Walks – Ford,L;

Navarrete,R; Wilson,P; Jeroloman,C; Doetsch,S.

Umpires – Home:Dave Perry  1st:Mayhue Edwards  3rd:Dan Wilson

Start: 7:05 PM   Time: 3:15   Attendance: 4744

Game Notes:

Saturday’s Probables:

LI:   LHP Randy Leek (0-0)

SMD:  LHP John Halama (0-0)

Official Scorer:  Gary Swenson

The Automated ScoreBook

Long Island Ducks at Blue Crabs

Apr 24, 2009 at Waldorf, MD (Regency Furn Stadium)

Score by innings:                      R  H  E

———————————————-

Long Island Ducks     060 210 001   – 10 15  1

Blue Crabs            003 000 102   -  6 10  1

———————————————-

Long Island Ducks inning 1

Ford,L flied out to rf.  Navarrete,R grounded out to ss.  Wilson,P grounded

out to 3b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 1

Conroy,M struck out looking.  Shanks,J grounded out to ss.  Garcia,T doubled

down the lf line.  Osborn,P struck out swinging.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1

LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 2

Davenport,R singled to center field.  Rodriguez,V singled through the right

side; Davenport,R advanced to second.  Gonzalez,R singled to center field;

Rodriguez,V advanced to second; Davenport,R advanced to third.  Prieto,A

singled through the left side, RBI; Gonzalez,R advanced to second;

Rodriguez,V advanced to third; Davenport,R scored.  Pachot,J tripled down

the rf line, 3 RBI; Prieto,A scored; Gonzalez,R scored; Rodriguez,V scored.

Francia,J grounded out to ss.  Ford,L singled up the middle, RBI; Pachot,J

scored.  Navarrete,R hit by pitch; Ford,L advanced to second.  Wilson,P

singled to right field; Navarrete,R advanced to second; Ford,L advanced to

third.  Davenport,R flied out to lf, SF, RBI; Ford,L scored.  Rodriguez,V

singled to third base; Wilson,P advanced to second; Navarrete,R advanced to

third.  Gonzalez,R grounded out to ss.  6 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 2

Crozier,E flied out to cf.  Owens,J struck out swinging, out at first c to

1b.  Burkhart,L singled to left field.  Doetsch,S hit by pitch; Burkhart,L

advanced to second.  Just,M fouled out to 1b.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2

LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 3

Prieto,A grounded out to 3b.  Pachot,J struck out swinging, out at first c

to 1b.  Francia,J grounded out to 2b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 3

Conroy,M struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.  Shanks,J struck out

swinging.  Garcia,T reached on an error by rf, advanced to third.  Osborn,P singled to center field, RBI; Garcia,T scored, unearned.  Osborn,P advanced

to second on a wild pitch.  Crozier,E doubled to right field, RBI; Osborn,P

scored, unearned.  Owens,J doubled to left center, RBI; Crozier,E scored,

unearned.  Burkhart,L struck out looking.  3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 4

Ford,L popped up to ss.  Navarrete,R homered to left center, RBI.  Wilson,P

reached on a throwing error by p.  Wilson,P stole second.  Davenport,R

fouled out to 3b.  Rodriguez,V singled to right field, RBI; Wilson,P scored,

unearned.  Gonzalez,R reached on a fielder’s choice; Rodriguez,V out at

second ss to 2b.  2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 4

Doetsch,S singled to third base.  Just,M singled to third base, bunt;

Doetsch,S advanced to second.  Conroy,M flied out to cf.  Shanks,J flied out

to rf; Doetsch,S advanced to third.  Garcia,T reached on a fielder’s choice;

Just,M out at second 2b to ss.  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 5

Blanton,J to p for Bicondoa,R.  Prieto,A flied out to lf.  Pachot,J singled

up the middle.  Francia,J reached on a fielder’s choice; Pachot,J out at

second p to ss.  Francia,J stole second.  Ford,L walked; Francia,J advanced

to third on a wild pitch.  Navarrete,R walked; Ford,L advanced to second.

Wilson,P walked, RBI; Navarrete,R advanced to second; Ford,L advanced to

third; Francia,J scored.  Hensley,M to p for Blanton,J.  Davenport,R flied

out to cf.  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 5

Osborn,P hit by pitch.  Crozier,E struck out looking.  Owens,J popped up to

2b.  Burkhart,L reached on a fielder’s choice; Osborn,P out at second ss to

2b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 6

Rodriguez,V grounded out to 3b.  Gonzalez,R struck out looking.  Prieto,A

flied out to lf.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 6

Cate,T to p for Ray,K.  Doetsch,S struck out swinging.  Just,M fouled out to

3b.  Conroy,M struck out looking.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 7

Pachot,J singled up the middle.  Francia,J reached on a fielder’s choice;

Pachot,J out at second ss to 2b.  Ford,L lined out to ss.  Navarrete,R

grounded out to 3b.  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 7

Shanks,J struck out looking.  Garcia,T homered to left field, RBI.  Osborn,P flied out to cf.  Crozier,E flied out to cf.  1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 8

James,M to p for Hensley,M.  Harris,E pinch hit for Wilson,P.  Harris,E

grounded out to 3b.  Davenport,R popped up to 2b.  Rodriguez,V struck out

swinging.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 8

Hrynio,M to p for Cate,T.  Owens,J struck out looking.  Burkhart,L flied out

to lf.  Doetsch,S walked.  Just,M grounded out to 2b.  0 runs, 0 hits, 0

errors, 1 LOB.

Long Island Ducks inning 9

Warden,J to p for James,M.  Gonzalez,R singled through the right side.

Prieto,A doubled down the lf line; Gonzalez,R advanced to third.  Pachot,J

flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Gonzalez,R scored.  Francia,J singled to center

field; Prieto,A advanced to third.  Ford,L grounded into double play p to ss

to 1b; Francia,J out on the play.  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Blue Crabs inning 9

Norderum,J to p for Hrynio,M.  Jeroloman,C pinch hit for Conroy,M.

Jeroloman,C walked.  Shanks,J fouled out to 1b.  Garcia,T homered to left

field, 2 RBI; Jeroloman,C scored.  Osborn,P singled through the right side.

Crozier,E flied out to lf.  Owens,J reached on a fielder’s choice; Osborn,P

out at second ss to 2b.  2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Game Notes:

Saturday’s Probables:

LI:   LHP Randy Leek (0-0)

SMD:  LHP John Halama (0-0)

Official Scorer:  Gary Swenson

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