The Ducks had their first struggles of
the second half this week. They went 2-5 but kept their 5.0 game lead
as second place Newark was unable to capitalize on the Ducks’
struggles.
The Ducks had their first struggles of the second half this week. They went 2-5 but kept their 5.0 game lead as second place Newark was unable to capitalize on the Ducks’ struggles.
Three game series: Bridgeport Bluefish @ Ducks
Opening game (8/20/07): Bluefish 9, Ducks 3
The Bluefish jumped out to an early lead against starter Lance Davis. They put up four runs in the first and then one run in the next three innings to take a 7-0 lead. The Bluefish had a hit in every inning. The Ducks did score two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded, Norm Hutchins walked and Edgardo Alfonzo added an RBI single.
Middle game (8/21/07): Ducks 5, Bluefish 0
Randy Leek continued his dominance of the Atlantic League with a seven inning two run performance. Leek allowed just two singles as he walked two and struck out four. Leek has been the ace of the Ducks in the second half. For the year, he is 5-1 with a 2.29 ERA. In fact, after the game his contract was purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays and will reported to Triple-A shortly after. The Ducks broke the 0-0 game in the sixth inning when Rob Cafiero scored on an errant pickoff throw to second base. Joe Valentine and Danny Graves both pitched perfect innings to close the game out.
Final game (8/22/07): Bluefish 6, Ducks 3
Jon Halama threw eight solid innings as the Ducks defense was the culprit in this game. Five Duck errors, including three in the third inning which led to three unearned runs helped the Bluefish take the rubber game. Halama allowed six runs in total, only three earned while scattering eight hits and walking two. The Ducks were only able to get seven hits and three runs against Bluefish starter Mike Porzio. Hutchins was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.
Three game series: Camden Riversharks @ Ducks
Opening game (8/23/07): Postponed due to inclement weather.
Made up as part of a double header on 8/24/07.
Doubleheader (8/24/07): Game One: Riversharks 6, Ducks 3
Game Two: Riversharks 5, Ducks 1
The Ducks were swept in a double header for the first time this season as Mark Leon and Nate Buttenfield shut them down in both games. In the opening game, Leon pitched a complete game for his ninth win of the season. He allowed only four hits and walked three. All three runs for the Ducks were on homeruns. Carl Everett, Bryant Neslon, and Estee Harris all hit solo homeruns in the loss.
In the nightcap, the Riversharks continued to hit and pitch well. Buttenfield pitched five innings of one run ball for the Riversharks and his bullpen shut down the Ducks allowing only one hit over the next two innings in the shortened seven inning contest. For the Ducks, starter Todd Wade continued to struggle, allowing eight hits and five runs, three earned, in third-and-a-third innings of work. For the Ducks, Navarrete hit his 34th double and he is two away from tying the single-season record for doubles in a season by a Duck.
Final game (8/25/07): Ducks 11, Riversharks 8
Harris, a Central Islip native, hit two homeruns and had five RBI’s as the Ducks rallied from a 7-6 deficit in the seventh inning. The first of Harris’ home run’s came in the second inning and was a two-run shot. His second home run gave the Ducks the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, a three-run shot which put the Ducks up 9-7. Davis struggled through seven innings allowing nine hits and seven runs, five earned. Graves pitched the ninth inning for his 29th save of the season.
Three game series: Ducks @ Somerset Patriots
Opening game (8/26/07): Patriots 4, Ducks 2
Brian Adams, of the Patriots, pitched eight-and-two-third innings allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and struck out nine. This was Adams’ 14th win of the season, which leads all Atlantic League pitchers. Newly acquired Jose Espinal, made his debut for the Ducks and pitched five-and-a-third innings allowing two runs, he took the loss. Kevin Haverbusch added two hits and an RBI.
Weekly Notes:
-Navarrete has reached base 30 consecutive games
-Haverbusch has an 11-game hit streak
-Everett has 89 RBIs and is one RBI from matching the Ducks single-season record
-The Ducks will finish up their three game series with the Patriots. They then travel to Lancaster for a three game series with the Barnstormers
The Ducks had their first struggles of
the second half this week. They went 2-5 but kept their 5.0 game lead
as second place Newark was unable to capitalize on the Ducks’
struggles.
The Ducks had their first struggles of the second half this week. They went 2-5 but kept their 5.0 game lead as second place Newark was unable to capitalize on the Ducks’ struggles.