The Ducks offense has been on fire over the past 10 games. Three players on the team are batting over .345, including OF Carl Everett (.349), who has five home runs and 16 RBIs, Norm Hutchins (.351), who has one home run and five RBIs and the hottest hitter has been P. J. Rose, who is on a six game hitting streak, hitting .520 with two home runs and eight RBIs in that span.
Shark Bitten in Central Islip
Camden 7, Long Island 3
(CENTRAL ISLIP) Sunday served as a reminder that inconsistency in how a team plays is never good. The day before, the Ducks had major offensive production, while losing, 12-10, to the Camden Riversharks, then they had no offensive help in a 7-3 loss the following day.
Starting pitcher James Garcia (pictured, left) gave the Ducks seven and two-third innings of solid work, throwing a season high 136 pitches and earning four strike outs before 6,315 at Citibank Park.
“My goal is to come out of the game with my team having the opportunity to win,” said Garcia, who was pleased with his effort and is trying to kick himself in the right direction on the mound. “I felt like I did that and am happy with [my performance].”
The Ducks led, 3-2, when closer Danny Graves came in and inherited a runner on second in scoring position. Camden’s Rene Aqueron, who was 3-for-4, hit a single up the middle to tie the game.
“It was bud luck that Danny had an off day,” Ducks’ manager Dave LaPoint said. “Two outs in the eighth is an opportunity to bring your closer in. He let up a ground ball that just wasn’t in the right spot, but tomorrow is another day.”
“It happens,” Garcia said. “You put the ball in the closer’s hands and he’s been lights out all year. It’s the just the way the game goes.”
Bryant Nelson hit a single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth, but that was all the Ducks could muster in retaliation.
The Riversharks (33-23) added the game-winning run and three more for insurance in the top half of the ninth inning.
Dwight Maness hit a solo-shot to leftfield and Aqueron hit a two-run double when the bases were loaded.
The Ducks (32-24) scored two runs early in the game off an RBI single from Edgardo Alfonzo and sacrifice fly by Kevin Haverbusch, but it was all they could do, aside from Norm Hutchin’s RBI single in the fourth.
“That’s baseball,” said Haverbusch. “We can’t just jump out and hang around for a couple of innings. No body’s going to panic though. [The veterans of this club] have been through many ups and downs, they’ve been through games and situations like this before.”
Riversharks’ pitcher Greg Powell pitched seven and two-thirds innings and Alberto Castillo got the win for them.
Notes: INF Alfonzo left the game in the second inning with stomach cramps. ... This was LHP Graves’ first blown save in 16 appearances this season.
Quackbook
compiled by Martin Dolitsky
Here’s a look at what’s going on in Duck country: *Note: All stats through 6/31
Catching fire:
The Ducks offense has been on fire over the past 10 games. Three players on the team are batting over .345, including Carl Everett (.349), who has five homeruns and 16 RBIs, Norm Hutchins (.351), who has one homerun and five RBI’s and the hottest hitter has been P. J. Rose, who is on a six game hitting streak, hitting .520 with two homeruns and eight RBIs in that span.
Alfonzo struggling:
Former Major Leaguer Edgardo Alfonzo (pictured, left) has been struggling all year. His .269 average is 15 points below his professional mark. His three home runs and 29 RBIs are eighth and fifth, respectively, on the team. Alfonzo’s lack of production might signal the end of the line in his professional career. Gotham will have more on Alfonzo as the season progresses.
Walking to first:
The Ducks have three players on their team that have more walks than strikeouts. Alfonzo has 23 walks and 13 strikeouts. Rose has 19 walks and 16 strikeouts. Former New York Met Minor Leaguer, Ray Navarrete, almost has a 3-1 ratio at 27 walks to only 10 strikeouts.
Pitchers not doing their part:
The Ducks are 32-23, but their hitters are clearly the reason they are in second place in the North League. They’re third in the league in batting average and runs. They also have the second leading hitter the league in Rose.
The Ducks’ team ERA is a high 5.00. Donovan Osborne has the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher with 4.37.
Other Notes:
-The Ducks are 7-3 in Saturday games.
-When the Ducks score four or more runs they are 29-12.
-When the Ducks hold their opponents to four or less runs they are 19-2.
-When trailing after seven innings the Ducks are 0-17.
