The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Sunday Sept. 27, 15-5 in Game Four of their best-of-five Liberty Division Championship Series. The series is now tied 2-2 with a decisive Game Five scheduled for Tuesday at Citibank Park in Central Islip, NY..
Long Island wasted no time breaking out for five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Ducks batted around using four hits and three walks to take the early lead. Johnny Hernandez’ two-run single was the big blow of the frame.
A Southern Maryland four-spot in the top of the fourth off Ducks’ starter Julio Manon pushed the score to 5-4. Cesar Nicolas’ three-run dinger highlighted the inning.
For the second time in four innings, the Flock batted around while putting up a five-spot. Five runs on six hits in the last of the fourth, including RBI doubles by Estee Harris and Hernandez helped push the Ducks’ advantage to 10-4. Two more runs in the home half of the sixth inning increased Long Island’s lead to 12-4. A Freddie Thon RBI single in the seventh and two unearned runs in the eighth helped the Ducks extend their lead to 15-4.
Manon (1-0) earned the win, firing six innings, yielding five hits and three runs, while striking out five. Southern Maryland starter Ryan Bicondoa (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing nine hits and seven earned runs in three-plus innings. Jake Dittler earned the save with three innings of relief.
Long Island and Southern Maryland continue their series on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with the winner to advance to the Atlantic League Championship Series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the Citibank Park gates opening at 5:35 p.m.