CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – It looked rough at the start, but the Long Island Ducks were overpowered by the Gastonia Ghost Peppers in the last of their three-game series on Thursday, May 15. The game took place at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, where they suffered the 5-2 loss.
It was a slow game to begin, with a whopping score of 0-0 for the entire first three innings. Lots of strikeouts on both ends, with the first player to reach a base being outfielder River Town on second. He advanced to third base before first baseman Narciso Crook prevented him from reaching home. Pitcher Raynel Espinal walked Troy Viola to first base with four balls after he got a tremendous swing and a miss right before Justin Wylie caught the fly out at left field, striking out the Ducks at the bottom of the first inning.
The game started to really pick up in the fourth inning when center fielder Dalton Guthrie swiftly stole third base, giving the Ghost Peppers the possibility of their first run of the game. Wylie made yet another impression by sending a double to left field, assisting in his teammate making it home. Going 3-for-3, Wylie then scored, leaving the Ducks behind. By the end of the fourth inning, the Ducks have stepped up as outfielder Cody Thomas scores the first run for his team.
New pitchers began to make their way into the fray after the sixth inning, starting with Duane Underwood Jr. of the Ghost Peppers. The Ducks did not hesitate in entering #30 Bernardo Flores, #52 Jonah Dipoto, and #55 Jacob Asa all after primary pitcher #35 John Gant. Gant is the stronger pitcher from the Ducks, having faced 22 batters and logged an IP of 6.0.
Two sacrifice flies took place at the top of the eighth inning by the Ghost Peppers. Wylie did it again by being the first to do so, forcing himself out but helping Guthrie secure the run. Patrick Mazeika gives his team the second out, but allows Richie Martin to score. Moving through just three of their players at the bottom of the inning, the Ducks were unable to secure a single base.
The Ducks finished the final inning with their strongest batter, Ronaldo Flores. Flores, with a batting average of .333, unfortunately could not stop the pitcher from catching his straight line drive, causing the inning to finish and the game to finish by the final score of 5-2.
The Long Island Ducks will return to their home of Fairfield Properties Ballpark on Friday, May 23 to open another three-game set against the Staten Island FerryHawks.
