CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – It was a picture perfect day. 

For the Long Island Ducks, the 6:05pm start proved to be quite a challenge for Flock, as they were held in check and suffered a 4-0 setback to the Somerset Patriots in front of 6,368 fans at Citibank Park.  The loss for Long Island (28-24 second half) was their first in four games and their sixth in their last ten outings.

The first half inning did not provide a sunny beginning for Long Island starter Shane Arthurs.  In fact, the sun played havoc on his defense.  The first batter, Billy Hall reached on a groundball to first that was misplayed in the early evening sun by Henry Rodriguez.  The next batter Emiliano Escandon hit a scorcher to short that was misplayed by Carlos Hernandez allowing Hall to score from first base.  Jeff Nettles then hit a fly ball that leftfielder Doug Jennings was unable to find in the sun, scoring the second run.

Somerset starting pitcher Mark DeFelice (7-3) was impressive through the first five innings allowing five hits, but had great defensive help, The pitcher, however, experienced some stiffness in his pitching shoulder, and left before the start of the sixth inning. 

The Patriots tacked on a run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Radmanovich scoring Escandon who led off the inning with a double to the left centerfield gap and then smacked another left centerfield shot in the eighth inning that scored Billy Hall. 

Arthurs (6-4) went into the eighth inning allowing only five hits, with three of the four runs being earned.  He struck out two and walked none, but hit one batter.

Mike Crudale and Todd Erdos combined for five consecutive outs; but it was the defensive miscues early in the contest that did the Ducks in.

“It was just one of those things,” said Ducks manager Don McCormack.  “We made some bad mistakes in the beginning and it cost us.  Shane (Arthurs) pitched well, but we just did not get it done.”

Tomorrow night, the Patriots return to Citibank Park, and the sun will be out again.  The game will start one hour later, which may be a blessing in disguise for Long Island.

Quack Tales – The Ducks still remain two and one half games ahead of the Nashua Pride for the North Division lead.  The Pride lost to Camden 19-13…Shortstop Carlos Hernandez is on an absolute tear of late, going 11-15 for the series against the Newark Bears.  He had two home runs, three stolen bases and five runs scored…Not far behind, were Pete Rose, Jr. (6-11, two doubles and a home run) and Henry Rodriguez (7-9, double, home run, four walks, three RBI)…The Ducks scored 26 runs in the three games in sweeping Newark…The loss tonight was the first time the Ducks have been shut out at home in the second half of the season, and also snapped the Ducks six game home winning streak.  This was also the fourth time this season that the Ducks have been shut out by Somerset.