CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Lack of timely hitting was the least of the Ducks’ problems for most of the season. Injuries and ineffectiveness routinely negated a productive offense, sinking the club to the bottom of the Liberty Division standings.

But when the Ducks finally produced two strong pitching performances, the lineup picked a poor time to go into a slump. One night after wasting ace Randy Leek’s complete-game effort, the Ducks couldn’t capitalize on Carlos Castillo’s stellar outing, mustering just four hits against Newark’s Patrick Stanley in a 4-0 loss to the Bears at Citibank Park.

Castillo allowed no runs in 5 2/3 innings, looking sharp in his Ducks’ debut. Signed off the waiver wire from Bridgeport the previous day, Castillo surrendered just four hits and walked one, earning the no-decision. The 6-3, 245-pound righty was coming off a two-week respite and said he needed to work his way back into game shape.

“When I was Bridgeport, I hadn’t gotten my rhythm yet. I missed spring training,” Castillo said. “My rhythm was better and I kept us in the ball game. In the sixth inning, I ran out of gas a little bit.”

Robert Sandora caught Castillo and the former White Sox hurler said he developed a rapport with his backstop.

“It was just about making my pitches,” Castillo said. “I got along real good with my catcher; the signs and stuff. I felt comfortable with him and good defense always helps.”

Castillo was overshadowed by Stanley, who struck out 15 batters last month. Stanley wasn’t that dominate last night, though solid defense allowed him to log a complete-game shutout as the Ducks fell to 19-21 and into sole possession of last place, --- behind Camden.

The Ducks scored just one run during the previous game, dropping a 3-1 decision despite Leek’s outing. One run in 18 innings left manager Dave LaPoint frustrated. His team hasn’t racked up more than two consecutive wins since May 21.

“I’ve never lost confidence in this team, period,” LaPoint said. “But we do need to put everything together for a little rush. As long as we stay one, two or three games out of first until we start putting it together, then I’m comfortable.”

Ryan Knippschild ensured Castillo of a scoreless ledger, entering a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth. The southpaw induced Val Majewski into an inning-ending double play. Knippschild’s luck ran out when he gave up two straight singles to start the seventh. Ben Grezlovski entered the game following John Pachot’s sacrifice bunt and facilitated a comebacker to the mound for the second out.

Grezlovski couldn’t escape the jam, watching as Bobby Hill lifted a two-out double that landed just over Ray Navarrete’s head in left field, plating Keith Reed and Randall Simon to break open the scoring.

One inning later, Majewski added two insurance runs by turning on a belt-high fastball. As the ball cleared the fence in right, the Bears surged to a four-run lead. Stanley capitalized on the support to improve to 5-0.

“He didn’t make a whole lot of mistakes,” LaPoint said. “He’s got a pitch that no one else in the league has with that overhand curveball, so you’re on the defensive. You don’t get a lot of chances to hit that, so it’s a learning process.”

Just like the previous contest, the Ducks enjoyed chances to ignite a rally. Newark responded by playing highlight-reel defense, punctuated by Keith Reed’s wall-climbing catch in center to rob Kevin Haverbusch of a second-inning home run. Reed jumped over the yellow line in left-center to complete the catch, resulting in one of his 10 putouts.

Stanley finally showed signs of cracking in the sixth. Alex Sanchez singled but was caught stealing. Pete Rose Jr. started a two-out rally, signing and advancing to third when Stanley drilled Carl Everett and walked Navarrete to load the bases.

Up stepped Haverbusch, who worked the count to 2-0 before Newark catcher John Pachot threw down to first and picked off Navarrete to end the threat. Navarrete, the Atlantic League-leader in runs scored, extra base hits and slugging percentage, stated down on the ground and pounded the dirt in frustration.

“Ray’s won a lot more games for us then he’s made mistakes and cost us the game,” LaPoint said. “He’s always an aggressive base-runner but that was not the right time to be fooling around.”

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