CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - Ed Yarnall pitched well enough to earn a quality against a surging Newark lineup. But the Ducks only care if the lefty can produce a similar result against the same opponent next week.

Yarnall picked up a no-decision in a 4-3 loss to the Bears last night, as the Ducks failed for a second straight night to clinch North Division second-half title at Citibank Park. But the most important element for the Ducks to come from the game was the ex-Met prospect line of three runs in seven innings in his final regular season start.

The positive feelings will quickly dissipate if the left-hander fails to duplicate his success when he starts Game 1 in Newark on Tuesday. Even before Jose Herrera lined a double to plate the go-ahead run in the eighth, the Ducks already knew they had a date with the first-half champion Bears in the best-of-three series. Manager Dave LaPoint’s club already clinched the franchise’s fourth straight appearance in the playoffs.

With the rest of the season a mere formality, LaPoint’s biggest concern becomes who he will pitch the rest of the series. Randy Leek, who returned to the Ducks after playing in Triple-A Syracuse (Blue Jays) will pitch Friday and stay on track to start Game 2 at home on his regular four-days rest. If neither team records a sweep, Lance Davis is slated for the do-or-die Game 3 set to occur at home.

Bill Pulsipher would be the fourth starter in case the Ducks advance to the best-of-five championship series but would be utilized as a lefty out of the bullpen in the opening round.

“The main thing now is to get the relievers ready to go for the first game,” LaPoint said. “We haven’t had a day off since July 12, so I’ve been giving guys complete days off and rest. Let them regroup. The playoff series is probably going to be three games and we need to charge it up mentally, again.”

A win tonight in the series finale against the Bears would secure the division title, as the magic number remained at two after Herrera lined a RBI double just inside the leftfield line in the eighth. Joe Valentine, the Ducks’ primary setup man, surrendered Corey Smith’s one-out single before the cue-shot extra-base hit. Valentine’s record fell to 4-2.

Gabe Suarez nearly broke the tie game a half-inning earlier when he flied out to right with the bases loaded. Edgardo Alfonzo and Jamie Pogue each lined two-out singles. Estee Harris worked a walk against Justin Huisman.

Suarez, batting ninth, almost came through with the clutch hit. The shortstop flared a sinking liner into shallow right. Herrera saved his pitcher, racing in on contact. He extended his glove towards his feet and made the catch right before it touched the grass to the end the threat.

Yarnall nearly escaped a winner before Keith Reed ripped a two-out solo home run to right in the seventh, tying it at 3. Corey Smith also hit a solo shot in the fourth, though Newark wasted a chance to break the game open in the third.

Joey Gomez was drilled with a pitch to start the inning, advancing to second on a single. Another soft single followed, loading the bases with none out. Ruben Mateo followed with a run-scoring single to right, keeping the bases loaded for the heart of the order.

That’s when Yarnall put up the sequence of the night that drew a loud ovation from the announced crowd of 6,329. Reed, batting third, couldn’t take advantage of the situation when he struck out. Next up was Javier Colina, the Atlantic League’s RBI leader with 96.

Colina couldn’t add to those totals, getting called out on strikes after an eight-pitch at-bat. The second baseman argued to no avail. Finally, Yarnall whiffed the AL leading hitter Victor Rodriguez (.361 average), striking out the side featuring the league’s most potent 3-4-5 hitters.

“I’m pretty aggressive and they chased fastballs out of the strike zone,” Yarnall said. “I think we match up well against each other. They hit that home run in the seventh, I was disappointed. That was the only thing really hit that well. I give them credit. When they make contact, it works out for them. It should be a good matchup next week.”

Ray Navarrete, who already set a new team record for doubles and extra base hits, continued to make history. His first-inning bases-empty homer gave him 102 runs this season, just two behind Elvis Pena for that record. Navarrete’s shot off Jeriome Robertson’s offering landed right above the hitter’s nameplate on the scoreboard, breaking open the scoreless game.

Alfonzo drove in Carl Everett with a double to the left-centerfield gap in the fifth. Alfonzo also came around to touch home plate when Pogue doubled him one batter later. That would be all for the Ducks’ lineup, which could not muster any more rallies against relievers Shaun Babula, Huisman and Jeremy Hill. Each pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen to secure the victory.

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