CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Fixated on Citibank Park’s brick exterior is a green-and-orange sign that espouses the stadium as the home of the 2004 Atlantic League champions. Since that accomplishment, the Ducks have made it back to the playoffs in each of the ensuing three seasons, though the 2007 campaign ended in the same manner as the previous two: with a first-round exit.

The latest inglorious defeat came thanks to non-opportunistic offense, as the Ducks failed to complete a late comeback in a season-ending 3-2 loss to the Newark Bears Wednesday night. Newark’s Jose Garcia nearly squandered a three-run edge before three relievers combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings to stymie the late push. The strong bullpen effort eliminated the Ducks with a two-game sweep in the Atlantic League Divisional playoff series.

“It’s disappointing,” said manager Dave LaPoint, who saw his team lose two one-run contests. “Both nights we had our chances to put it away or to get back in it. We did everything right getting the guy into scoring position, and we couldn’t get the lucky break after that.”

The Ducks put the potential tying run on third base with one out in both the eighth and ninth. They couldn’t bring either runner home. Norm Hutchins worked a leadoff walk off closer Jeremy Hill in the ninth, stealing second on a gutsy play. Jamie Pogue moved him over with a ground out to the right side, bringing up former Cincinnati Reds’ outfielder Reggie Taylor.

With most of the 5,839 fans at Citibank Park chanting “Reggie, Reggie,” Taylor couldn’t come through, hitting a weak ground ball to first with the infield drawn in. Ray Navarrete couldn’t deliver a clutch two-out hit, grounding out to short.

Newark players emptied out of the dugout to celebrate on the field, while the Ducks were swept for a second consecutive season and have lost its last six playoff games. The last victory came in the opening contest against Nashua in 2005.

“It’s hard to put into words. We had a really special team,” said Navarrete, who led the league in doubles and run scored during the 126-game schedule but went 1-7 in the best-of-three series. “For me, this was the greatest team I ever played on. I don’t think any of us were ready to go home yet.”

Added LaPoint: “A ground ball past a drawn-in infield and you’re back in the game. We got them in position. We just didn’t do the fundamentals of baseball tonight. That’s why we’re not playing anymore.”

Down by one run in the eighth, Carl Everett laced a double to the right-center gap. He advanced on a groundout, giving the Ducks the tying run on third with one out. Justin Huisman then walked Bryant Nelson, facilitating a critical plate appearance for Massapequa native Kevin Haverbusch. The local product squandered a chance to save the season, grounding the ball to third to start a rally killing double play.

Randy Leek (0-1), the Ducks ace, logged a quality start, giving up three runs in seven innings. But Garcia was slightly better, allowing just two in 6 2/3 innings. Despite carrying a lineup featuring five former major leaguers, the Ducks mustered just three hits against Garcia (1-0) through the first six innings.

“Leek pitched outstanding,” LaPoint said. “Hit-wise, considering what they’ve [Newark] been doing to the rest of the league, we pitched pretty well. Randy Leek defiantly deserved to win that game."

Bryant Nelson, who made a critical error in the previous night’s Game 1 victory, ignited the stagnating offense by lifting a leadoff homer that landed near the Ducks’ bullpen in right to commence the seventh inning. Garcia started to unravel, plunking Haverbusch and walking Norm Hutchins. A groundout preceded another walk, loading the bases.

Garcia induced a long fly ball to right, scoring Hutchins on Navarrete’s sacrifice fly. Newark manager Wayne Krenchicki summoned southpaw Shaun Babula to face lefty Pete Rose Jr. The strategy worked, as Rose meekly popped out to third with runners on first and third.

“You can’t take the bat out of their hands. You have to let them swing it,” LaPoint said.

Newark advanced to the best-of-five championship round in part because of a two-run sixth. After Leek retired the first batter, five straight Bears reached base safely. Consecutive singles set-up Victor Rodriguez, who pounced a full-count off-speed pitch into right to plate Keith Reed. Corey Smith then ripped a RBI double to left, bringing home Javier Colina. That brought LaPoint out to the mound for a conference and strategy session.

Following the meeting, Ruben Mateo was intentionally walked, loading the bases with one out. Herrea taped a comebacker, but Leek wasted a chance for a double play with a low throw home. Pogue scooped it for the one out, and Pachot grounded out with the bases still loaded to keep the Ducks’ deficit at three.

From Newark’s starting lineup, eight of the nine recorded batting averages over .270. But John Pachot, the ninth-hitting catcher who did not make that list, proved he wasn’t a weak link by belting a solo home run to start the fourth.

Pachot hit just six homers in the regular season, though he flexed enough muscle when he took Leek’s offering deep to left. The ball landed near the scoreboard to break open the scoring.

“They’re put together very well. They match up well against us,” Navarrete said. “If I was a fan and bought a ticket to come to Game 1 or Game 2, I would walk away saying I got my money’s worth.”

Haverbusch nearly registered the big hit earlier in the evening, exciting the crowd when he took Garcia’s 2-0 fastball deep to left in the fifth. But Mateo made the leaping catch at the wall, sending Nelson back to first. Hutchins worked a one-out walk before Pogue flew out to center and Taylor fisted a weak pop-up into shallow right, ending the Ducks’ first rally.

Notes: LaPoint, who finished his first season as manager, said he intends to stay as long as team principal owner and CEO Frank Boulton asks him to return…The Ducks and Bears split the regular season series 9-9. Both clubs also finished with 72-54 overall records, with the former winning the second-half division title and the latter capturing the first-half crown…The Ducks are now 5-2 all-time at home in the postseason….Taylor returned to the lineup after missing Game 1 for what team officials said was for personal reasons. He drove back from South Carolina Tueday night and went 0-4 batting leadoff in his return.

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