CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - A few months ago, Jay Gibbons called Camden Yards home, routinely playing in front of large crowds. But last night, the 31-year-old outfielder strolled to the plate at Citibank Park to polite applause.

Gibbons, who once drove in 100 runs for the Baltimore Orioles, maintained his left-handed stance, wearing a single batting glove on his right hand and a wrist band on his left. His veteran presence couldn’t spark the Ducks last night as the Lancaster Barnstormers posted a 7-3 victory in front of a sold-out Citibank Park crowd.

One day after signing with the Ducks, Gibbons went 0-4 in his Atlantic League debut Tuesday night. He struck out twice against Lancaster lefty Eric Ackerman, who went eight innings to pick up the victory.

Gibbons flew out to right in his first at-bat and popped out in the final inning, capping his 0-4 evening. He batted fifth behind Kevin Haverbusch and was the designated hitter following a nearly eight-week layoff.

“I’m DHing to try and get my legs under me,” Gibbons said. “But sometimes, it’s not good because it makes you think a little too much whereas you go into the field, you have to worry about defense and it takes your mind off hitting.

“I’m trying to ease into it,” he added. “It’s almost like spring training again. It’s been almost three months, so I’ll be fine.”

Gibbons made headlines a few months ago following his 15-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. In December, he admitted to using human growth hormone. Previous reports alleged he received shipments of steroids and hGH from a federally raided Florida pharmacy between 2003 and 2005.

Gibbons marks the third time in the last two seasons the Ducks signed a player with a drug tainted past. Centerfielder and leadoff man Alex Sanchez was suspended 10 games in 2005 for using performance-enhancing drugs. Sanchez, then with Tampa Bay, was the first player publicly identified under the major league’s harsher rules. Last season, the Ducks also brought in Jorge Piedra, who tested positive for a banned substance when he was a member of the Rockies organization.

Piedra’s hot start lead to a Triple-A contract from the A’s and Sanchez was batting .357 before last night’s contest. Gibbons is hoping to use his time in the independent minor league to following those examples and rejuvenate his career. Considering Gibbons’ nearly three-month layoff after the Orioles bought out the final two years and roughly $11.5 million of his contract at the end of March, manager Dave LaPoint said a rough start was to be expected.

“I didn’t expect Gibbons to do too much tonight,” he said. “It was the first time he swings a bat in eight weeks and he’s going against a guy who has all kinds of different arm angles. I think he had a good batting practice.”

Once Carl Everett returns from his minor leg injury, Gibbons could be shifted from DH to the outfield. With a healthy Everett providing power from both sides of the plate, Gibbons could complement the switch-hitting veteran with his lefty stroke. Pete Rose Jr., a fellow left-handed hitter, said Gibbons’ acquisition could spark the Ducks to rally from a 6 ½ game deficit against first-place Camden in the Liberty Division.

“You look at where Jay’s been and where’s he’s hit, it’s going to do nothing but uplift your team,” Rose said. “It’s great to have another big league bat in the lineup. We’re all excited for him to get out and get going.”

Gibbons said his relationship with Ducks closer Todd Williams, a former Orioles teammate, helped convince him to come to Long Island. Ray Navarrete also returned to the club following a week-long stay in the Mexican League. Navarrete said he felt more comfortable playing for LaPoint.

Before going south of the border, Navarrete lead the Atlantic League in runs scored, extra-base hits and slugging percentage. He pulled into the lead in home runs last night, belting his 12th to tie Bridgeport’s Jesse Hoorelbeke for the top mark. Navarrete said adding Gibbons should help improve the rest of the lineup.

“They had optional batting practice today and me and Gibby and just a couple of other guys were out there and I was excited just watching him hit,” Navarrete said. “He was saying he hasn’t seen live pitching in over eight weeks. Once he gets hot, it’s going to be pretty exciting.

“I still have a great feeling about this organization. Even though we haven’t been as hot as we’d like to be, I think in this half and the second half, we’re going to have a lot of great things to show.”

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