The Crabs jumped on top early with three runs in the top of the first inning off Ducks’ starter Troy Cate. Patrick Osborn’s RBI sacrifice fly and Michael Tucker’s two-run homer did the damage. Four more runs in the fourth helped Southern Maryland extend their lead to 7-0. RBI doubles by John Ramistella and Mike Just highlighted the inning.

Long Island inched closer with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth off Crabs’ starter John Halama. Johnny Hernandez’ RBI single in the fourth and two errors in the fifth pushed the score to 7-3.

The Ducks rallied in the ninth, plating two runs on a Ray Navarrete single and brought the winning run to the plate in Raul Gonzalez. With Franklin Gracesqui summoned from the bullpen, the lefty struck out Gonzalez and nailed down the save.

John Halama (2-0) picked up the win, firing seven and two-thirds innings, yielding one earned run, while punching out eight. Cate (0-2) suffered the loss surrendering seven runs in three and one-third innings.

The loss ends another successful season for the Long Island Ducks. The Flock once again enjoyed the best attendance in the league, with an average of 6,014 fans packing 6,002-seat Citibank Park each night. The Ducks finished with an overall record of 74-66, and went 40-30 on their home field. Long Island clinched the second half Liberty Division title, becoming the only team in Atlantic League history to qualify for the playoffs six years in a row.

The Long Island Ducks will be back in 2010, ready to bring the fans and families of Long Island the best, most affordable summer family entertainment around. The Ducks sincerely thank each and every fan for their support this season, and look forward to sharing another great season next year. Stay tuned to www.liducks.com throughout the off-season for all the latest news from Citibank Park, including community appearances and 20010 ticket plans.

“We’re going to take this,” Manon said after picking up the win in the Ducks 15-5 victory in Game 4 that tied the first-round series at 2-2. “There ain’t pressure on us. They got the pressure. They won two games in a row and thought it was over.”

Manon’s words were more tongue-in-cheek than a bravado-infused guarantee. But the right-hander did his part to help the Ducks stave off elimination for a second straight day. Manon allowed just five hits and four runs (three earned) in six innings at Citibank Park.

The Ducks will now send staff ace Troy Cate to face Southern Maryland’s John Halama in Game 5. Halama out-dueled Cate in a 1-0 Blue Crabs’ Game 1 victory. After losing a pair of one-run games to open the postseason in Southern Maryland, the Ducks have won two straight at home and can clinch the series in front of its home fans with another victory.

“With the series tied, we obviously have home-field advantage,” manager Gary Carter said. “John Halama was tough against us in Game 1 and he’s been tough against us all year.

“All I can say is we have to keep battling and hopefully Troy Cate will be on like he was in Game 1 as well.”

The Ducks’ offense took pressure of Manon by exploding for five first-inning runs and posting a five-run fourth inning to stymie any chance of a Southern Maryland comeback attempt. Brooklyn native Johnny Hernandez keyed the offensive explosion, going 2-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored as the Ducks recorded 20 hits.

Blue Crabs’ starter Ryan Bicondoa allowed the first five Ducks to reach base and score. Following a walk and two singles, George Lombard lined a RBI single to open the scoring. Hernandez followed with a key two-run single to center that was even more devastating for the Blue Crabs when Jeremy Owens misplayed the ball, allowing Lombard to score all the way from first on the error. John Pachot then added the first of his two sacrifice flies to hand Manon a 5-0 lead after one inning.

“That was a big-time relief right there,” said Manon.

Former major leaguer Michael Tucker put the Blue Crabs back in the game with his one-out RBI single in the fourth inning. Tucker’s hit also put two runners on base for Cesar Nicolas, who drilled Manon’s pitch deep to left for a three-run home run that cut the Ducks’ edge to 5-4.

But the Ducks responded in the bottom of the inning by putting up another five-spot. The club sent 10 men to the plate in batting around for the second time in just four innings. Bicondoa (0-1) gave up three straight singles before Mike James entered in relief. James didn’t fare better, also allowing three straight base hits.

“If we kept a one-run lead, it would have been tough,” Manon said about the additional run support. “It would have been more pressure [on] the hitters and the pitchers.”

Hernandez took advantage of another bases-loaded chance, nearly missing a grand slam when his booming shot hit off the centerfield wall for a two-run double. Estee Harris followed with a run-scoring double and Pachot’s sacrifice fly capped the scoring to extend the lead to 10-4.

“I would imagine it took the wind out of their sails,” Carter said. “All of a sudden they were thinking they were right back in it but then when we come back and score another five…”

Every Duck except Pachot, who tallied two RBIs, logged one base hit by the fourth inning.  Pachot added an eighth-inning single while Alex Prieto contributed two hits off the bench.

“Whenever you can jump on top early,” Hernandez said, “that’s exactly what you want to do and we did it.”

Francia smacked Southern Maryland’s Mac Suzuki’s eight-inning fastball into centerfield for a two-out, two-run single. Ray Navarrete followed with RBI single to left to help the Ducks avoid elimination with a 7-4 victory in Game 3 of the Liberty Division Championship Series. The Ducks still trail the best-of-five set, 2-1, but will look to pull even against the Blue Crabs  Sunday.

Francia had been 0-13 in the series before pouncing on Suzuki’s offering. His single scored George Lombard and Johnny Hernandez to break a 4-all tie and send most of the 4,739 at Citibank Park into a frenzy. The Ducks will also play Game 4 at home and again in the elimination game Tuesday if necessary.

“I was looking fastball,” Francia said. “He finally threw it. I was looking for a fastball inside and [looking] to keep my hands inside the ball. I did that and I got the hit.”

Francia’s single keyed the Ducks’ four-run eighth inning that erased Southern Maryland’s one-run lead. It also snapped a 10-game postseason losing streak as the Ducks won a playoff game for the first time since 2005. The base hit allowed Francia a chance at redemption.

“I was trying to do too much the last few games,” Francia said. “I wasn’t seeing the ball very good.”

Francia said he changed his approach against Suzuki, who closed out the Blue Crabs’ two wins in Southern Maryland to start the series.

“I was relaxed and I said to myself, ‘this is it right here. This is going to be a big at-bat for me,’” he said.

The Ducks were four outs away from getting knocked out of the Atlantic League playoff’s first-round for the fifth consecutive season. Southern Maryland entrusted former major leaguer Franklyn Gracesqui to bridge the gap to Suzuki. But the ex-Marlins’ lefthander walked Gonzalez to lead off the inning before allowing a base hit. Johnny Hernandez smacked another single to left to plate Raul Gonzalez with the tying run.

Alex Prieto tried to sacrifice the runners with a bunt yet reached on a single when the Blue Crabs couldn’t make the play. That ended Gracesqui’s evening after he failed to retire all four batters he faced. The southpaw took the loss in giving up four runs.

Suzuki nearly escaped the bases-loaded, no-out jam with the tie intact. The right-hander struck out Rob Sandora and forced ninth-hitting Matt Cavagnaro to pop out before Francia came through.

“It’s going to give him a huge boost,” manager Gary Carter said about Francia’s confidence.

Levittown native Randy Leek struggled at the start, allowing Southern Maryland to score twice in the first inning. Travis Garcia lined the left-hander’s pitch into left for a RBI single to open the scoring before Jeremy Owens added a sacrifice fly.

The Ducks battled back thanks to Cavagnaro’s contributions. The Bay Shore native hit a home run in Game 2 and added a RBI single in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fourth to help the Ducks tie the game and ignite a struggling lineup from the bottom of the order.

Navarrete, the Ducks MVP who set seven offensive franchise record this season, drilled his first postseason home run this year to put the home team ahead, 3-2, in the fifth.

Carter left Leek, who pitched 6 2/3 innings of five-hit ball, in the game to start the seventh and John Ramistella pulled a one-out solo home run to left to tie it. Southern Maryland took the 4-3 lead when Cesar Nicolas drove in Garcia with a RBI single through the left side off Ducks’ reliever Jim Brower. Garcia had reached on an error at third with two outs, ending Leek’s outing one batter before Garcia scored the unearned run.

“There’s no question Randy has been outstanding at home,” Carter said regarding Leek. “We knew coming back to our home ballpark and having the ball in his hands would be a plus for us.”

The Ducks completed the comeback, something it failed to do in one-run losses in the first two games. Carter said the Ducks could benefit from the momentum swing and even mentioned his role on another champion club New Yorkers remember fondly.

“We know we can’t give in,” Carter said. “If we’re going to be the cardiac kids, like a reminder [of] 1986, then that’s what it’s going to have to take.”

Jackson said he drove for three days to Suffolk County to make his Ducks debut in the team’s regular season finale. The former Cubs prospect keyed the Ducks’ 12-10 win over Camden Sunday, helping his club earn the Liberty Division’s second-half championship and sparking the postgame celebration.

Not bad for a single day’s work.

Regardless of the outcome, the Ducks would have qualified for the postseason as a wild card team and would face Southern Maryland in the best-of-five divisional playoffs. But Jackson helped his team head into the postseason with momentum, going 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Jackson already won a championship in an independent minor league this month when he led Fargo-Moorehead to a Northern League crown. The outfielder, who will turn 30 Friday, will be asked to help replace Lew Ford’s production. Ford won the Atlantic League’s Player of the Month award for August after hitting .475 with home runs, six doubles and 17 RBIs before joining the Cincinnati Reds Triple-A affiliate.

“I’m in a fortunate situation right now,” Jackson said. “I’ve had playoff experience this year and in the past in minor league ball. Playoffs are a different environment. All the ballgames are important Executive is more important during those times. Hopefully I can help out and look forward to winning a second one here.”

Jackson stepped into Ford’s centerfield spot and provided a jolt from the lineup’s second spot. The former Chicago third-round draft pick spent six seasons in the Cubs system from 2000-2006. He now has a chance to add a second championship in a month.

“If you’re in a championship situation twice in one season, that’s what you play for,” Jackson said.

Joining a veteran club that claims former major leaguers like George Lombard and Ken Ray might mean an adjustment period is needed. But Game 1 in Southern Maryland is Thursday, giving Jackson no time to settle in gradually. Jackson said the pressured-packed atmosphere suits his playing style.

“Distractions or whatever, you look forward to this time of year. It’s going to be fun,” he said.

Jackson is not a stranger to the Atlantic League. The former University of Richmond standout hit .333 in 107 games for Camden in 2008. He split the previous season between the Phillies and Mets minor league systems, marking his last year with affiliated organizations.

Fargo-Moorehead benefitted from Jackson’s power bat this season. The 6-3 left-handed hitting slugger hit 17 home runs and drove in 97 RBIs for the RedHawks, winning the Northern League’s Player of the Year award.

“To come out and get three hits is nice to carry into the playoffs,” Carter said.  “He was the MVP of his league. He’ll be a big bonus for us.”

Ducks manager Gary Carter didn’t have a chance to avoid him.

Cate doused the Hall of Famer as soon as he opened the door as the rest of the clubhouse roared in delight. The celebration capped a whirlwind day in which the Ducks posted a 12-10 win over Camden in the regular season finale and Southern Maryland lost its game, allowing the Ducks to claim the second-half Liberty Division championship.

“It’s gratifying when you work so hard and win it in that way,” said Carter, who kept on his drenched alternate green No. 8 uniform. “It gives us a good feeling going into the playoffs.”

Hoisting a division championship banner is usually the ultimate regular season goal for a contending team. But the Atlantic League’s playoff scenario complexities made for an unusual regular season finale for the Ducks Sunday afternoon.

The Ducks entered the day having already clinched a sixth consecutive postseason berth and a meeting with Southern Maryland in the best-of-five Liberty Division Championship series. But a Ducks victory and a Southern Maryland loss would make the Ducks second-half Liberty Division champions.

Juan Francia’s four RBIs and six Ducks pitchers ensured the club took care of business on its end. Minutes earlier, the club got the help it needed when the Blue Crabs fell to Lancaster, handing the Ducks the division crown and momentum heading into Thursday’s Game 1.

The Ducks finished the first and second halves with identical 37-33 records. The team trailed Southern Maryland by seven games as late as Sept. 2 before winning seven of its last nine.

“For us to keep battling and come back and end up winning the division, it’s a momentum-builder going into the playoffs,” Carter said.

The Ducks were 7-13 against the Blue Crabs this season, marking the team’s worst record in head-to-head matchups in the eight-team league.

“Southern Maryland’s going to be tough,” Carter said. “They were the club that played the toughest against us all year.”

Raul Gonzalez drove in three runs, including a two-run fifth inning single, while George Lombard added a two-run home run. The Riversharks provided some anxious moments for the home team thanks to a six-run eighth inning that turned an 11-4 lead into one-run game.

With three consecutive off days looming, Carter called on All-Star closer Bill Simas for a five-out save. Simas maintained the 11-10 lead and logged a scoreless ninth inning after the Ducks tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

“It’s gratifying just for the scrap we put up with all year,” Simas said. “We had a lot of injuries, we had guys leaving us and we played bad baseball for awhile. So I think for us to actually win the division in the second half is huge.”

Torn between going for the division crown and the reality that the outcome would not affect seeding, Carter chose to limit starter Ken Ray and set up his rotation for the playoffs.

Ray, who is slated to start Game 2 in Southern Maryland Friday night, pitched just three innings in his final start before the first round. The ex-Atlanta Brave allowed just one hit and walked four before giving way to Ron Flores to start the fourth. Ray’s effort puts him on track to make his next start on regular four-days rest.

Ray Navarrete received a watch in a pregame ceremony for winning the team’s MVP award. The former Mets farmhand finished with a league-best 96 RBIs and a Ducks-leading 25 home runs. But Navarrete gave Carter and the rest of his teammates a scare when he landed hard on the leftfield grass trying to make a diving catch on Kevin Kotch’s second-inning line drive triple.

Carter jogged from the dugout to the field to check on Navarrete before the outfielder waved his manager back to the bench. Navarrete played the rest of the game and scored two runs.

Carter will send out Troy Cate to start Game 1 against former Ducks lefthander John Halama, who went 8-1 with a 1.96 ERA. Southern Maryland, who won the first half title, chose to have the first two games (Thursday and Friday) at home.

The series will then shift to Citibank Park where Levittown native Randy Leek will start Game 3 for the Ducks Saturday. If the necessary, the Ducks will host the final two games as the club tries to win its first playoff series since the 2004 championship season.

Nic Jackson joined the Ducks from the Northern League, where he led Fargo-Moorhead to a championship. Jackson is looking to add a second title in the same month and went 3-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in his Ducks debut.

“I was just lucky enough to get some pitches to hit,” said Jackson, who said it took him three days to drive to Long Island. “I’m in a fortunate situation.

“You can’t ask for anything more. If you’re in a championship situation twice in one season; that’s what you play for. The playoffs are a different environment. Hopefully I can help out here.”

Carter wrapped up his first season as Ducks manager with a 74-66 overall record. The Ducks have qualified for the playoffs every season since 2004 but have lost in the first round the previous four seasons when the league used a best-of-three format. This is the first season the league made both the opening and championship rounds a best-of-five set, which both the Ducks players and Carter said they favored.

“The best team doesn’t always win in a best-of-three,” Simas said. “In five, you have a chance to battle back a little bit and the best team has a chance to win.”

Carter extended his trip yesterday for two prolonged arguments after the three-man umpiring crew overturned two controversial calls. One call went for the home team and the other helped Southern Maryland, though the Ducks second-half success rate stayed perfect as George Lombard belted two home runs in his debut in a 6-2 win over the Blue Crabs Sunday at Citibank Park.

Lombard, a former Braves outfielder, logged four RBIs and three runs scored to help the Ducks improve to 3-0 in the second half while moving his team in position to claim a four-game sweep over a team that clinched a playoff berth by winning the Liberty Division’s first half crown.

“I haven’t played in over two months or seen live pitching,” Lombard said. “You have nothing to lose. Just go out there and do what you’ve done for 15 years.

“I’m excited to have a uniform on and would like to get back to Major League Baseball. It’s just another obstacle people throw at you.”

Lombard broke open a 2-all tie with his three-run home run in the sixth in his 3-4 evening. That shot to right off Southern Maryland starter Keith Ramsey ended an inning that started in bizarre fashion. Ray Navarrete’s hard-hit ball down the third base line appeared to land foul, though umpire Mike Edwards ruled it fair and Navarrete slid into second for an apparent leadoff double.

But Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson and other fielders argued the call and Edwards put up his hands to signal foul ball—reversing his decision without consulting other crew members. That prompted Carter to get into a heated argument, though the Hall of Fame catcher was not ejected.

“No, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Carter said. “If you make a call, you got to stick by it. If you reverse it, without getting help, well, that’s the wrong thing.”

Navarrete flew out to center before the Ducks made the matter moot. Preston Wilson and Victor Rodriguez lined back-to-back singles before the lefty-hitting Lombard took Ramsey deep to put the Ducks ahead, 5-2.

Lombard added a eighth-inning insurance run, elevating a line drive that hooked just inside the rightfield foul ball. First base umpire Dan Wilson ruled the ball foul before Carter argued. This time, Wilson conferred with home plate umpire Dave Perry and the call was changed to a home run.

After the records re-set at the 140-game regular season’s midway point, the Ducks have outscored Southern Maryland 17-5 to move to 3-0. Randy Leek and Julio Manon provided two stellar starts to begin the second-half and lefty starter Troy Cate made it three strong starts in a row, allowing just two runs (one earned) in six innings to improve to 5-2.

“The bullpen as a whole to this point has been overused,” Carter said. “Now we got three solid, good performances from our starting pitching. If we can get that on a consistent basis, then we can rest our bullpen.”

Carter said the Ducks are in position to complete a sweep that might have long-term implications. He reference the 1986 Mets four-game sweep over St. Louis on the road from April 11-14 that year. In 1985, the Cardinals beat out the 98-win Mets team for the division crown en route to winning the National League pennant. But the Mets made a statement early next season that propelled them to postseason success, which is what Carter said he is hoping to achieve in his first season as Ducks manager.

“I remember [Mets manager] Davey Johnson telling us if we went in and proved to them in the first series that we can beat them, we’ll win this thing,” Carter said. “Sure enough, that’s the way it went. We just need to put a thought in their head.

“That’s all I’m thinking about is playoffs. I’m not counting our chickens before they hatch because anything can happen but that’s how I think. And that’s who [Southern Maryland] we would play.”

In the meantime, the Ducks will settle for a win after trailing 3-0 in the eighth. The Ducks scored twice in the ninth to send it to extras before Hernandez brought home John Pachot with the winning run against Jonathan Plefka (1-1).

Down two runs in the ninth, Victor Rodriguez reached on a one-out error when Todd Davison bobbled the ball. Two base hits sandwiched around strikeouts put the tying runs on base and both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.

Pachot then hit a grounder down the third base line that Luis Lopez snared with a backhander. Rather than holding it, Lopez tried the low-percentage throw and his attempt skipped past first base, allowing Kyle Reynolds to score the inning’s second unearned run and tie the score at 3.

Manager Gary Carter nearly was ejected the next batter when Pachot, after advancing to second on another wild pitch, raced home from second when Juan Francia punched a single to left. The strong throw resulted in a bang-bang play and an out call, which caused Carter to jump in the air and scream in frustrating at what could have been the game-winning run.

A power surge temporarily knocked out the left-center field lights with two outs in the top of the sixth and the ensuing 1:08 delay ended a pitching duel prematurely. Cate and Bridgeport’s Kyle Jackson each allowed one base hit each before the rain swept over Citibank Park, leaving it to the bullpens.

Bridgeport finally opened the scoring with a three-run seventh, spoiling Cate’s dominating effort as the Bluefish posted a 3-0 victory. Cate struck out eight and walked just one in 5 2/3 innings. The lefty retired the first 10 Bluefish and faced the minimum through five innings before giving up a leadoff sixth inning walk.

Cate then struck out the next two batters before the delay. The left-center lights and scoreboard flashed on and off before the second strike on Shea Harris. Harris stayed at bat and struck out on the next pitch just as the lights went out in the scoreless game.

At that point the umpires called for the tarp as lightning flashed. Rain pelted the field for the next hour and Ron Flores was on the mound in relief of Cate when the teams returned 68 minutes later.

Flores got out of the sixth by inducing a pop out on one pitch. Yet the Ducks couldn’t muster any more offense despite the Bluefish going to the bullpen. Jackson picked up a no-decision, allowing one hit in five innings, striking out four while issuing zero walks.

The Ducks (34-29) trail first-place Southern Maryland by 5 1/2 games with seven games left for the first-half crown. All records re-set at the midway point, though the remaining first half games are still important should the Blue Crabs win the second half pennant as the best overall record determines a wild card entry.

Bridgeport (29-35) finally generated offense with the first four batters reaching base to start the seventh. Jesse Hoorelbeke lined a single to following a leadoff double and walk, loading the bases against the Ducks Rob Paulk.

With the infield playing in to cut off the run at home, Brandon Sing’s grounder skipped through the left side to plate Todd Davison with the first run while chasing Paulk. Jason Norderum came in and got a key strikeout before walking former Duck Ron Davenport to force in a run. Hoorelbeke scored Bridgeport’s third and final run on a wild pitch to cap the rally.

Cate’s effort came two days after the Ducks released Opening Day starter Brad Halsey. Halsey, a fellow southpaw, was 3-5 with a 5.86 ERA before his departure.

Julio Manon is the closest the Ducks have come to finding an ace, posting a 3-1 record and a rotation-best 3.29 ERA. Cate is the only Ducks starter with an ERA less than 4, making him a candidate to take over the No. 2 rotation spot and provide a lefty complement to Manon.

Halsey never found the consistency and didn’t miss many bats, allowing left-handed hitters to bat a collective .325 against him. The former Yankee prospect was jettisoned July 1 after allowing 73 hits in just 58 1/3 innings. Catcher Jamie Quinn, the team’s bullpen catcher, took Halsey’s roster spot after backup catcher Rob Sandora is out day-to-day with soreness in his leg.

The Ducks countered with just two such players but still put a big league hurting on the Bears, torching six Newark pitchers for 19 hits and two home runs in a 17-6 blowout win in a Citibank Park matinee.

Estee Harris drilled his second grand slam of the season, breaking the game open with his fifth-inning bases-clearing blast to right as part of a five-RBI afternoon. Alex Prieto went 3-4 with a homer, four runs scored and three RBIs. Every Ducks starting position player registered a base hit by the fifth inning, chasing Newark starter and former Yankee Shawn Chacon.

“When we get on base, the other guys bring us in,” Prieto said. “When one guy starts hitting, everyone starts hitting again. Right now, we’re doing pretty well.”

Prieto and Juan Francia went a combined 5-8 with five runs scored and five RBIs batting in the eighth and ninth position, marking the second straight game the bottom of the order has served as the offensive catalyst.

“When you get the bottom part of the lineup going, you’re going to have a day like today and score 17 runs,” manager Gary Carter said.

Jake Dittler continued to solidify his spot as a back-of-the-rotation contributor, going 5 1/3 innings in allowing six runs to pick up the win as the Ducks extended its winning streak to four. The Ducks capped an eight-game homestand with five wins before heading to Somerset for a four-game series against the Atlantic League’s best team.

“We’re looking to get that production from the middle of the lineup,” Carter said. “This was a big series for us, no question about it.

“To win three games against a powerhouse like Newark was a big plus for us. Guys are swinging the bats and it seems like we’re starting to jell at the right time.”

Entering Friday, the Ducks sputtering offense mustered just 11 runs in six games. Preston Wilson is still out until at least Monday, though the club continues to batter Atlantic League pitching without the former All-Star. The Ducks have scored 32 runs the past three contests, staying three games behind first place Southern Maryland.

Harris broke the game open in the Ducks six-run fifth inning. After working the count to 3-0 against lefty Cory Willey, Harris took a strike and sat on a fastball, whipping the bat through the zone to pull the ball hard over the rightfield wall. Harris’ fifth home run helped the Ducks turn a three-run cushion into a 12-3 edge.

“The previous at-bat against him, he didn’t go to his breaking ball,” Harris said. “He kept feeding me fastballs so I figured he would try it again.”

The offensive onslaught comes at a time when the Ducks are getting its rotation back healthy and productive. Combined with Southern Maryland losing its staff ace and closer to major league organizations this week and the Ducks are hitting its peak with just eight days left before the All-Star break.

Opening Day starter Brad Halsey looked dominate in his last start and 2008 wins leader Randy Leek threw two scoreless innings in relief Saturday in his first game back since being sidelined with an oblique injury.

Troy Cate started that game and allowed just one run in five innings as he works his way back from a groin injury and Dittler stayed aggressive when staked to a big lead. Newark took advantage of the pitches in the zone, driving up Dittler’s run total thanks to Andres Perez’s three-run home run in the sixth. The right-hander also had to sit through long innings and his manager said that prevented him from staying loose.

“He was upset about the three-run home run but for the most part, he was keeping the ball down,” Carter said. “With a pretty big lead, he wasn’t afraid to come in and throw strikes.”

The Ducks jumped out to a 6-0 lead, scoring once in the first and five runs in the second in which 10 batters came to the plate. Chacon needed 27 pitches to get out of the first and fired 32 in the next inning before Newark manager Tim Raines pulled the ex-Yankee and Colorado Rockies starter. The Ducks also shelled Chacon in another slugfest victory May 18 at home.

Every Ducks position player except Johnny Hernandez scored at least one run. The rightfielder still got into the action, driving in two runs in a 2-5 effort.

“When everyone is hitting like that, I don’t feel like a middle guy,” Harris said. “You don’t feel like it’s an extra burden. Everyone is doing what they need to do out there. It makes it easier on everyone.”

Troy Cate looked completely healthy is his second start since returning from a groin injury. The southpaw limited a potent Newark lineup featuring six ex-major leaguers to two hits and one run in five innings to propel the Ducks to a 7-3 win over the Bears Saturday night at Citibank Park.

Cate, who was limited to just three innings while on a strict pitch count in his June 9 start, lasted long enough to get the win this time. The southpaw struck out four and walked just one, retiring the first eight hitters to improve to 3-1. His only mistake was a third-inning solo home run.

“It seems as if he’s almost back to full strength,” manager Gary Carter said after Cate’s 66-pitch outing.

The Ducks enjoyed another positive outing from a left-hander. Randy Leek, the club’s 2008 wins leader, was taken off the inactive list prior to first pitch and hurled two innings in relief. Leek was out since May 30 with an oblique injury and escaped a bases-loaded situation in the sixth by forcing Jay Gibbons to ground out to second.

The Levittown native came back and threw a1-2-3 seventh, sandwiching strikeouts between a groundout to short in the perfect inning to complete his night. Leek was 1-5 with a 7.78 ERA before coming off the inactive list and is slated to start Friday.

“He went out there for a couple of outings not at 100 percent but was trying to gut it out and paid the price for it,” Carter said. “We just knew that it was best for him and us to get him healthy for the tail end of the first half and for the second half.”

From the ninth spot, Juan Francia finished a home run short of the cycle, scoring three runs while driving in two. A pair of former Minnesota Twins also spurred a Ducks offense that is breaking out of a collective cold spell.

One night after a big seventh inning contributed to an eight-run output, Alex Prieto hit his fourth home run and Lew Ford singled twice and drove in a run. Prieto and Francia, the last two hitters in the Ducks lineup, combined for three extra-base hits, three RBIs and three RBIs.

“Right now, we’re playing like a team,” Francia said. “We have a great team and if we keep playing like this, we have a great chance to make it to the playoffs.”

The Ducks posted a three-game winning streak for the first time since the second of the month and moved three games behind first-place Southern Maryland. It only took 2:22 in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,187.

The Blue Crabs suffered a double-blow to the roster, first watching closer Jim Ed Warden sign with the Mets organization Friday. One day later, staff ace and Atlantic League wins leader John Halama (8-1, 2.05 ERA) signed with the Atlanta Braves, weakening the Ducks key rival in the first-half race. Ducks pitchers Ken Ray and Ed Buzachero were signed away earlier in the season.

“That’s the way this league is,” Carter said. “I think we were hit the hardest out of anybody but we held our heads up.”

Estee Harris continued to make a case for All-Star consideration, lifting a pitch high to right that barely cleared the wall to start the second. The Central Islip native is second on the Ducks with four home runs and continued to compensate for the injured Preston Wilson’s absence.

Cate retired five former major leaguers before eighth-hitting Andres Perez hit a one-out homer to left in the third to tie it at 1. Perez never played above Single-A yet was Newark’s first batter to reach base safely while rounding the diamond.

The Ducks tagged Martinez for a two-run third. Prieto turned on a fastball for a leadoff line-drive homer down the leftfield line and consecutive singles and a sacrifice bunt brought up Ducks leading RBI-producer Ray Navarrete.

Navarrete didn’t get a good swing but Perez couldn’t field the ball at third, allowing Juan Francia to score before Martinez induced a double play to escape further trouble. Prieto ensured the Ducks of another productive inning in the fourth, ripping a clutch two-out triple to the right-centerfield gap to plate Victor Rodriguez and Rob Sandora. Ford followed with a RBI single to stake Cate to a 6-1 lead.

“We’re just starting to swing the bats well and now we need to take advantage of it to get some wins,” Ford said. “We’ve gotten good starting pitching to go along with it.”

Bill Simas entered in the ninth in a non-save situation and allowed two runs before getting the last out.

“You deserved to win,” Carter said to Manon, who had a large ice bag strapped across his right arm.

The Ducks bullpen didn’t live up to its reputation as the team’s lone season-long strength, costing Manon a win while dealing another blow to the club’s first-half division title chances.

A rare lapse from set-up man Joe Valentine and closer Bill Simas allowed Camden to score twice in the eighth and ninth innings, capped by Brian Burgamy’s two-run homer in the last inning to move the Ducks to 22-23; the first time since May 28 the team dropped below .500.

“It’s a shame it turned out the way it did,” Carter said. “Julio pitched an outstanding game but I have enough confidence in my bullpen and I’m going to go back to them when I need them.”

Manon celebrated his 36th birthday by throwing seven scoreless innings. Fredrick Torres finally got to the former Montreal Expos pitcher in the eighth, taking him deep with one out to end his shutout bid. A single brought in Valentine, who entered with a 1.40 ERA. But a single through the right side put runners on the corners before Jon Knott ripped a RBI double off the rightfield wall to tie the score at 2.

Simas, who carried a 1.89 ERA, got the first out in the ninth before allowing a single. Burgamy entered with a .189 average and Simas allowed just one home run. Burgamy got the better of the matchup, ripping a full-count fastball to the row of advertisements beyond the rightfield wall for a crushing two-run homer. The Ducks remained 5 games behind the Liberty Division-leading Blue Crabs.

Manon made just his season’s fourth start and worked into the eighth inning for a third straight outing. Matt Cavagnaro scored twice thanks to RBIs from Estee Harris and Ray Navarrete, staking the ex-Oriole to a 2-0 lead into the late innings.

On an overcast and cool night, Manon prevented Camden from squaring the ball, inducing 15 fly ball outs. Manon said he shrugged off the loss and supports the relievers who have kept the Ducks from falling out of the division race.

“We’re all one group and we’re all trying to do our best,” Manon said. “Whatever happened out there, we’re not meaning for it to happen. It just happened, that’s the way the game is.”

Last week’s seven game road trip featured series against the league’s worst two teams. The Ducks won two of three from Bridgeport but dropped three of four against last-place York, finishing the trip 2-4. Camden is just one game above .500 and have won two of the first three games in the series, meaning the Ducks are missing opportunities to surge up the standings.

Injuries also are mounting. Randy Leek, last year’s wins leader, is still out with an oblique injury and Preston Wilson is still recovering after getting hit in the face with a pitch. The Ducks offense is sputtering, scoring just 10 runs the past five games.

“I view those games as several missed chances,” Carter said. “We needed to capitalize against Bridgeport and York. Maybe the [upcoming] All-Star break will be a blessing in disguise because our guys have been pretty banged up and we’ve been doing it with mirrors, basically.”