The Ducks right-hander made only relief appearances from 2006-07.  But Ray continued to find a comfort level as starter, tossing six scoreless innings in helping the Ducks post a 4-1 win over Camden in a Sunday matinee at Citibank Park.

Ray, who made 13 starts in the Mexican League last year, improved to 4-0 and tied John Halama for the Atlantic League wins lead while lowering his ERA to 3 in scattering just five hits.   Manager Gary Carter said Ray could soon be an ex-Duck after the hurler struck out seven against zero walks while hitting one batter with a scout watching from behind home plate.

“I’m very proud of him because he may not be with us very much longer,” Carter said. “He’s had some looks from some teams.  He’s a guy we can look to to break a losing streak. This was a big win for us.”

Three first-inning runs staked Ray to an early lead and the Ducks never trailed in snapping a three-game losing streak. Estee Harris busted out of his early-season slump, picking up his first home run and RBI of the season with a fourth-inning solo blast for the insurance run.

Ray prevented Camden from completing the three-game sweep. He struck out two batters from the second through fourth innings. Back-to-back strikeouts helped him escape a first-and-third, none-out situation in the fourth.

“The last couple of starts, it’s been my weak point when runners got into scoring position with less than two outs,” Ray said. “I’ve been giving up the big hits and taking myself out of some innings. Today was different. I was able to make a couple of key pitches and get myself out of the inning.”

Joe Valentine logged a perfect seventh and Dan Miceli labored through the eighth. Vito Chiaravolloti drilled a RBI double off the left-centerfield wall, though Miceli worked around two walks to keep it at 4-1. Bill Simas put the first two runners on but induced a flyout before striking out the last two batters in the ninth for his eighth save, improving the Ducks to 12-9.

The only uneasy moments came in the third when two Riversharks hit line drives off Ray. Jason Jacobs’ sent a shot off Ray’s glove hand and Christopher Walker added a two-out single that bounced off the pitcher two batters later. Carter and the trainer came out of the dugout off of Jacobs’ hit but Ray stayed in the game without even throwing a warmup pitch.

No visit was needed after Walker’s line drive. Ray wasn’t shaken up, flicking a hellacious curveball to get Brett Bonvechio looking at strike three to end the inning. His effort allowed the Ducks to go with its standard set-up combination followed by Simas closing the final inning

“His thumb was pretty badly bruised [but] he hung in there and got us through six innings and allowed us to go to the big three,” Carter said.

Ray spent his first five seasons in pro ball as a starter before moving into a relief role. The Atlanta native parlayed that role into a major league job, making 13 appearances for Kansas City in 1999.

Minor league stops in the White Sox and Braves organizations featured a return to a starters role before Atlanta converted Ray back into a reliever, resulting in a career-best season with the hometown Braves in 2006 in which the native son logged a 4.52 ERA in 69 games.

It took a trip south of the border last season for Ray to go back to a starting role for the third time in his career. The 35-year-old said his four-pitch repertoire and ability to work out of struggles makes starting more attractive.

“I’d like to have an opportunity in an affiliated organization to where they would give me an opportunity to start,” Ray said. “It just seems that everyone sees me as a bullpen guy. Hopefully, I can change that.”

Raul Gonzalez, Victor Rodriguez and Alex Prieto each drilled run-scoring base hits in the first. The Ducks jumped on Camden starter Ryan Drese early, tagging the former Texas Rangers right-hander for three runs on four hits to support Ray.

Ray Navarrete lifted a leadoff double against the rightfield wall and Raul Gonzalez cued a one-out RBI single just inside first base to plate the opening run. Rodriguez rocketed a double in the next at-bat and Alex Prieto brought home the third run via his hard shot up the middle.

Harris entered the contest batting .111 before reaching base twice. The Central Islip native provided a lift with fellow outfielder Preston Wilson still out of the lineup with a day-to-day injury and Ron Davenport still not available.

“I saw Estee in the spring and knew he could swing the bat,” Carter said. “Estee is taking the opportunity and going with it. We know what he can do. It’s just a matter of capitalizing on that chance.”

The announced crowd of 6,411 at Citibank Park, were given the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Johnny Hernandez launched a Jared Gothreaux (0-2) fastball over the right field fence.  The victory for Long Island (5-4) gave manager Gary Carter, his first victory at home.

“It was a nice win to come back after the tough loss last night”, said Ducks Manager Gary Carter.

The start of the game was not a positive one, as Long Island starter and Ronkonkoma native B.J. LaMura had a difficult time in the first inning.  He seemed to have trouble getting his pitches in and when he did, the Patriot bats connected.  Two runs came home as a result of a Jeff Nettles single to left field, and a Matt Hagen double that just stayed away from the third base line.

Once the first inning was over, LaMura settled in and retired 10 Patriots in a row, before Anthony Granato reached on an error in right field by Raul Gonzalez.  In five and one third innings, LaMura gave up five hits and walked two, while striking out 3.

“I thought he did real well.  I know with a lot of family here, he started tough, but he settled down after that”, said Ducks Manager Gary Carter.  “He has earned another start.”

After Somerset’s Gothreaux got through the first nine batters with out getting allowing a Long Island batter to reach base, the Ducks cut the deficit to one on a broken bat bloop single by Raul Gonzalez, scoring Ray Navarette.

Gothreaux got into another groove allowing only one more hit over the next two and two-third innings, before walking Raul Gonzalez, and then giving up the home run to Hernandez.

Joe Valentine pitched a scoreless 7^th before the Ducks took the lead, to earn his second victory of the season.  Dan Miceli pitched a hitless eighth and Bill Simas closed the game for his fourth save of the season.  For the Ducks, it gives them a chance for Carter to experience a ‘happy recap’.

“Each game is a battle”, said Carter, but knows that it is good to get some good home cooking.  “You always want to play good in front of the big home crowd.  We know that we will get 6,000 a night at home, and hopefully tomorrow, we will win the series.

A victory on a fireworks night is always fun for the fans and the players alike.  Note: There are 10 of these planned for this season.

Quacker Notes:  Who is hot?  Outfielder Johnny Hernandez, a former Cardinals farmhand, is batting .500 before tonight’s game, with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 6 runs batted in.  Now, add a home run.  Who is not?  Lew Ford, the former Minnesota Twin, has struggled so far.  He is 5 for 29 to start the season. “He may be battling himself right now”, said Carter after the game; “But he is a major leaguer that has been successful, and I believe that he will get out of it.”  Preston Wilson had his hitting streak stopped at seven games.  Ray Navarette’s streak is now at eight.

But LaPoint is now the club’s pitching coach after Hall of Famer Gary Carter was named manager over the winter. The two will be in charge of leading the Ducks to success on the baseball field, though a meeting at a hockey venue might emerge into an early turning point for the 2009 season.

It was during an Islanders game that Carter asked LaPoint if there were hard feelings about the shakeup, and Carter said the two former World Series champions quickly developed a rapport.

“I just want to win a championship and he’s put together a great nucleus here,” Carter said. “Just because I have a title doesn’t make a difference. It’s a family and that’s a feeling I want everyone to have. My door is wide open.”

LaPoint continues to be the point man on personnel decisions, a role the Yankees former Opening Day starter relished during his managerial tenure. This year’s Ducks roster contains the usual litany of ex-big leaguers, highlighted by Preston Wilson, Lew Ford and Dan Miceli.

Serving as pitching coach isn’t a drastic move. LaPoint served in that capacity in Long Island from 2002-05, which includes the franchise’s only championship in 2004. Meeting with owner Frank Boulton and co-owner/coach Buddy Harrelson helped convince LaPoint to stay on as Carter’s assistant.

“It didn’t get tough until spring training, when I found out it’s tougher not to manage than it is to manage,” LaPoint said. “You’re so used to managing that you yell out things and you realize that it’s not your job anymore.”

The Ducks improved to 3-2 on the young season following a 7-5 win in Lancaster Tuesday night. After two more games in Pennsylvania, the team will return to Suffolk County for its home opener Friday.

LaPoint said the fans who pack Citibank Park will be treated to a rotation that features former major leaguers Brad Halsey and Ken Ray along with long-time Ducks and Long Island native Randy Leek, giving the rotation a nice balance of lefties and right-handers. The bullpen also features six players who LaPoint said can top 90 miles per hour on the radar gun.

Joe Valentine closed for the Ducks last season and returns in the role of set-up man now, joining a relief corps that features MLB veteran Miceli and closer Bill Simas.

“I think it’s the best one we have,” LaPoint said. “We’ve never had a strong bullpen with all six guys [before].”

Since the Atlantic League moved to a grueling 140-game schedule last season, a premium has been placed on pitchers who can soak up innings. The heavy workload, combined with the usual high turnover rate, means LaPoint is still working the phones and filling e-mail inboxes of potential hurlers.

“You need all the pitching you can get,” LaPoint said. “I might still another left-handed reliever. That’s why Frank expanded the roster to 27 men the first month so you don’t hurt any arms and don’t get strapped. If we lose somebody within the first month, we have starters ready to come in. So we’re prepared.”

As the Ducks enter its 10th season, LaPoint said both the organization and the league’s reputation has made it easier to attract talent.

“It’s not like 5-6 years when you had to really persuade a guy to come here,” LaPoint said. “Now, they now all about you before you call them. Most of them call you first. It’s gotten easier over the years. When you have messages on your desk that pretty good players want to play for you, it makes it easier.”

Though his dual roles keep him busy, LaPoint still needs to resist the urge to fill out the lineup card after managing the Ducks the previous two season and the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2006.

“It was difficult at first but I’m a baseball lifer and I’ve been with the Ducks forever,” LaPoint said. “So after sitting down with Buddy and Frank; who am I to say who is going to run the team?

“Once I met Gary, everything’s been really good. We came up in the same era of baseball. We played the game the same way. Once we got down and talked, everything fell right into place.”

For the record, Carter logged 11 base hits in 42 at-bats against LaPoint for a .262 average. LaPoint struck out the “Kid” seven times, though Carter blasted one home run and collected five RBIs.

The former great Mets backstop will look to add another line to an impressive baseball resume and once again be part of a contending New York team when he makes his Long Island Ducks managerial debut Thursday night.

Opening Day features the Ducks kicking off its 10th season against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Speaking at the team’s media day at Citibank Park on Wednesday, Carter said he has moved on from the criticism he endured for openly campaigning for the Mets managerial job last season.

Carter said he still would like to manage in the major leagues but insisted on numerous occasions that he is focused on bringing the Ducks its second Atlantic League title.

“I didn’t come here for any attention,” Carter said. “I wanted to challenge and I wanted to manage on the East Coast. All I’m concentrating on in this team.”

Dave LaPoint spent the last two seasons as Ducks manager. He returns as the pitching coach and the point man for personnel decisions and  said he is excited to see one of the more impressive pitching staffs the organization has compiled to start a season.

Former Yankee Brad Halsey will get the Opening Day start. Ken Ray, who last pitched in the majors for Atlanta in 2006, will go the second day and Ducks holdover Randy Leek will be third in the rotation, keeping him in line for the home opener start May 1.

Ray, a right-hander, will break up lefties in Halsey and Leek. B.J. Lamura is slated to start the year as the fourth starter. LaPoint said he is also excited about the bullpen, where the closer represents a link to the Ducks past.

Bill Simas, who closed for the Ducks 2004 championship team and was out of baseball from 2006-07 before coming back to the Mexican League last season, is penciled in as the closer. Setting him will be Dan Miceli, a veteran of 631 major league games. Joe Valentine closed games for the Ducks last season and is back for another term. Ed Buzachero rounds out the set-up corps.

“We have four relievers who can throw in the 90s,” LaPoint said. “When a guy needs a day off, we have options.”

The offense also features its share of former major leaguers, headlined by Preston Wilson and ex-Twin Lew Ford. Among the notable returnees is Ray Navarrete, who logged 103 RBIs in batting .307 for the Ducks last season. With those accomplished hitters and stable of veteran pitchers, Carter said he’s excited after seeing the Ducks go 2-0-2 to conclude last week’s exhibition schedule in Florida.

“Our lineup will score runs,” Carter said. “We only had a short time in spring training, but what I enjoyed most was the chemistry in the clubhouse and on the field.”

Halsey said playing for Carter, a catcher on the 1986 Mets and a 19-year major league veteran, is a special experience and one he cherishes more now than he would have when he was a 23-year-old coming up with the Yankees in 2004.

“It’s something that I’ve grown to appreciate through my two years away from the game while rehabbing,” Halsey said. “When you’re forced into a situation when you’re not able to play, that’s when you appreciate the game the most.”

Leek is the probable starter for the Ducks home opener after the club starts with seven road games, including a season-opening four-game set against the Blue Crabs followed by a three-game series in Lancaster.