Instead of falling out of the Liberty Division hunt, manager Gary Carter saw his team take care of business against the Atlantic League’s two worst clubs, sweeping York and taking the first two from Bridgeport.

Despite a plethora of chances, the Ducks failed to cap a second consecutive sweep. Carter saw his team make four outs on the base paths and leave three runners on base in the final two at-bats before Luis Lopez tagged Robert Paulk’s first pitch deep over the leftfield wall for a 10th inning solo home run, lifting the Bluefish to a 3-2 win in a rare morning start in front of 2,522 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard Wednesday.

Instead of moving 1 ½ behind Southern Maryland, the Ducks were held scoreless for nine innings after a two-run first as the three-four-five hitters went a combined 3-14. Bridgeport staff ace Esteban Yan scattered eight hits in eight innings after entering the contest with the league’s seventh-lowest ERA at 3.89.

Estee Harris accounted for both Ducks runs, recording a RBI and a run scored while Ray Navarrete was the only visitor to log a multi-hit game in a 2-4, one-run effort. With a five-game winning streak over, the Ducks dropped to 20-17.

The Ducks put runners on first and third in the top of the 10th thanks to shortstop Rayner Bautista booting Harris’ ground ball that would have ended the inning. Instead, the ball glanced off his glove before rolling into shallow center as Navarrete advanced to third.

Andy Weimer prevented the go-ahead run from crossing the plate, setting up Lopez’s third home run of the season in the bottom of the inning as the Bluefish evened the season series at 3-3.

Ducks starter B.J. Lamura lived dangerously through six innings, walking five and allowing five hits in throwing 109 pitches. But the righty kept the Bluefish to just two runs, stranding seven runners to pick up the quality start.

While Lamura labored through his effort, Yan capitalized on the free-swinging Ducks, needing just 85 pitches to breeze through his eight innings. Yan, a former Tampa Bay Devil Ray, walked just one batter and registered a single strikeout.

“I’m glad they gave me a chance to win and prove what I can do,” Yan, an 11-year major league veteran, said. “I’d like to get the win, but I’m happy the team won. I’m proud of what I’m doing and will continue to throw every outing and every opportunity.”

Despite the starters’ style dichotomy, both pitchers ended up with no-decisions. Yan allowed just one runner to make it into scoring position after the Ducks scored twice in the first. Bridgeport manager Tommy John elected to take out Yan for the ninth, bringing in Weimer.

Ron Davenport lined a leadoff double and a walk put two runners  on base before Johnny Hernandez placed a perfect sac bunt attempt down the third base line, moving both men into scoring position in the ninth. Dennis Donovan then hit a weak grounder to third and Davenport broke on contact and caught caught in a rundown between third and home.

Bridgeport got the tag out and then completed the double play when Donovan tried to take second base and was thrown out by 10 feet, killing a rally with the fourth out the Ducks made on the base paths.

Bluefish manager Tommy John is friends with Carter from their playing days. After a rough start, the Bluefish won four of the last six even after dropping the first two to the Ducks. Bridgeport is still looking to find consistency with a 15-23 record.

“If you don’t play very well like we’ve had the last couple of days, it’s not a lot of fun to manage anything,” John said. “But it’s fun. Gary’s been a friend of mine for a long time. We played against each other when he was with the Mets and Expos.”

Ken Ray, Randy Leek and Brad Halsey were entrusted to anchor the Ducks top three rotation spots before Opening Day. Ray is now in the Indians organization, Leek is inactive with an oblique strain and Halsey is looking to regain the form that once made him a heralded Yankee prospect.

But the Ducks qualified for the playoffs the past five seasons based on depth and are looking to employ a similar strategy with the new campaign barely a month old. Enter Lamura and Jake Dittler, who are two right-handers looking to become established Atlantic League starters.

Harris and Victor Rodriguez jumped on Yan early, lining back-to-back RBI singles before taking second on wild throws to the plate in the opening inning despite the 10:30 a.m. start time. Rodriguez prematurely ended the rally, getting thrown out trying to take third.

Bridgeport battled back, supporting its top starter by manufacturing a run off Lamura. Adam Greenberg worked a a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before coming home on Jay Caligiuri’s infield single to make it 2-1 after the first inning.

Lamura struggled with command but was able to minimize the damage. In the third, the Bluefish put runners runners on the corners with none out before Lamura induced a pop out before Ryan Radmanovich hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to tie the score at 2. That would be it as the Ronkonkoma escaped the inning without Bridgeport taking the lead.

The Ducks will head to Somerset for a three-game series against the reigning league champions. The Patriots entered Wednesday evening with a Freedom Division-best 24-17 record.

There he was, Armando Benitez, wearing No. 48, as he trotted in to close the Newark Bears eventual 7-3 win.

Of course a dunker and a walk put two runners on, but Benitez recorded the save – after all this wasn’t the playoffs – as Long Island wanted to put this match behind them.

“It was one of those games,” said Ducks manager Gary Carter. “Our starting pitcher goes four innings and throws 84 pitches and our middle guy Mike Hrynio throws 51 pitches. It’s not what you are looking for.”

That starter was B.J. Lamura, who Carter described as the team’s No. 5 man. Getting roughed up early, the Ronkonkoma native gave up two in the first highlighted by Rob Mackowiak’s two-out double into left-center field. And then the Bears added another run in the second to get a 3-0 lead.

The Ducks did come back though thanks to Johnny Hernandez’s homer making it 3-2.

Yet that was all the closest Long Island could muster on the chilly night. Since former Duck Carl Everett gave Newark its fourth run on his fourth homer of the season.

“You have to give Newark credit though, they are a good team,” Carter said. “It’s just one of those things. Tomorrow is another day and Newark has done well in the other division. We just have to keep holding our own.”

Time might be getting short for Lamura who is now 0-3 on the season, as Carter said he is looking for “guys he can rely on.”

Just as Newark is looking to lean on their bullpen and shorten games. Besides the former Met closer, the Bears also have former White Sox ninth inning guy Keith Foulke who pitched a scoreless eighth. Although it’s not Putz to K-Rod, it is a formidable one-two punch for the Atlantic League.

“They have the most major league experience,” Carter said. “Foulke has a lot of saves as does Benitez. Obviously the right answer is to get to their starting staff early, because they have a very strong bullpen.”

The Ducks will look to do that tonight as they continue their four games series against the Bears. Long Island will look to rough up Bears starter Edgar Martinez, while the Flock will send their admiral to the mound with former Yankee Brad Halsey toeing the rubber.

Notes: It was Knights of Columbus night at Citibank Park as the fraternal organization took part in all the pre-game ceremonies and sponsored clock night….Preston Wilson is still rehabbing his knee, and is days away from playing.

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.

The 2009 season opener took place on Thursday with a 7-4 victory on the road versus the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The former major leaguers that fill a good portion of the Ducks’ roster played a big part, with Brad Halsey earning the win; three hits in four at-bats by Preston Wilson and Bill Simas getting the save.

While the Ducks look strong on paper, the name of the game in the independent Atlantic League is to start off fast before the major league organizations start picking apart your roster. Winning the division in the first half will get you in the playoffs so that is the goal early on.

PITCHING

Halsey is a former Yankee, Diamondback and Athletic, and the southpaw will look to rebound after sitting out last season. His last taste of ‘The Show’ came in 2006 when he went 5-4 in Oakland.

Righthander Ken Ray is back on Long Island after a brief appearance as a Duck seven seasons ago. In two stints in the majors, Ray has a 2-1 record with a 5.13 ERA. His most recent came in 2006, when Ray went 1-1 with a 4.52 ERA as an Atlanta Brave.

Last summer, lefty Randy Leek won 12 games for the Ducks, tying a club record. Born and bred in Levittown, he will be beginning his third season playing in his own backyard.

Another Long Islander returns with Joe Valentine making his second stop with the Ducks. In 2008, he went 5-3 before moving on to play with two AA clubs in the Phillies and Reds organizations.

Ronkonkoma native B.J. Lamura, 28, has started 50 games in the minors since being drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2002 draft.

In 17 seasons in professional baseball, Dan Miceli has carved out a nice career for himself as a reliable reliever. His prior stops, all 10 of them, may have labeled him as a journeyman, but he brings a ton of experience to town.

When the Ducks won the Atlantic League championship in 2004, the pitcher getting the final out in all of their big games was none other than Simas. The 6′3″, 230-pound righthander is back for his second stint at Citibank Park after pitching this past winter in the Puerto Rican Baseball League.

Rounding out the rest of the staff are Ed “Bubbie” Buzachero, Troy Cate, Mike Hryino and Jason Norderum.

INFIELD

Ron Davenport, the lefthanded hitting first baseman, has showed good power numbers in the Toronto, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee organizations. He played with the Camden Riversharks last season and hit .336 with 18 home runs and 93 RBI.

The double play combination of Juan Francia and Alex Prieto should make for some exciting defensive baseball. Francia, who played 26 games on Long Island last year, posted a .967 fielding percentage with the Ducks and Lancaster Barnstormers.

A former Minnesota Twin, Prieto spent the 2008 season with the Bluefish and batted .269 with 12 long balls. He has spent eight seasons at the AAA level, most recently two years ago in Pawtucket in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Beginning his third season with the Ducks, Ray Navarette has become one of the team’s most consistent hitters, earning All-Star honors the previous two years. In 2007, he set team records for doubles, extra-base hits and runs scored. Last summer, he hit 27 homers and drove in 103 runs.

Back-ups include Matt Cavagnaro, Dennis Donovan, Victor Rodriguez and Gabe Suarez.

OUTFIELD

Centerfield has always been a strong point of the Ducks and nothing has changed with the signing of Lew Ford. A veteran of five major league seasons, the former Twin’s best year came in 2004 when he went .292/15/72.

Preston Wilson was part of the Mike Piazza trade when the Mets acquired the perennial All-Star backstop from the Marlins and the slugger has hit 189 balls out of major league parks in a decade of play. He looks to make his way back by showing he can still jack the ball and he started off hot with a home run in the season opener. Wilson, never known for his defense, will see the majority of his action as the designated hitter.

A Brooklyn boy, left fielder Johnny Hernandez played with Bridgeport in 2007 and brings his switch-hitting skills closer to home. He had spent some time in the Cardinals organization after being drafted out of Xaverian High School in 1997.

Raul Gonzales, a 35-year-old veteran of four major league organizations, spent some time up in the bigs with the Mets in ‘03 and is penciled in as the Ducks starting right fielder.

Being from Central Islip, Estee Harris begins his third season at home and batted over .300 for the Flock before being signed to the White Sox Single-A affiliate.

MANAGER/COACHING STAFF

Keeping in the tradition with a decidedly Mets flavor, the Ducks hired Gary Carter as manager and retained Dave LaPoint, last year’s field boss, as pitching coach. The face of the franchise is still Bud Harrelson and he will be on hand as the third base coach. Kevin Baez, another former Met and Duck player, returns as infield coach.

Carter, who has made it no secret that he wants to manage in the major leagues, hopes to bridge his way back by winning a second consecutive independent league title. Last year he led the Orange County Flyers to the Golden Baseball League championship after managing in the Mets organization beginning with the 2005 season.

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.