For the second game in a row, the Ducks came ever so close to a win. Instead of evening the series with the York Revolution at one game apiece, they find themselves on the brink of being swept in the championship round of this 2017 Atlantic League series after dropping a second straight one run decision, 5-4. .
Ducks’ starter, lefty Jake Fisher, looked great for the first three pitches to York’s leadoff hitter Alanzo Harris. But then the 5’11” 165 pound left fielder, blasted the fourth pitch of the game into a decent wind and over the left field wall for a one run lead. The Ducks answered back in the bottom of the first with an unearned run for the first of three instances that the score would be deadlocked. It looked like a possible repeat of Wednesday night’s see-saw game could be in the making as both Fisher and York starter Frank Bailey hooked up in a lights out pitcher’s duel over the first six innings.
Catcher Alex Berg put the Ducks ahead in the fourth with a bullet line drive, opposite field home run to right field for the first of three lead changes. In the mean time, Fisher began to look like the complete game, nine strikeout, pitcher from last week as he mowed down the Revolution. After the lead off home run, Fisher retired the next fifteen batters and allowed only one more hit through the first five innings which was erased on a 6-4-3 double play.
Fisher used a clever mix of running fastballs and an arching curve ball that was at times, unhittable as he worked both sides of the plate to pitch with outstanding command and control. All of that was not enough as the Revs began to slowly pick away with a touch of “small ball.”
The numerous pitching changes were missing last night as each team only used four pitchers by games end, as opposed to thirteen last night. Walks were down as well. It made for a game time of two hours and fifty minutes, compared to the four hour and eighteen minute marathon of the previous night. The flock stranded eight base runners to the Rev’s three. That was the difference in the ballgame as once again the Ducks could not take advantage when they had men on base. Last night they left seven runners on base and that has become their Achilles heel during these close, one run games.
Tomorrow the show continues as the two teams head 235 miles west to York Pennsylvania, where the series will end. Can the boys from the Island win three in a row and bring home another championship? In their last series they won three in a row to advance, so maybe they can get hot and do it again. Who knows? Anything can happen, their ship has not sailed yet, and, as we all know, it’s not over till the fat lady sings.
The Ducks won’t quit and stranger things have happened. You know what? Put all of those possibilities in a bucket with a nickel and you know what you have? A nickel. It’s time for the Ducks to stop laying eggs and get to work.