Chris McCoy dominant in return as Ducks defeat Lancaster

Around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Chris McCoy signed his name to a contract. Less than five hours later, that signature was on baseballs being handed to awestruck fans at Bethpage Ballpark.

Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack" blaring from the stadium speakers in the second inning couldn't have been more fitting. McCoy, returning for a third stint with the team, pitched a four-hitter and led the Ducks to an 8-1 win over the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The righthander walked one and struck out five in his first career complete game, showing that even at 41, he's still the real McCoy.

"They called me [Friday] and told me they'd need me to start today," said McCoy, a Lake Grove native who pitched for the Ducks from 2000-01 and 2010-11. He had more than 30 relatives and friends in the crowd Sunday. "I didn't want to get myself nervous, so I went out there and kind of pretended this wasn't real."

The performance was surreal. He baffled batters with a splitter and changeup, stifling an offense that was coming off Saturday's 16-5 win over the Ducks. McCoy plays for the Long Island Storm semipro team and had made a spot start for Southern Maryland on July 24.

"My arm still works and teams keep calling," said McCoy, who faltered only in the second when he allowed an RBI single to Emerson Frostad. Teammate Matt Esquivel said: "He's unbelievable. The guy is home one day and he's pitching a complete game the next."

The Ducks took a 3-0 lead in the first, capitalizing on J.D. Durbin's control issues. Timo Perez and Brandon Sing drew bases-loaded walks, and Bryant Nelson had an RBI fielder's choice.

Sing went 2-for-2 with a homer. Esquivel (2-for-4, four RBIs) hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning that made it 8-1. Durbin allowed eight runs, eight hits and eight walks in eight innings as Lancaster, the Atlantic League's best team, fell to 68-38.

Ray Navarrete's second-inning double was his 43rd of the season, breaking an Atlantic League record he set in 2007. Navarette, batting .313, also leads the league with 74 RBIs.

"I had a little bit more speed when I did it five years ago," Navarrete joked. "It's a little harder to get those doubles now, so this means even more to me."

Dan Lyons, Mitch Canham and Navarrete each scored two runs. The Ducks (52-53) secured a playoff berth by winning the first-half Liberty Division title, but are 13-23 in the second half. The team now hopes to build momentum from this split of the series with Lancaster.

“[Saturday] we got our butts kicked, but it was important to gather ourselves,” Esquivel said. “To do it against this team, it sets a tone going forward.”