Ducks fall behind early again in loss to Camden

If there's one thing the Ducks know how to do this season, it's play from behind.

In 16 of the first 20 games, opponents had scored first. It took only two batters for that trend to continue Sunday in the Ducks' series finale with the Camden Riversharks.

After a game-opening walk, Alex Hudak launched a two-run home run over the rightfield fence off starter John Brownell and, yet again, the comeback was on. But the thing about comebacks is, they're never guaranteed.

Despite a fourth-inning grand slam by Lew Ford, the Ducks couldn't finish the job, falling, 10-6, in front of 5,103 fans at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip.

"It was a fastball that I didn't locate," Brownell said of the home-run pitch. "Looking back, I should have thrown a changeup."

Things got worse for Brownell in the third. He mishandled a bunt by Mike Albaladejo and a week ground ball by Hudak to load the bases for Paddy Matera, who doubled in three runs to make it 5-1. Camden scored four runs in the third and never looked back.

"I think I should have made that play," Brownell said of the bunt. "It wasn't a great bunt. It was decent. It would have been a close play. Usually, I feel like I field my position well enough to make the play . . . That's two plays where I feel like I could have gotten two outs. Maybe they score one run that inning. That changed the whole complexion of the inning and the game."

Brownell surrendered eight runs, six of them earned, in five innings. He struck out four, walked five and fell to 1-3.

Because of Saturday's doubleheader, manager Kevin Baez said he had only four pitchers available in the bullpen, including starter Shawn Garceau, who used his "throw day" to pitch the sixth inning.

Ford's grand slam in the fourth cut the Camden lead to 8-6, but the Ducks (10-11) were unable to capitalize on the momentum. They mustered only four hits over the final five innings, including two in the ninth when the Riversharks had extended their lead to four runs.

Joash Brodin, who went 4-for-5, said of Camden's pitchers, "They pounded the zone and threw a lot of strikes."