Ducks on verge of elimination in championship series after Game 2 shutout by Sugar Land
Long Island Ducks starting pitcher Matt Larkins delivers against the Somerset Patriots in Game 1 of the Liberty Division championship series at Bethpage Ballpark on Wednesday. Credit: George A. Faella
Once again, the Ducks are on the verge of losing in the Atlantic League Championship Series. And, once again, a sweep could be in the cards. The Ducks fell to the Sugar Land Skeeters 10-0 in Game 2 of the best-of-five series Wednesday night at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
The Ducks trail 0-2 and are in danger of being swept in the championship series for the third consecutive season. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip. If necessary, Games 4 and 5 are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on Long Island.
The Ducks were shocked in Game 1 — losing a two-run, eighth-inning lead and falling in 13 innings. There was no shock Wednesday. The Skeeters got 14 hits and the Ducks made two errors. It was over early.
Skeeters starter Konner Wade pitched a complete-game shutout, allowed seven hits, and struck out 11.
Matt Larkins, who pitched extremely well in the Ducks’ divisional round win over the Somerset Patriots but was up and down this season, allowed six runs (three earned) and eight hits in 5 2⁄3 innings. He struck out two and walked three.
The Skeeters broke through with four runs in the third inning. Juan Silverio’s sacrifice fly plated Barrett Barnes, Matt Chavez’s single drove in Anthony Giansanti, and Tony Thomas’ two- run double drove in Chavez and Albert Cordero to give Sugar Land a 4-0 lead.
Barnes hit solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings to push the lead to 6-0.
Sugar Land put up two runs in the seventh off Ducks reliever Thomas Nicoll. Nicoll, who was making his first appearance with the Ducks after being acquired last Friday to replace the injured Logan Ondrusek, allowed two runs, three hits, and struck out three in 1 1⁄3 innings.
Lorenzo Barcelo is scheduled to start for the Ducks in Game 3 on Long Island on Friday night. Barcelo started the Ducks 5-3 Game 4 loss to the Patriots in the division series last weekend. He allowed five runs, including three home runs, and nine hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
