Ducks win, sweep up Somerset
They do not award style points for walk-off wins, which is fine by Shawn Williams.
With the bases loaded and the score tied at 3 with one out in the bottom of the ninth, the Ducks catcher hit a chopper up the middle that was snagged by a diving Dan DeGeorge. But with the Somerset infield drawn in, DeGeorge's only play was home.
And from the seat of his pants, he could only muster an errant throw to the right of catcher Yusuf Carter. Matt Esquivel scored the winning run as the Ducks (15-7) completed a home sweep of the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots with a 4-3 victory.
"I was just hoping for it to go through," Williams said. "I just tried to bust it out of the box and was hoping that they didn't turn a double play somehow."
Ducks starter Gustavo Chacin was in line for his first Atlantic League win until closer Jon Meloan allowed two runs in the ninth for his first blown save of the season. But it was an encouraging afternoon for the starting lefthander, as he allowed five hits and one earned run over five innings.
Chacin made his Ducks debut last Monday in Sugar Land (Texas), allowing four runs in an inning before a rain delay forced him from the game.
His second start was a marked improvement.
"I felt really good with all of my pitches," said Chacin, a veteran of five MLB seasons. "I was throwing in and out, up and down. I just mixed up everything well and kept those guys off-balance."
Chacin settled in early, freezing designated hitter Freddie Bynum on a changeup in the first inning. The Patriots (12-11) got the scoring started with an RBI single from DeGeorge in the top of the second.
The Ducks tied it in the bottom of the inning on Wilberto Ortiz's RBI double, and Chaminade product Kraig Binick's solo home run in the third broke the deadlock. Chacin struck out two more in the fourth and ended his afternoon by striking out Freddy Sandoval with runners on first and second.
Notes & quotes: The Ducks signed RHP Jared Lansford, son of former major leaguer Carney Lansford. Lansford, 25, was released by the Dodgers during spring training and has a 3.80 ERA in seven minor league seasons . . . The Ducks are 9-0 at Bethpage Ballpark this season, three shy of the franchise record for consecutive home wins set in 2006. "You can't put a finger on why," manager Kevin Baez said of their home success.
