Bobby Blevins pitched a complete game shutout while Dan Lyons and Adam Bailey each drove in a pair of runs as the Long Island Ducks crushed the visiting Camden Riversharks 7-0 before 4,629 fans at Bethpage Ballpark Friday night. With the win, Blevins improved his record to 9-3 on the season.
Bobby Blevins. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495 Sports
Blevins got off to a bit of a shaky start, allowing two hits in three of the first four innings, but managed to pitch his way out of trouble each time. He the settled in and dominated for the rest of the evening. The 29-year-old righthander retired 17 of his final 18 batters and did not allow a hit after the fourth inning. He has now made 11 consecutive quality starts for the Ducks.
“I started out a little slow, but I finally settled into a groove,” Blevins explained. “I’m just staying aggressive and keeping the ball down in the zone and staying competitive out there. It’s believing in my stuff and maintaining my between starts preparation and staying healthy.”
In his last 11 starts, Blevins has been dominant. He is 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA. His control has also been excellent as Blevins has only walked four batters in his last 65 2/3 innings.
“He’s always throwing strikes,” Shortstop Dan Lyons said. “It gives us a lot of confidence that he’s going to do his job.”
Blevins got all the help he needed in the bottom of the second inning when catcher Brandon Bantz doubled home Adam Bailey with the game’s first run.
The Ducks took control of the game in the fourth inning when shortstop Dan Lyons singled home two runners with a bases-loaded single to centerfield that gave the Ducks a 3-0 lead. Fehlandt Lentini followed with another RBI single and the Ducks led 4-0 after four.
“I got a pitch that I could handle and fortunately hit it over the second baseman’s head,” Lyons said. “It was a big situation. We were able to get some runs that inning and take the pressure off of Bobby.”
Bailey drove home another run in the fifth inning while three walks and a hit batsman led to two more Long Island runs in the seventh inning to provide the final margin of victory.
The win gives the Ducks a boost as they head into Labor Day weekend in the thick of the playoff hunt.
“I think this is a great momentum boost going forward,” Blevins said. “We feel great and we need every win we can get. We’re starting to hit the ball, we’re playing together. We’re making productive outs. That’s the sign of a good team. We’ve just got to put it together each night and play all nine.”
“We feel really good about where we’re at,” Lyons added. “We’re hitting our stride right now and starting to win a bunch of ball games. It’s going to be fun down the stretch.”
Long Island returns to action Saturday as they face the Riversharks at 7:05 PM. There will be fireworks for all fans in attendance after the game. Slated to start the game will be Ducks righty Shaun Garceau (12-3, 4.90 ERA) who is scheduled to take on Riversharks Cesar Sanchez who is making his season debut for the visitors.
1495 Sports is proud to bring the following postgame video:
Dan Lyons and Bobby Blevins:
NOTES:
Sunday’s game will be Jewish Heritage Night and will also feature an appearance by Wubbzy from the TV show, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!”
Monday there will be an all you can eat BBQ that fans can purchase a ticket to for $25. It includes admission to the game against Camden. $5 from each ticket will be donated to the ALS Association.
Lew Ford picked up two hits. He has not hit safely in 19 of his last 22 games. Ford also has 44 multi-hit games this season.
For more information on the Long Island Ducks, News and Tickets fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here: