Ducks still swinging hot bats

The Long Island Ducks are having no difficulty scoring runs. 

The team – which leads the Atlantic League with 515 runs through 81 games – has scored double-digit runs 13 times this year. It has scored 15 or more runs on five occasions, and even surpassed the 20-run plateau twice. 

“We’ve got some good hitters, and they're confident and they work hard,” manager Kevin Baez said. “They go out there and put some good quality at-bats together." 

So when the Ducks defeated the Road Warriors last Sunday, 17-3, blasting a franchise-record six home runs, it was nothing new for the guys in orange and green. "It’s just one of those things where hitting is contagious. They feed off one another,” Baez said. “It was fun to watch and it's fun to be on that side of it, because some times you're on the other side.” 

J.R. House, Matt Padgett, Ray Navarette, Javier Colina and John Rodriguez, who hit two, all went yard for the Ducks. The 17 runs marked the fourth-highest run total on the season, the highest being 25, which the team scored on June 9 by defeating the Lancaster Barnstormers, 25-10. 

The victory helped solidify the Ducks league-best home record, boasting a 37-11 record at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip. Though the Ducks have already locked up a playoff spot by winning the Liberty Division in the first half with a 40-23 record, the team has come out strong in the second half, winning 13 of 18 games. 

"The first half was great, we had a nice celebration and everything was good,” said Baez. “But once the second half started, we had a meeting with the guys and I said, 'You still have to go out there, still have to play the game the right way,’ and that's the attitude we go about it."

The Ducks will play the second half without the services of one of their more consistent first half pitchers, Mike Parisi, who on July 19 had his contract purchased by the Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers organization. In 13 starts, Parisi had a 6-4 record, and a 3.50 earned run average, the second lowest ERA among starting pitchers in the Atlantic League.

"That's the nature of this league,” Baez said. “We're here, hopefully to get players to another organization to get to the big leagues. So anytime we see anybody get picked up, it's sad, but it's good for him because it's going to further his career. So we wish him well, and you ask for your guys to pick up the slack.”

One player who has certainly picked up the slack all year long is starting pitcher Mike Loree. Loree, 27, has 13 wins with an ERA of 1.91, both of which lead the league. "Loree's been our top pitcher, not only on our team, but in the league,” Baez said. “He's just a consummate professional. We feel real confident when he's on the mound."

With 44 games remaining, and a playoff spot already in their back pocket, Baez insists the Ducks will continue to work hard, and continue to better themselves as they head towards the postseason.

"You want to play well going into the playoffs,” Baez said. “That's the key. So when we get closer to the playoffs, you want to go in feeling good about yourselves."