Bees Pound Ducks, 11-5

Six Bees had a multi-hit game as New Britain pounded Long Island,
11-5 on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Meaghan O’Donoghue)

NEW BRITAIN—The New Britain Bees outslugged the Long Island Ducks, 11-5, at New Britain Stadium on Tuesday night to even up the four-game series at 1-1. Lew Ford gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the top of the second with a solo home run to right field off Bees starter Jed Bradley. But the home team stormed right back in the bottom of the frame. A solo homer to right by Taylor Motter and a two-run homer to left by Jonathan Galvez gave the Bees a 3-1 lead after two innings.

The Ducks knotted the score at 3-3 thanks to a two-run shot over the fence in deep right center by Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the top of the fourth. However, the home team answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer down the right field line by Logan Moore off Ducks starter Mariel Checo to put the Bees back up by two, 5-3. It was Moore’s second dinger of the 2019 campaign.

The Bees put the game out of reach with a four-run explosion in the fifth, and single runs in the sixth and seventh. Five RBI singles and a run-scoring double did the damage. The Ducks managed to cut the home team’s advantage to 11-5 in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Ford and a bases loaded walk to Rando Moreno, but ultimately the Ducks would get no closer.

New Britain starting pitcher Bradley allowed three runs on six hits in five innings. The southpaw also walked two and struck out six Long Island batters in earning his second victory vs. no losses. Devin Burke came on in relief in the sixth inning to toss a scoreless frame and Michael Johnson did not allow a run in the seventh. Carlos Ramirez made his New Britain debut in the eighth frame, allowing a pair of runs. Brandon Fry finished the contest without allowing a run in the ninth.

Long Island starter Mario Checo was tagged with the loss and fell to 1-1. He allowed five runs on eight hits over four innings with two strikeouts. He was tagged for five runs on eight hits in four innings of work. The only Long Island reliever to have a harmless inning was Enrique Burgos, who tossed a clean eighth.

The Ducks got out to a 1-0 lead in the second on Lew Ford’s first home run of the year. The Bees would come right back in the bottom half of the inning as Taylor Motter and Jonathan Galvez both hit round-trippers to put New Britain on top 3-1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis had something to say about that as he homered in the fourth to tie up the game. From there, it was all Bees as Logan Moore hit his second home run of the year, giving the boys from the Hardware City a 5-3 advantage, one they would not give back. Four RBI singles came in the home half of the fifth and Alejandro De Aza capped off New Britain’s strong offensive night with an RBI double after the fans stretched in the seventh. De Aza led the way for the Bees with four hits on the evening.

With the win, the Bees improve to 20-16 while the Ducks fall to 24-13.) The series continues tonight, which will be another Kids Meal Deal Wednesday. Kids 12 and under can cop a hot dog, bag of chips and soda or water for $4. Tickets are available for purchase at the Bees box office at New Britain Stadium or by clicking HERE.

—Staff Reports

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