Long Island Ducks baseball John Halama Brian Bohl York Revolution

Ducks Defensive Letdown

Two Errors in First Lead to 5-2 Loss

By Brian Bohl

August 7, 2007

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY— Failing to get an out on one rundown play is usually just dismissed as a fundamental error. Botching a second attempt in the same game raises some eyebrows.

The Ducks failed to get outs despite catching two Bridgeport runners between bases on Sunday. The lapses were part of a five-error effort that was salvaged after an offensive explosion turned a seven-run deficit into an 8-7 win.

No such heroics bailed out the defense last night, as the Ducks recorded two errors in the first inning for a third straight game, leading to a 5-2 loss to York at Citibank Park. Overall, the team with the Atlantic League’s best record has put up seven errors over the past two games.

“That’s part the game. You’re going to make errors. We’re going to do it,” said Jose Offerman, who ended a postgame interview after just one question. The former Red Sox infielder was charged with three errors in the past two games.

Bryant Nelson dropped a fly ball in centerfield in the opening inning Sunday, setting up a forgettable night for the defense that culminated with a record-tying performance for futility. It marked the second time the Ducks made five errors in a contest. The first dubious feat also came against the Bluefish, occurring May 27th in Bridgeport.

On Monday night, Dionys Cesar committed the first base-path transgression, losing his grip on a ball while trying to tag out a hung-up Bobby Malek at home. Instead of throwing to catcher Jamie Pogue for the out, the third baseman chased the runner down while keeping the ball in his non-glove hand. Malek crossed the plate after Cesar dropped the ball and the play was ruled an error. Jose Offerman escaped a similar fate after failing to tag out a runner caught between first and second base on a stolen base attempt gone awry.

Manager Dave LaPoint said he was troubled by the effort, even though his team remains atop the Atlantic League's North Division.

“Dionys should have had the ball in his glove and Jose should have had the ball out his glove,” LaPoint (pictured at right) said after the Bridgeport win. “I don’t think we’ve had four rundown plays all year. All of a sudden, it becomes a strange play. We haven’t done it in awhile. I guarantee it won’t happen again. We’ll be ready for it next time,” he declared.

York’s Ramon Nivar proved LaPoint’s hypothesis correct, getting caught in a rundown at home for the final out of the first inning. But that putout couldn’t prevent their first-place edge over the Newark Bears from dropping down to four games, thanks mostly to a third straight outing of dubious defense.

Offerman (pictured at right), who was charged with an error on a ground ball Sunday, committed another costly first-inning error against the Revolution. York put up four runs in the inning, only two of which were earned after Norm Hutchins failed to glove Nivar’s single on a bounce. That allowed the ball to scoot past him, plating Nate Espy.

“It does go in cycles, but this is too experienced of a team to think that this is going to carry on,” LaPoint said. “I think it’s a lot to do that it’s hot; we’re sluggish; we’re not A-1 hustle energy like we normally have. That’s what causes it,” the manager explained.

One game after starter Randy Leek was victimized by six unearned runs, John Halama (pictured at left) shared the experience. The fellow lefty allowed five runs— only three earned—in eight innings. No big comeback worked out this time in the makeup contest, and the former Oriole’s record dropped to 7-6. The Ducks start a three-game series tonight against the Camden Riversharks before returning back to Citibank Park Friday.

Norm Hutchins laced a long single to deep right-centerfield in the fifth, scoring Ray Navarrete and Cesar to cut the deficit to 5-2. The blast was deep enough for extra-bases, but Hutchins grabbed his leg after rounding first, hobbling back to the base before being removed for pinch runner Jared Price.

Hutchins was listed as day-to-day with cramps in his calf. The injury forced LaPoint to leave Price, the backup catcher, in the rightfield since Carl Everett had the night off and Kevin Haverbusch remains sidelined with a rib injury. Haverbusch could return to the lineup in Camden, which would replenish an outfielder corps that counted just three regulars in Hutchins, Navarrete and Nelson.

Notes: The announced attendance was 6,055… The contest was a makeup of the rained-out July 29 contest…Cesar finished 2-3 with a run scored. He has reached base in each of his 10 games since signing with the club…With Everett resting, Rose was the designated hitter while Rob Cafiero started at first base.

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