Early offense lifts Long Island over Lancaster in 6-3 win

Long Island beat Lancaster 6-3 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y., after Joseph Carpenter opened with a two-out solo shot in the top of the first and Marcus Chiu answered with an opposite-field two-run homer in the bottom half. The Ducks needed only three innings to take control on Saturday evening in the fifth game of the six-game series.

Carpenter struck first with a two-out solo shot in the top of the first, but Chiu erased that lead almost immediately with an opposite-field two-run homer in the bottom half. Long Island kept pressing in the second when Chris Roller lifted a sacrifice fly, then widened the gap in the third on Alsander Womack’s RBI fielder’s choice. A throwing error by second baseman David Smith allowed another run to score, pushing the Ducks ahead 5-1.

Troy Schreffler brought home the Stormers’ second run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and he added Lancaster’s third with an RBI single in the ninth. Long Island answered in the bottom of the seventh when Aaron Takacs drew a bases-loaded walk.

Clenney allowed two runs over seven innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out six. Luke Albright took the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits in three innings. Santos struck out Corey Rosier and Jake Thompson for his eighth save, his second in as many nights after he finished the Ducks’ 5-3 win over Lancaster on Friday.

Chiu finished a triple shy of the cycle, scored twice, walked once and stole his 11th base of the season. Takacs extended his on-base streak to 17 straight games. Long Island and Lancaster were set to meet again Sunday at 1:35 p.m., with Trevor Bauer lined up for the Ducks and Matt Swarmer scheduled for the Stormers.