Pitcher Bennett Parry does well in first Ducks start since May 4
Ducks starting pitcher Bennet Parry delivers to the plate during an Atlantic League baseball game against the Lexington Legends at Fairfield Properties Ballpark on Thursday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
The second leg of the Bennett Parry comeback tour is underway and, despite a brief scary moment, everything appears to be headed in the right direction.
Parry, who missed more than two months with a variety of shoulder issues likely related to two seasons away from the game, pitched well in his first start since May 4, allowing one run and three hits in 2 2/3 innings of the Ducks' 6-1 win over the Lexington Legends Thursday afternoon at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. He struck out three and walked none.
“I was just trying to feel like I’ve been feeling leading up to it,” Parry said. “You can’t really simulate game experience. You throw all these bullpens, you do all this stuff, but you don’t really know how it’s going to respond once you’re out there … I felt like location and stuff-wise, it was pretty good.”
The lefty, who the Ducks hope will be a big part of their second half rotation, left the game with trainers with two outs in the third inning. But Ducks manager Wally Backman said all was well — a relieving false alarm — and Parry is set to make his next start next week.
Parry, who was dominant in his prior two stints with the Ducks in 2018-19 that he was quickly signed to other international leagues, partially retired before last season and coached high school baseball in California. But, the itch returned halfway through last summer and he was back with the Ducks (3-5) in spring training this April. He made three starts before going on the disabled list on May 5.
“It was definitely not how I wanted to start (the season),” Parry said. “I definitely wouldn’t have come back if the goal was to only go three (starts) and have to take another (two months) off. I was frustrated, but I tried to put that energy into the rehab, and working out, and getting back as soon as I could. I feel like, ultimately, I was able to turn it into a positive and I’m feeling good. Hopefully that continues.”
Ryan Meisinger pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief after Parry left. Meisinger allowed one hit, struck out four, walked three, and earned the win. Deibinson Romero went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. He was a triple short of the cycle.
The Ducks bullpen retired the final 16 batters.
“It’s going to be hard to lose when your bullpen does that,” Parry said.
The Ducks scored two runs in the first inning, aided by two misplays by Lexington centerfielder and former Duck Boog Powell. Powell bobbled an L.J. Mazzilli RBI single in shallow centerfield, eliminating any chance for a play at the plate to catch the sprinting Vladimir Frias. One batter later, Romero’s RBI single bounced off the glove of a diving Powell, drove in Alejandro De Aza, and gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead.
The Legends cut the Ducks lead to 2-1 in the top of the second, but De Aza’s fielder’s choice in the bottom half drove in Kevin Whatley and put the Ducks ahead by two runs once again. The Ducks added two more runs in the fourth on a two-RBI single from Joe DeCarlo to take a 5-1 lead.
Romero’s solo home run with two-outs in the sixth pushed the Ducks lead to 6-1.
