Ducks' late rally not enough in loss to Blue Crabs
Ducks' Kole Kaler drops a bunt down the third base line during a game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip on Sunday, August 18, 2024. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
When a routine ground ball came shortstop Kole Kaler’s way in the first inning of the Ducks’ 7-5 loss to Southern Maryland on Sunday, it looked like an easy out.
After all, he had made only one error through 29 games as a Duck entering Sunday. This time, however, the ball skipped past his glove and into leftfield for an error, putting a runner on base and setting up Jomar Reyes’ two-run home run.
Kaler was frustrated but stayed calm. “The more you focus on [the errors], the more often it’s going to happen,” he said.
“For me, it’s just about getting to the next pitch, the next play,” Kaler added. “It’s something I’ve learned at [Texas] A&M and something I’ve worked on my entire life.”
Fast-forward to the fourth inning. Kaler sprinted to scoop a ball over second base, spun and hit Ryan McBroom at first for the out.
He followed that up with a bunt single and eventually scored the Ducks’ first run, setting up a four-run sixth. That, however, wouldn’t be enough to secure a win at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip.
Ducks lefty starter Mike Montgomery (6-7) allowed seven runs (six earned) and seven hits, including three home runs, through four innings.
The Ducks had only two hits through the first five innings.
The Ducks, who won the first two games of the three-game series with the Blue Crabs, haven’t had a series sweep since June 21-23. They remain two games behind Lancaster in the Northern Division.
“It’s tough to win every night out,” manager Lew Ford said. “But I’m happy with the way we’re playing. Even today, we were down 7-0, and we got the winning run at the plate in the ninth.”
The Ducks pulled within two runs on Nick Heath’s RBI single and a walk put two runners on for Leobaldo Cabrera, but he struck out to end the game.
A late-game rally wouldn’t have been possible without pitcher Justin Alintoff, who relieved Montgomery. He allowed two hits and struck out two through three innings.
“The pitching is definitely keeping us in the game,” Ford said.
The Ducks traded for Kaler, who went 2-for-4 with a run, in July. He described it as “culture shock” at first.
“As you get older and you’re hoping to extend your career, you’re going to meet guys who have big-league time and affiliated time,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s just about going out there and playing your game.”
Kaler spent his graduate year leading Texas A&M to the 2022 College World Series semifinals for the first time in school history.
