Ducks end series on high note as JC Encarnation's walk-off homer beats Stormers
Long Island Ducks JC Encarnacion gets the Gatorade bath at home plate after hitting the game winning three run home run against the Lancaster Stormers, Sunday, August 4, 2024 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Credit: George A Faella
The Ducks’ JC Encarnacion stepped up to the plate with runners on first and third, two outs and the Ducks trailing by two runs in the final inning of Sunday evening’s game against Lancaster.
Encarnacion, who already had homered over the left-centerfield wall in the fifth
, knew the Stormers were throwing a lot of breaking balls but hoped to see a fastball.
And when Lancaster’s Stephen Nogosek threw him one and he drove the 3-and-2 pitch over the rightfield wall for a three-run homer and a walk-off 5-4 win at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, the fans replaced their “Let’s go Ducks!’’ chants with wild cheers.
“Going out there, I was just looking for a good pitch, something I could drive into the outfield,” Encarnacion said via an interpreter. “I’m happy I could contribute and help the team win.”
The Ducks are 45-44 overall and 15-11 in the second half. The game went only seven innings because of a paused Saturday game that was completed earlier Sunday.
The Ducks lost that second game of the series, 11-3, but Encarnacion’s home run gave the Ducks and their fans a happy ending.
“JC has got a unique skill set,” manager Lew Ford said.
“He has that power but also the speed to get stolen bases, and he’s really good on defense, too. He’s nice to have. There’s not a lot of guys that can do all those things. He came through tonight big for us.”
It marked the Ducks’ sixth consecutive series win and their second straight over Lancaster, which sits atop the Northern Division.
The Ducks are two games behind the Stormers in search of the second-half title after finishing fourth in the first half.
“It’s really been starting pitching, and our defense has been playing a lot better too,” Ford said. “We’re in a lot of games now. We’re having guys step up, different ones each day.”
Sal Romano made his first start for the Ducks, allowing four hits and two earned runs with one strikeout before leaving early in the third inning after trainers checked out his hand on the mound. Ford said Romano should be fine.
Four of Encarnacion’s eight home runs have come against Lancaster. The Dominican Republic native spent the previous three years in the Atlantic League with Lexington and York before joining the Ducks, and he knows what it’ll take to keep them pushing ahead.
“[We just have to] work hard and compete,” Encarnacion said. “Those teams are in first place, and we just have to focus, do our best, get on base and score runs.”
