CENTRAL ISLIP, NY— Staten Island set franchise records with 10 runs and 22 hits on Wednesday at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, edging the Ducks 10-9 in the middle-game of their three-game set. Staten Island's win in the 18^thedition of the 'Battle of the Belt' rivalry closes the season series to 10 games to eight in favor of Long Island. 
 
Despite the historic offensive night, Staten Island entered the top half of the ninth inning with just an 8-7 advantage over their North Division foe. Facing RHP Edubray Ramos, Staten Island received two quick hits from Andres Noriega (double) and Alfredo Reyes (single), putting runners on the corners for Joseph Monge. In his return from a 10-day absence, Monge drove in his second run of the night with a sacrifice fly to make it 9-7. Antoine Duplantis followed with an infield single, scoring Reyes to make it 10-7.
 
The two tallies proved critical, with Victor Capellan returning to the mound in the bottom of the ninth for a four-out save. Capellan collected the first two outs of the inning, but with two set down and Lew Ford on third base, Deibinson Romero stepped to the plate. The Ducks third baseman extended the game and brought Long Island within one on a two-run blast over the left-field fence. His 11^thhome run of the season made it a 10-9 game and snapped Victor Capellan's scoreless streak at 21 consecutive appearances. The Ducks would utilize Jake Zarello as a pinch hitter in the spot that was formerly occupied by the DH, in an attempt to keep the ninth-inning rally alive. Capellan struck out Zarrello to seal Staten Island's eleventh second-half victory. 
 
Wednesday's see-saw contest saw four lead changes and three ties in the first four innings. Rusney Castillo's two-out single that scored Dilson Herrera gave the FerryHawks an early 1-0 first inning lead, but a two-run home run by Carlos Castro in the second inning quickly put the Ducks ahead. Castillo collected another RBI single against his former team in the third inning, deadlocking the score at 2-2. 
 
The Ducks managed the vault in front again, plating one run in the third inning with a four-batter rally. Kevin Whatley led off the inning with a walk against FerryHawks starter David Martinez and would score on a groundout from Ford to make it 3-2 Long Island. 
 
Staten Island climbed back into the lead in the next half inning, scoring a pair in the top of the fourth. Three straight singles from Monge, Duplantis, and Javier Betancourt to begin the inning tied the score at 3-3. Herrera's sacrifice fly then scored Duplantis to earn Staten Island a brief 4-3 lead. 
 
Carlos Castro collected his third RBI in four innings, tying the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth. His one out single to center allowed Sam Travis to safely touch home, creating the third tie in just four frames. 
 
Staten Island took a lead they'd never relinquish in the top half of the fifth inning, putting together a nine-batter four-run rally to double up the Ducks. Four straight one-out hits from Noriega, Reyes, Monge, and Duplantis catalyzed the big inning and pushed the FerryHawks in front 7-4. With two still aboard and only one out, the Ducks removed their starter Joe Iorio for reliever Sandy Baez. Castillo greeted Baez with another single, scoring Duplantis for an 8-4 lead. 
 
Iorio (6-4) allowed eight earned runs on 14 hits over his 4.2 innings. He struck out two without allowing any walks in his 12^thstart of the season. 
 
David Martinez (2-2) did complete five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits. He struck out four and walked two in his first taste of the 'Battle of the Belt' rivalry. 
 
Long Island nibbled away at the FerryHawks lead, scoring one in the seventh and two more in the eighth to close the gap to 8-7. De Aza's seventh inning RBI double off of Eddy Reynoso made it 8-5, before Kevin Whatley's two-run double in the eighth inning (against Joe Kuzia) created a one-run game.
 
While Staten Island used a trio of relievers over the final four frames, the Ducks used a quartet to eat up the final 4.1 innings. 
 
Staten Island (29-56) and Long Island conclude their three-game series on Thursday with a rubber match. RHP Dakota Freese tosses against LHP Bennett Parry with first pitch at Fairfield Properties Ballpark scheduled for 6:35 PM.  
 
Postgame Notes: FerryHawks set a franchise record with seven players recording multi-hit games...Victor Capellan's scoreless innings streak ends at 26.0 IP (first run allowed since May 22)...Rusney Castillo and Alfredo Reyes became the third and fourth FerryHawks this season with four-hit games...Antoine Duplantis extended his hitting streak to seven games...Rusney Castillo is (6-for-8) in his first two games against his former team...Javier Betancourt (3-for-5, RBI) recorded his fourth multi-hit game over the last five...
 
FerryHawks Motto:The Staten Island FerryHawks are a Major League Baseball partnered franchise that will play in the high-quality Atlantic League in the Spring of 2022. Our mission is to create a home for everyone in the Staten Island community and solidify a fun and exciting family experience that fans will never forget. The FerryHawks will play their home games at the newly improved baseball stadium next to the Staten Island Ferry along Richmond Terrace in Downtown Staten Island. We are excited to have you and become part of our FerryHawk Family. Please visit https://ferryhawks.com. #RallyBackStatenIsland
 
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