Bridgeport, CT – Buddy Harrelson brought some of the ’86 Mets Magic to Bridgeport on Monday hoping that it would rub off on the Ducks.

“I wore my ’86 (championship) ring today and I made the guys rub it, because that was a magical year,” the Long Island owner and first base coach said.

It worked.

In their biggest game in Long Island's five-year history, the Ducks did unto Bridgeport, what the Bluefish used to do unto them. Long Island capitalized on a throwing error by Will Pennyfeather which allowed pinch runner Luis Rodriguez to score the winning run as the Long Island Ducks go to the playoffs for the first time by winning 5-4.

"When Bridgeport and us come together, it basically comes down to that one mistake," manager Don McCormack said. "Fortunately for us tonight, it was their mistake."

The Ducks finally got to the playoffs after many near misses. Even with the team losing some key players over the past two weeks, Long Island is now able to relax and look forward to playing baseball at the end of September.

That is because, in that faithful ninth, catcher Matt Garrick led off with a clean single to right field off reliever Ryan Schurman. After Rodriguez pinch ran for Garrick, Andrew Salvo bunted Rodriguez to second.

Kevin Baez then hit a lazy fly ball to deep right and Rodriguez tagged. Pennyfeather, who has a very accurate arm, tried to get the runner at third, but airmailed the throw into the stands, which allowed Rodriguez to score the winning run.

"I was expecting it to come down, but it was rising," Pennyfeather said. "It was bad timing for a bad throw."

Bill Simas pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to earn the win and nail down the victory.

The game started out looking like the Bluefish would run away with it as they got off to a 3-0 lead after 2 innings.

But Long Island got one back in the third with three straight one out singles by Salvo, Baez and Justin Davies to load the bases. Cole Liniak drove in Salvo the hard way by getting plunked by a 1-2 pitch. After Kimera Bartee popped out, Doug Jennings was robbed by Pennyfeather to prevent any further scoring.

After Bridgeport made it 4-1, the Ducks tied it in the fifth with a two out rally. Davies walked and was doubled in by Liniak. Then on a 0-2 pitch, Bartee hit a wind blown homer to left. For the outfielder it was his 18 homer of the year and his 60th and 61st RBIs.

It looked like the Bluefish would take the lead in the seventh. Brian Rekar exited as the Ducks brought in Joe Cotton. After getting the first two outs, Cotton walked Gustavo Escobar and McCormack brought in lefty Jordan Zimmerman to face DJ Boston. The DH proceeded to walk and the reliever was the given a shower as Jamie Brewington came into relieve. Willis Ortanez lined a shot that had base hit written all over it. Only a brilliant stop by Baez at short prevented a run from scoring.

"I was reacting," Baez said of that play. "I was looking to make the play and get out of the inning."

Rekar started for the Ducks and gave up four runs over six innings.

"Our hitters and defense did great jobs today. I didn't really have much," the Ducks starter said. "It worked out well for us."

Photo by the LI Ducks.