CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — All the elements were in place for John Riedling to record the first no-hitter of his professional career, including the requisite solid defense, smart pitch location and strong defensive play.

Thanks to a rain out the night before, the Ducks and Somerset Patriots played a doubleheader, which features two seven-innings games as per Atlantic League rules. Despite the shortened contest, a no-hitter officially counts in those circumstances, meaning Riedling already enjoyed a pre-existing six-out advantage.

The righty took advantage, not allowing a hit until Anton French hit a clean single to right with two outs in the sixth. Riedling lost the no-hitter, but captured his first win of the season thanks to a three-run fourth inning and Todd Erdos’ magnificent relief appearance in the seventh to secure a 3-2 win over Somerset in the opener.

Manager Dave LaPoint allowed Riedling to go for the complete game, sending him out to start the seventh. He responded by walking Jeff Nettles and surrendering a single to Josh Pressley to bring the potential tying run to the plate.

Riedling nearly struck out Todd Leathers, briefly arguing with home plate umpire Gaby Colon on what would have been the third strike. Somerset benefitted from the close call, and Leathers responded by scalding the ball just inside the foul line for a two-run double.

With the tying run in scoring position and no outs, LaPoint summoned Erdos instead of closer Danny Graves. Erdos, the Ducks closer last season, responded by recording the first out on a sacrifice bunt. He walked Jose Morban but struck out Travis Anderson looking on a 1-2 fastball.

Morban stole second to put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Erdos recorded his first save of the season as French popped out to shortstop Derek Wathan to end the contest, allowing Riedling to improve to 1-0 as the former Florida Marlin finally got rewarded for a quality start.

“I knew that it would be a situation where if he got in trouble, we would need a strike out,” LaPoint said about choosing Erdos over closer Danny Graves. “Todd is in a better situation for that. If I thought I was going to need a ground ball, it would have been Danny.”

Riedling, who has pitched in the major leagues with the Marlins and Reds, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Lancaster in his previous start. He allowed just one hit in six innings, but lackluster run support saddled him with his second no-decision in as many starts. The 31-year-old righty entered with a 0-0 record and 1.64 ERA, which actually increased to just over two runs per game as he picked up his first victory in the Atlantic League after he finished with a line of four hits and two runs, striking out six and walking three.

“Riedling’s done it all year so far. [He comes] out and throw strikes,” LaPoint said. “I think our strong suit is our starting pitching, and they should get us into the sixth and seventh every time out there.”

As Carl Everett and Damian Rolls sat out with minor injuries, Rob Cafiero started as the designated hitter. The Massapequa Park native hit his first home run since 2004, taking Brian Adams’ offering over the left-centerfield wall to leadoff the fifth.

After failing to homer in his last 224 at-bats, Cafiero ignited a three-run rally. Back-to-back singles and a fielding error loaded the bases for Atlantic League home run leader Ray Navarrete. The second baseman didn’t homer, but registered his sixth straight game with a RBI by lining a run-scoring single to extend the lead.

“It feels good to finally get the monkey off my back,” Cafiero said. “I went the past two seasons without one here at home, so it feels good to finally get one.”

Edgardo Alfonzo added a sacrifice fly for an additional insurance run, bringing in backup catcher Jared Price to make it 3-0. Adams (2-1) was lifted after the inning, as the Ducks atoned for a 13-6 loss in the series opener against the Patriots on Tuesday. Somerset committed four errors in total, leading to one unearned run.

Kevin Haverbusch helped Riedling keep his no-hit bid alive in the fifth, making a sliding catch on Anderson’s drive near the right-field gap. French followed with his base hit, though Riedling also benefitted from Navarrete’s nice field-and-throw on Morban’s difficult ground ball to start the third.

“Once it gets later in the game and the guy still has a no-hitter…I’ve never been part of one, but tonight would have been the closest I’ve been,” Cafiero said. “Riedy’s been throwing the ball really great for us. He made a great run at it.”