Blue Crabs Hang On To Defeat Bluefish In Series Opener
September 17, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT- September 17, 2015) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (29-37, 55-81) were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (25-42, 67-70) 2-1 in the opener of a four game series at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Thursday night. Southern Maryland improves to 25-21 in one run ballgames on the season.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Cory Riordan (5-6) went the distance but was tagged with the loss, allowing just two runs on ten hits, striking out eight and not walking a batter in nine innings of work. Riordan registers his third complete game and 11th quality start on the 2015 campaign, both tops on the Bluefish staff. Southern Maryland Starting Pitcher Daryl Thompson (7-7) picked up the victory, tossing eight and two-thirds innings, giving up one run on eight hits while striking out three and not issuing a free pass. Cody Eppley retired the only batter he faced in the ninth inning to earn his eighth save.
The game was scoreless until the top half of the fifth inning when Southern Maryland broke the tie off Riordan on a sacrifice fly by Jamar Walton, plating Reggie Abercrombie with the game's first run after he led off the frame with a base knock. After being handed a 1-0 lead, Thompson continued to impress, retiring 11 of the next 14 batters to secure the lead. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the visitors until the top half of the ninth inning, when Southern Maryland added a giant sized insurance run again off Riordan on a booming RBI triple to straightaway center field off the bat of Craig Maddox, his second extra-base hit of the night, bringing home former Bluefish Jovan Rosa after he opened up the inning with a single, and the Blue Crabs had a 2-0 cushion.
Bridgeport would rally in the last half of the ninth inning of Thompson, who was trying to finish out the contest on a strong note. Welington Dotel singled to begin the uphill climb, but then CJ Retherford popped out and Andres Rodriguez fouled out. Wilson Batista kept the game alive with a seeing-eye single to right field, and Juan Martinez drove home Dotel with an RBI base hit, and just like that Bridgeport was down 2-1 with the tying run in scoring position and the winning run at first base. Southern Maryland Manager Stan Cliburn went to his closer Eppley, and he induced Luis Rodriguez to ground into a comebacker, and the Blue Crabs narrowly escaped with a one run victory on the road. Dotel and Batista led the way for Bridgeport with two hits apiece.
The Bluefish continue the final series of the regular season with the 2015 First Half Freedom Division Champion Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Friday, September 18th. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M.
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- Blue Crabs Hang On To Defeat Bluefish In Series Opener - Bridgeport Bluefish
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