Bluefish Begin Doubleheader With Victory Over Patriots
May 18, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (9-16) defeated the Somerset Patriots (18-8) 7-5 Wednesday Morning at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, in a seven-inning morning campaign, the first of a separate admission doubleheader. The win earns the 'Fish their second straight over the reigning Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Champions, and extends the Patriots losing streak to four, their longest of the season.
Normally a position player, Bridgeport's Dan Johnson (0-0) started his first career game at the pitching position. The knuckleballer threw the first three innings for the 'Fish, allowing three earned runs on two hits, walking five, and striking out two batters. Blake Beaven entered the game for Bridgeport in the top of the fourth, making his Bluefish debut after signing with the team earlier in the day. The right-hander threw two innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, walking one and retiring two. It was Taylor Thompson (3-0) that earned the win, entering the game in the sixth inning and throwing two scoreless innings, with one walk and one strikeout. Somerset's Scott McGregor (2-2) took the loss, lasting five and two-thirds innings, where he allowed seven runs on nine hits, five of them earned.
The Patriots began the game by putting a run on the board as Ryan LaHair lifted a sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded, allowing Scott Kelly to score. Johnson minimized the damage by striking out Darwin Perez to end the inning. Bridgeport's Jose Cuevas answered in the bottom of the first with a solo shot to left-center, his third of the season. The Patriots proceeded to take advantage of Johnson's pitching debut, putting up a run both in the second and third innings, which included Aharon Eggleston's third homerun of the season in the top of the third inning. Josh Vitters hit the third and final blast of the game in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Bluefish deficit to one through four innings.
Following a Bluefish pitching change heading into the fifth, Somerset capitalized on a throwing error by Connor David, allowing two to score for the Patriots as part of a double steal. These runs would go unearned for Beavan, who brought his four years of Major-League experience to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard for the first time, using a four-seam fastball to retire two batters in three innings on the mound. Trailing five to two with two outs, the Bluefish scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game up, following an unusual sequence which included a McGregor balk, and back-to-back Patriots errors. Thompson earned the win for the 'Fish by no-hitting the Patriots in the final two innings, leading the way for the Bridgeport offense to overtake the Liberty Division leaders. The bottom of the sixth inning was highlighted by RBI hits by Luis Nunez and Luis Rodriguez, which proved to be the go-ahead runs for the 'Fish as Somerset failed to execute a comeback in the top of the seventh. Nunez and Luis Hernandez led the offensive attack for Bridgeport.
Bridgeport looks to continue their success in the series, as the two teams face off in the nightcap of the doubleheader at 7:12 P.M, in a full nine inning contest. It will be Military Appreciation Night, and all military veterans and active military personnel will receive free admission to the game, where the Bluefish will sport new camouflage jerseys. Fans will also be treated to a spectacular 3D Fireworks Extravaganza after the game, presented by Family Vision Centers.
Atlantic League Stories from May 18, 2016
- Bluefish fall to Patriots in game 2 of mid-week doubleheader - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Barnstormers Edge York - Lancaster Stormers
- Patriots Bullpen Hurls 8.1 Scoreless Innings to Snap Losing Streak - Somerset Patriots
- Bloop Double Costs Martinez as Barnstormers Squeak By - York Revolution
- Bees Drop Both Games of Doubleheader to Blue Crabs - New Britain Bees
- Stormers Surging Back after Slow Start - Lancaster Stormers
- Bluefish Begin Doubleheader With Victory Over Patriots - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Patriots Lose 7-5 in Game One of Doubleheader - Somerset Patriots
- Bluefish Add Two Former Major Leaguers to Pitching Staff - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Preview - Bees and Blue Crabs Square off in Doubleheader - New Britain Bees
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