Bluefish fall to Blue Crabs in kickoff to weekend series
May 27, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (11-23) were defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (12-22) 8-5 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard Friday night in the opener of a four game Memorial Day Weekend wraparound series. The loss marks the third straight defeat for the 'Fish, and snaps a four game skid for the Blue Crabs.
Making his second start on the mound in his 16 year professional career, Bridgeport's Dan Johnson (0-1) suffered the loss, completing five innings of play on the mound. The knuckleballer allowed five earned runs on five hits, striking out two, walking three, and surrendering a home run. Southern Maryland Starting Pitcher Brian Burress (3-2) picked up the victory, giving up five runs (four earned runs) on six hits, walking two, striking out eight and allowing a home run in seven and one third innings. Cody Eppley retired the side in order in the ninth striking out one to record his fifth save.
Bridgeport started things off with a 1-2-3 top of the first and a run scored in the bottom, as Jose Cuevas grounded out to bring in Luis Hernandez with the game's first run. The Blue Crabs responded by putting up four in the top of the second, highlighted by back-to-back walks by Johnson that put two on base. From there, Eric Garcia sent both runners home with a single, advancing to second by way of a Hernandez throwing error. Atlantic League Batting Average leader Steve Lombardozzi contributed with an RBI double, which gave Southern Maryland a 4-1 lead after two. A Michael Snyder solo shot to left off Johnson added another to the board for the Blue Crabs. Brian Burress continued his success on the mound entering the mid-part of the game, retiring eight of nine batters between the second and fifth, striking out five.
D.J. Mitchell would come into the game at the start of the sixth in relief of Johnson, who would finish with his longest outing of the season. Mitchell's three strikeouts in two innings pitched contributed to a string of back-and-forth defensive action as both teams were being held off the scoreboard. It was in the bottom of the seventh inning that Bridgeport's Anthony Giansanti broke the silence, smacking his first homerun in a Bluefish uniform to left field cutting the deficit to 5-2. The Blue Crabs would respond in the eighth by putting up a pair of their own off Robert Carson to extend the lead to 7-2. The Bridgeport offensive production came to a head in the bottom of the inning, when they sent eight batters to the plate, scoring three as Southern Maryland's lead was cut to 7-5. The visitors would add an insurance run in the ninth, and Eppley closed the game out en route to the 8-5 victory. Hernandez led the way for Bridgeport with a pair of hits. Photo provided courtesy of Dave Csordas.The Bluefish lost tonight's game but with Serv Pro IT'S LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED because of Serv Pro's amazing staff and attention to detail. Visit their website at www.servprostamford.com
The Bluefish continue their series with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Saturday, May 28th. First pitch is scheduled for 6:12 P.M. Come out to the ballpark for Pirates & Princesses night, as well as the Play It Forward fundraiser, presented by WEBE 108.
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