Bluefish fall to Patriots in game 2 of mid-week doubleheader
May 18, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (9-17) fell to the Somerset Patriots (19-8) 6-2 Wednesday Evening at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, in the nightcap of a doubleheader that began with a Bridgeport win earlier in the day. The loss snaps a two game winning streak for the Bluefish and gives the reigning Atlantic League of Professional Baseball champions their first mark in the win column in five contests.
Bridgeport's Michael Antonini (2-4) walked two and struck out six through six innings at the helm, ultimately earning the loss by allowing three runs on five total hits, two of them earned. Somerset's Connor Little (3-0) added to his impressive start to the 2016 season, earning the win in just two innings of work, allowing no hits and no one to score and striking out a single batter. The Bluefish bullpen was unsuccessful in its efforts to hold back the Patriots offense, allowing three runs on six hits in the final four innings of the game. Meanwhile, the relief effort for the Patriots broke through, after struggling in the first two games of the series. Following two unearned runs allowed by starter Matt Bywater in the top of the first, Somerset's bullpen did not allow a run for the remaining eight and two-thirds innings, retiring thirteen Bluefish batters in a row between the fifth and ninth innings.
Bridgeport took an early lead in the nightcap after Bywater began the evening struggling, allowing the Bluefish to load up the bases with two outs and allowing two runs to score by way of walks. The left-handed pitcher's day would end all too soon, as he was replaced after two-thirds of an innings with Hand, who ended the inning with one pitch, stranding three 'Fish. The former Cincinnati Red would quiet things down for Bridgeport, allowing just one hit in two and one third innings at the mound, retiring three and walking one. Eric Farris assisted the effort at second base, leaping to make the final out of the fourth inning that stranded Bluefish runners on the corners. The Patriots continued to struggle offensively early on, down two through the mid-part of the game and leaving seven betters on base through five innings.
Somerset would break onto the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, as a bases-loaded single by Yovan Gonzalez would set off a three run effort by Somerset to give them the lead. This came by way of an Antonini throwing error at first which allowed pinch-runner Rob Kral to cross the plate, followed by a fielder's choice which left Mycal Jones safe at first and sent Gonzalez home. Antonini would end his evening after six innings on the mound, being relieved by Seymour native Joseph Kuzia, who would last just one inning. The Patriots expanded on their lead in the top of the seventh, as the second Double of the night by Matt Fields to left field drove home two more to make the score five to two heading into the stretch. Kyler Newby would enter the game for Somerset in the bottom of the inning retiring the first three batters to halt any Bluefish advance. Bridgeport's Brian Moran entered the game to start the eighth inning, allowing two hits and striking out one halting a Patriots scoring advance. Somerset continued to flex their bullpen dominance in the bottom of the inning, as Jeremy McBryde entered and put away the first three Bluefish batters, striking out one. The Patriots would top off the win by adding a run in the ninth, as Fields drove home Kral who had reached base on a triple with two strikes. Dan Johnson, Rossmel Perez, and newcomer Anthony Giansanti led the offensive efforts for the 'Fish, each compiling one hit.
The Bluefish will look to end the mid-week series strong, as the two Liberty Division teams conclude play at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Thursday May 18th at 7:12 P.M. Come out to the ballpark for another Throwback Thirsty Thursday, where a pint glass presented by Samuel Adams will be given out to the first 250 fans over 21.
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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