Bridgeport Bluefish Blow Lead, Fall to Bears 11-10 in Extra Innings
Published on May 3, 2003 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
Newark, N.J., May 4, 2003 - The Bridgeport Bluefish fell to the Newark Bears 11-10 in extra innings Saturday evening at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
Leading 6-0 after three innings and 10-2 after six and-a-half innings, for a third straight day Bridgeport was denied their first victory of the 2003 season. Newark's Wil Quintana took a T.J. Matthews offering deep over the left field fence in the 10th inning to clinch the victory. The win extended Newark's six-game winning streak over the Bluefish, a run which began last September as the Bears swept the Bluefish to claim the Atlantic League title. Newark's Rickey Henderson went 2-for-5 with three RBI's and one home run.
Bridgeport jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings as Rodney Lindsey led off the contest with a home run and Willis Otanzez doubled to left center to score Jose Amado. In the third inning, the Bluefish built on their lead, pushing four runs across the plate on five hits. Ben Canderlaria delivered the key blow, doubling to left center to score Amado and Rolo Avila. Newark broke onto the board in the bottom of the sixth, as Tom Hage singled home Jack Santora and Jason Torres drew a bases-loaded walk to allow Danny Clyburn to come plateward. Bridgeport built on its lead in its ensuing turn at bat, scoring four runs on four hits to forge ahead 10-2. The Bears tacked one run on the board in the bottom of the seventh on Henderson's home run to left field.
Trailing 10-3, Newark seemed determined to extend its winning streak to three games, scoring five times in the eighth with Santora's inside-the-park home run fueling the rally. In the frame, Henderson doubled to left centerfield to plate Torres and Britt and then came home on Santora's inside-the-park homer. The home team knotted the score at 10 in its final turn at-bat as Al Benjamin connected on an infield single and Francisco Lebron homered to left field to send the game into extra innings.
For the contest, Bridgeport had 15 hits to Newark's 10 while leaving eight men on base. The Bears stranded 10 while making one error. The Bluefish committed one error. Tim Keinath, the Bears fourth pitcher of the evening collected the victory, his first of the season while Mathews fell to 0-2 with the setback. Lebron, Henderson and Santora all had two hits for Newark while Lindsey had three hits for Bridgeport.
The Bluefish are set to kick off the home portion of the 2003 season on Tuesday, may 6th at 4:05 p.m. at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Great seats are still available for the game. Fans can purchase tickets by stopping by The Ballpark at Harbor Yard Box Office, by calling the ticket department at 203-345-4800 ext. 150 or by visiting the official team website at http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
The Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball Club, a charter team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, plays its home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, located off Exit 27 of I-95 on the corner of Broad Street and South Frontage Road in Bridgeport. The Bluefish are the winningest team in the five-year history of the Atlantic League and lead the league in franchise attendance, having drawn one million fans faster than any other team in Connecticut minor league history. 2003 individual and season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish on-line at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
Atlantic League Stories from May 3, 2003
- Bridgeport Bluefish Blow Lead, Fall to Bears 11-10 in Extra Innings - Bridgeport Bluefish
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