Ducks Defeat Bluefish In Waddle-Off Style To Take Series
September 4, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Central Islip, NY- September 3, 2015) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (27-26, 53-70) were defeated by the Long Island Ducks (28-25, 74-49) 3-2 in walk-off fashion at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip, New York on Thursday night to take the rubber game between Liberty Division foes as the 2015 Ferry Cup Series comes to a close with the Bluefish winning the trophy for the first time since 2012 finishing 15-12 against their cross-sound rival. Bridgeport falls victim in the opposing team's final turn at bat for the ninth time this season.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Matt Iannazzo (5-3) picked up a no-decision, tossing five and one-third innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits while walking and striking out two. Long Island Starting Pitcher John Brownell (11-4) notched his second complete game victory for the flock, allowing two runs on six hits, walking two and striking out seven in 118 pitches thrown. Jimmy Patterson (1-1) suffered the loss out of the bullpen, facing five batters in one-third of an inning, giving up one run on three hits, striking out one and intentionally walking one.
Bridgeport got on the board early off Brownell in the opening inning on a run-scoring groundout by C.J. Retherford in his first at-bat in a 'Fish uniform after signing with the club on September 1st, plating Josh Prince with the game's first run after he drew a one-out free pass, and four batters into the ballgame Bridgeport led 1-0. The Bluefish would make it 2-0 in their favor in the second on an RBI single by former Long Island Duck Bryan Sabatella, scoring Matt Wessinger who led off the frame with a double. The base knock extends Sabatella's on-base streak to a team-high 26 consecutive games, combined with both Long Island and Bridgeport.
Long Island would shave the deficit to 2-1 in the home half of the fourth off Iannazzo when former Bluefish Sean Burroughs knocked in Delta Cleary, Jr. with a double after Cleary, Jr. drew a leadoff walk. The Ducks would tie the game at two in the bottom of the sixth on three consecutive one-out singles, with the latter coming off the bat of Mike Blanke, allowing Dan Lyons to cross the plate with the tying-run.
The contest remained deadlocked at two apiece moving to the bottom of the ninth. Patterson struck out Nelfi Zapata to start the inning, but that would end up being the only batter he would retire. Cody Puckett laced a double down the left field line, and the winning run was in scoring position. Randy Ruiz, pinch-hitting for Anthony Vega, was intentionally walked, putting runners at first and second. Ruiz was then lifted for pinch-runner Carlos Hughes. Elmer Reyes reached on a softly hit opposite-field single to right, and there were three "ducks on the pond" for Fehlandt Lentini, who had his rights acquired from Bridgeport on July 28th to complete a trade in exchange for Mark Rogers on June 30th, sent the fans of the flock home with smiles on their faces as he picked up a walk-off single to left with the outfield and infield in, scoring Puckett and the celebration at the pond was underway. Wessinger led the way for the Bluefish with a pair of hits.
Bridgeport now heads to the Keystone State of Pennsylvania to take on the York Revolution for a four-game Labor Day Weekend wraparound series at Santander Stadium beginning on Friday night. The Bluefish return to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Tuesday, September 8th when they welcome in the Sugar Land Skeeters for a three-game midweek series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Come out to watch a Grandma Beauty Pageant in honor of Silver Sluggers Program. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Bluefish Alternate Logo Collector's Pin.
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