Eighth Inning Rally Lifts Bluefish Over Ducks In Series Opener

May 25, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release


(Central Islip, NY) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (11-20) defeated the Long Island Ducks (18-13) 5-1 at Bethpage Ballpark on Tuesday night in the opener of a three game midweek series. Bridgeport improves to 2-2 on their current six game road trip and record their first victory of the 2016 Ferry Cup Series over their cross sound rival.

Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Mike Antonini picked up a no-decision but was terrific on the mound, firing six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits while walking one and striking out three. The southpaw collected his second consecutive quality start and the third such in his last four outings, tops on the Bluefish pitching staff. Long Island Starting Pitcher Mark Blackmar also did not factor in the game's final outcome, lasting seven innings while not allowing a run and giving up just four hits, walking one and striking out two. Joe Kuzia (1-0) picked up his first win in a 'Fish uniform with an inning of relief out of the bullpen, surrendering two hits and striking out one and not giving up a run. Eury De La Rosa (0-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up two hits and four unearned runs in one inning of work,walking a pair of batters.

Long Island threatened in the home half of the second inning on back to back two out singles from Cody Puckett and Ruben Gotay, but Antonini struck out Mike Blanke to end the rally. In the top of the sixth, Blackmar walked Luis Rodriguez and Jose Cuevas singled, putting the lead run in scoring position with one out, but Blackmar induced Dan Johnson and Josh Vitters to each ground out and neither team continued to see anyone cross the plate. The Ducks put two men on again in the seventh off this time off Kuzia with one out but Blake Tekotte filed out and Fehlandt Lentini grounded out as the game remained scoreless.

Bridgeport came to bat in the top half of the eighth against the lefty De La Rosa after Blackman's evening came to a close with seven innings of shutout baseball. With one out, Luis Hernandez reached on an opposite field single. Hernandez would move into scoring position on a groundout by Luis Rodriguez, and that was where things got very interesting. Jose Cuevas was intentionally walked, as Long Island Manager Kevin Baez played by the numbers and went after left hander Dan Johnson against De La Rosa. Johnson was awarded first base on catcher's interference charged to Blanke, and the error would prove costly as the bases were loaded with 'Fish. Josh Vitters brought home Hernandez with the game's first run via a walk as Bridgeport led 1-0, but they were not finished there. Luis Domoromo followed with a bases clearing double down the right field line, and despite being thrown out to end the inning trying to stretch it into a triple, Bridgeport put up a crooked number and held a 4-0 advantage. Domoromo doubled his RBI total on the season with one big swing of the bat, and the 'Fish was six defensive outs away from a victory. Lew Ford homered off Taylor Thompson with one out in the eighth inning to make it 4-1, but the Bluefish got that run right back in the ninth for a 5-1 cushion on an RBI base knock from Hernandez, plating Connor David after he was hit by a pitch with one out against Dan Blewett. Scott Suman retired the side in the ninth to extend his scoreless streak to eight consecutive innings while lowering his ERA to 0.71 as Bridgeport earned a hard fought victory on the road. Hernandez and Cuevas led the way for the Bluefish with a pair of hits each.

Bridgeport returns to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Friday, May 27th when they welcome in the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for a Memorial Day Weekend wraparound series to kick off a seven game homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 7:12 P.M. on LGBTQ Night, and the Bluefish will be giving away Baseball Card Set # 2.



Atlantic League Stories from May 25, 2016


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