Patriots Defeat Bluefish In Nightcap To Win Series
September 16, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, CT- September 16, 2015) - The Bridgeport Bluefish (29-36, 55-80) were defeated by the Somerset Patriots (37-28, 87-48) 7-4 in the back end of a day/night doubleheader at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Wednesday evening. Bridgeport won the opener of the twin bill 6-4 earlier in the afternoon. The First Half Liberty Division Champions take the rubber game of the midweek series in the process, and finish the 2015 regular season with an overall record of 14-6 over the Bluefish.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Brandon Bixler (0-3) suffered the loss despite registering his first quality start of the season, tossing seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking one, striking out six, and surrendering one home run. The southpaw retired the first 13 batters he faced on the night. Somerset Starting Pitcher Roy Merritt (8-6) earned his first victory for the Patriots since being acquired from the Sugar Land Skeeters on August 31st with a quality start of his own, lasting six innings, allowing just one run on five hits, striking out three and not walking a batter. Merritt ups his record to 3-0 in 2015 in four overall starts against Bridgeport (three with Sugar Land, one with Somerset).
Bridgeport got on the board first in the home half of the fourth inning off Merritt on a two out run scoring single by Wilson Batista, plating Welington Dotel with the game's first run after he reached on an infield hit to lead off the frame, extending his hitting streak to ten consecutive games. Somerset took their first lead of the night off Bixler in the top half of the sixth inning and never looked back as Michael Burgess brought home a pair of runs with two men out lacing a single to center field, and just like that the visitors had the 2-1 edge.
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh inning, Bridgeport cut the deficit in half as Jobduan Morales drove home Batista with a single, shaving the Somerset lead to 3-2. The Patriots responded in a big way off reliever Sam Gervacio in the eighth, as Matt Fields launched a two out grand slam home run to left center field, breaking the game wide open as Somerset now led 7-2. Fields finished both games of the doubleheader two roundtrippers and six runs batted in. The Bluefish scored single runs in the final two innings on a run scoring double by Batista, plating Dotel and a wild pitch which allowed Juan Martinez to cross home plate, but the rally fell just short as the Patriots were able to take the finale of the series. Dotel and Batista led the offensive attack for Bridgeport with three hits each.
The Bluefish now welcome in the 2015 Freedom Division First Half Champion Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Thursday, September 17th to kick off the final series of the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Los Bluefish T-Shirt as the Bluefish kick off National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Atlantic League Stories from September 16, 2015
- Barnstormers Complete Sweep of Blue Crabs - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Revs Use Two-Out Lightning to Drill Ducks in Series Finale - York Revolution
- Patriots Defeat Bluefish In Nightcap To Win Series - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Skeeters Unable to Keep up in Error-Plagued Game with Riversharks, 13-9 - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Barnstormers Rally, Head To Playoffs - Lancaster Stormers
- Two-Out Runs Doom Ducks in Series Finale - Long Island Ducks
- Bluefish Defeat Patriots To Even Up Series - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Garceau Struggles as Blue Crabs Fall to Lancaster - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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