Bluefish win first contest; Rain suspends game two
(Bridgeport, Conn. – July 21, 2010) – The Bridgeport Bluefish defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday before 5,138 fans at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The second game was suspended due to rain.
Lancaster jumped in front right out of the gate in the first frame of game one. Jason Perry walked to begin the two-out rally, and Aaron Herr drove a single to left to keep the inning alive. Perry crossed the plate on a double sent to right field by Reggie Taylor, and Herr was able to score on a throwing error committed by Bridgeport.
The ‘Fish stole the lead in the third, courtesy of a few extra-base hits. Josh Phelps started things off with a two-bagger down the left field line, and with two away Colin Roberson sent the ball to deep center field for a triple, bringing home Phelps. Roberson scored the go ahead run on a single hit by Luis Lopez.
The game went into extra innings with the game tied at three, and Bridgeport was able to put a run across in the bottom of the ninth of Lancaster pitcher Charlie Weatherby for the win. With the bases loaded and no outs, Josh Phelps forced Lancaster’s first baseman to make an error, allowing Danny Putnam, who led the inning off with a single, to mark the game winning run.
Denny Stark started the game for the Bluefish and offered seven solid innings of work, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and five walks, while striking out five. Bridgeport reliever Jorge Perez (4-2) earned the win for Bridgeport, pitching through two innings with two strikeouts.
Weatherby (1-2) took the loss for Lancaster, giving up one run (unearned) on two hits over one inning. Barnstormers starter Ben Fritz worked seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and four walks, with seven punchouts.
The Barnstormers took an early lead again in the third inning of game two. Octavio Martinez and Bryant Nelson put together back-to-back singles to bring Lloyd Turner to the plate. With one down, Turner sent a single to right, allowing Martinez and Nelson to score.
For a second time on Wednesday, Bridgeport came back and took the lead from Lancaster in the bottom of the third. The push started with a single by Tim Johnson, and with two outs Danny Putnam reached on an error to keep the inning alive. Steve Moss followed with a double, plating Johnson and Putnam. Moss continued on to score on a Joe Jiannetti base hit.
Bridgeport made it to the top of the seventh inning with the advantage before squandering the lead and allowing the Barnstormers to tie the game at four. Following the top half of the frame, the rain came and forced a delay in play. Unplayable field conditions would force the umpires to make the call to suspend the game going into the bottom of the seventh.
This contest will be made up on Monday, August 9 when the Lancaster Barnstormers return to the Park City. The game will be resumed at 6:05 p.m. with gates opening at 5:05 p.m. The originally scheduled game on August 9 will be played one half hour following the conclusion of the suspended game.
The Bluefish open up a four game series with the Camden Riversharks tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and gates open at 6:05 p.m. for Thirsty Thursday, presented by Budweiser. Tickets are still available by visiting the Harbor Yard box office, calling (203)-345-4800, or by visiting www.bridgeportbluefish.com and clicking the tickets icon.
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. 2010 group outings and individual tickets are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish online at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
###
