Dotel Now With 46 Multi-Hit Games But Leaves Due To Injury
(Sugar Land, TX– August 20, 2015) – The Bridgeport Bluefish (21-19, 47-63) were defeated by the Sugar Land Skeeters (17-23, 53-57) 8-3 at Constellation Field on Thursday evening. Sugar Land has now won seven of eight head to head meetings against the Bluefish in the Lone Star State this season.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Cory Riordan (3-3) suffered the loss, lasting just four innings, surrendering seven runs (six earned runs) on seven hits, walking three and striking out two while allowing two home runs. Sugar Land Starting Pitcher Roy Merritt (6-5) earned the win, going six innings, allowing just one run on nine hits, striking out five and not walking a batter.
The Skeeters took the early 1-0 lead off Riordan in the home half of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Travis Scott, plating Jeff Dominguez with the game’s first run after he tripled with one man out. The Bluefish cut the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring single by Welington Dotel off Merritt, bringing home Bryan Sabatella. Sugar Land would break the game open in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back home runs by Scott and Delwyn Young, ending Riordan’s night, who was making his first start back with Bridgeport since pitching most recently for the Lamingo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Scott’s roundtripper was a three-run shot, and Young’s big fly was a solo blast, and in the blink of an eye the Skeeters pushed across four runs and held an 7-1 edge.
The ‘Fish got back to within four runs at 7-3 in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Wilson Batista, scoring Josh Prince, who reached on a base knock with one out, and then Matt Wessinger scored on a wild pitch thrown by reliever Matt Johnston. Wessinger entered the ballgame as a pinch-runner for Dotel, who had to leave after being hit by a pitch by Johnston with one out earlier in the half-inning. The two-run rally was as close as Bridgeport would get to the home team in a contest that included a 20 minute delay in that same seventh inning due to a power outage in the stadium. Bridgeport collected 13 hits on the evening, marking the 43rd time in the 2015 campaign in which they have picked up ten or more hits in a single game. The Bluefish have also had double-digits in the hit column in each of the first four games of the series. Sabatella, Prince, Dotel, Wilson Batista, John Alonso, and Luis Rodriguez led the way for Bridgeport with a pair of hits each.
The Bluefish continue their series with the Sugar Land Skeeters on Friday night deep in the heart of Texas. Bridgeport returns to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Monday, August 24th when they welcome in their cross-sound rival Long Island Ducks as the 2015 Ferry Cup Series continues. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Bluefish are showing their appreciation for Late Show host David Letterman. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a David Letterman Paper Face Fan. CLICK HERE for tickets.
The Bridgeport Bluefish are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. For further information, call 203-210-BLUE (2583) or visit BridgeportBluefish.com
###
