Bluefish snap back in Texas; return home tonight to pay tribute to David Letterman
Ethan Chapman With Two Hits And Four Runs Batted In
(Sugar Land, TX) – The Bridgeport Bluefish (22-21, 48-65) defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters (19-24, 55-58) 8-6 in the finale of a seven game series at Constellation Field on Sunday evening. The game was also delayed for two hours and eighteen minutes due to rain and lightning.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Matt Iannazzo (5-8) picked up the win, going five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one while giving up one home run. Sugar Land Starting Pitcher Josh Geer (5-6) suffered the loss, tossing five and one-third innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out two. Steven Ames retired both batters he faced in the ninth inning, striking out one, to earn his first save of the season.
The Skeeters took a 2-0 lead off Iannazzo in the bottom half of the second inning on a two run home run to left field off the bat of Patrick Palmeiro, his seventh big fly of the 2015 campaign. The ‘Fish cut the deficit in half in the top of the third off Geer on a run-scoring single by Bryan Sabatella, plating Matt Wessinger, who had a base knock of his own with one out earlier in the frame. The hit extended Sabatella’s on-base streak to 16 consecutive games, and just like that the Skeeters lead was only 2-1.
Bridgeport took their first lead of the night with four more runs in their half of the fourth and a 4-2 edge. Jeudy Valdez brought home John Alonso with an RBI ground-rule double after Alonso drew a free pass with one down. Ethan Chapman put a crooked number up on the score board for Bridgeport with a two-out, two-run single, scoring Andres Rodriguez and Valdez. The ‘Fish scored four more times in the seventh to grab a comfortable 8-2 lead. All-Star Welington Dotel’s RBI double allowed Josh Prince to cross the plate, after he reached with a leadoff double of his own, giving him a hit in seven straight games. Rodriguez drove Dotel home with an RBI base knock, and that left it up for Chapman, who for the second time in the ballgame, laced a two-out, two-run single, scoring Valdez and Luis Rodriguez. Chapman collected his tenth multi-hit game of the season and his first multi-RBI game with four rib-eye steaks. Things got a bit interesting in the bottom half of the ninth inning as the Skeeters pushed four runs across to make it 8-6, but Ames put out the fire and the Sugar Land rally came up short as the Bluefish were able to hang on and enjoy their flight back to the Park City. Dotel, Andres Rodriguez, Valdez, Wessinger, and Chapman led the offensive attack for the ‘Fish with a pair of hits each.
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.
