Riordan Tosses A Complete-Game Shutout In Dominant Fashion as Fish blank Lancaster
(Bridgeport) – The Bridgeport Bluefish (26-24, 52-68) defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers (31-19, 59-61) 2-0 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Sunday evening to salvage the finale of a four-game series. The Bluefish complete their seven-game homestand with a winning record of 4-3.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Cory Riordan (5-3) went the distance for the victory, earning his first complete-game shutout of the season, allowing just six hits, striking out six and not issuing a walk in 34 batters faced. Riordan threw a total of 107 pitches, with 80 of them coming for strikes. Lancaster Starting Pitcher Chad Beck (3-3) was tagged with the loss despite a quality start, tossing seven innings, surrendering two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two while allowing a home run. The Bluefish pitching staff has now held the opponent off the scoreboard in a ballgame ten times during the 2015 campaign.
The Bluefish took the early 1-0 lead in the home half of inning number one off Beck on a run-scoring groundout by All-Star Welington Dotel, as his team-leading 61st RBI brought in Ethan Chapman after Chapman laced a double in the gap with one out and proceeded to steal third base before crossing home on Dotel’s ground ball with the Barnstormers playing the infield back early in the contest conceding the run. Later in the game Dotel would steal two bases, giving him 39 on the season, tops in the Atlantic League. The ‘Fish were a perfect ten for ten on the basepaths in the series.
Bridgeport would take a 2-0 edge in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a booming leadoff solo home run to left field off the bat of Andres Rodriguez, his sixth big fly and 43rd run batted in. It was the first roundtripper for the boys of the Park City since August 12th when former Bluefish Bryant Nelson blasted a solo shot in a 5-2 victory over the First Half Freedom Division Champion Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. The two-run cushion was more than enough for Riordan, as the right-hander from Killingowrth, Connecticut made everyone in the Constitution State proud with an absolute gem of a performance on his home field. Riordan retired 21 of the final 25 Lancaster batters he faced, finishing his night off by striking out Kevin Rivers swinging as he was greeted by handshakes around from his teammates and a standing ovation from the Harbor Yard faithful. Andres Rodriguez led the way for the Bluefish with three hits on the night, his 22nd multi-hit game of the season.
Bridgeport now hits the road for a seven-game trip against their cross-sound rival Long Island Ducks and the York Revolution. The Bluefish return to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Tuesday, September 8th when they welcome in the Sugar Land Skeeters for a three-game midweek series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Come out to watch a Grandma Beauty Pageant in honor of Silver Sluggers Program. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Bluefish Alternate Logo Collector’s Pin. CLICK HERE for tickets.
