Bluefish rock Blue Crabs
Dan Johnson Goes Yard For The First Time in 2016
(Waldorf, MD) – The Bridgeport Bluefish (2-3) defeated by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (1-4) 9-3 at Regency Furniture Stadium on Tuesday night to take the opener of a three game series in Waldorf, Maryland. After scoring just six runs over the first three games, all resulting in a defeat, the Bluefish have come on offensively in their last two contests, collecting 22 runs and 28 hits.
Bridgeport Starting Pitcher Mike Antonini (1-1) registered his first victory in 2016, tossing five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one, striking out three and allowing two home runs. Southern Maryland Starting Pitcher Shaun Garceau (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his first start of the season (second overall appearance), lasting five and two-thirds innings, surrendering four runs (three earned runs) on six hits, walking one, striking out three and giving up one home run. The Bluefish bullpen remained outstanding, as Taylor Thompson, Jake Thompson, Eric Niesen, and Scott Shuman pitched four scoreless innings, striking out five. Bridgeport relievers have now pitched ten and one-third consecutive innings without an opponent crossing the plate over the last three games.
Bridgeport got on the board immediately off Garceau in the top half of the first inning. Ruben Sosa Jr. gave the keynote of the game with an opposite field double to left. Two batters later, Dan Johnson launched a two run home run onto the berm in right field, his first blast in a ‘Fish uniform, and three batters in Bridgeport held a 2-0 edge. After the Blue Crabs cut the deficit in half in the second, the Bluefish got that run right back in the third when Luis Hernandez sprinted down the line from third base on a wild pitch thrown by Garceau to make it 3-1 in favor of the visitors.
Leading 3-2 in the top of the sixth, Bridgeport picked up an insurance run on a two out, run scoring single by Luis Rodriguez that brought home Jose Cuevas after he stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Southern Maryland catcher Adrian Martinez. For the third time on the evening, the Bluefish had a two run advantage now leading 4-2. The Blue Crabs “crawled” back to within a single run once again at 4-3 on an RBI groundout by former ‘Fish infielder Bryant Nelson, and this back and forth nail biter continued. Bridgeport broke the game wide open with two runs in the seventh as Endy Chavez laced a double into the right center field gap, scoring Luis Hernandez and Sosa Jr. to make it 6-3, and followed that up by sending seven men to the plate in the eighth in scoring two more runs, and in the blink of the eye five unanswered tallies made it 9-3 ‘Fish and they never looked back. Sosa Jr., Chavez, Johnson, and Josh Vitters led the offensive barrage for Bridgeport with a pair of hits each. Photo courtesy of Bert Hindman.
Bridgeport returns home for the first time in the 2016 regular season following their seven game road trip on Thursday, April 28th when they host the newest member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and in-state rival the New Britain Bees at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. First pitch on Opening Night is scheduled for 7:12. All fans in attendance will receive schedule posters courtesy of CDOT and the game will be followed by a 3D fireworks display presented by Family Vision Centers.
