‘Fish Out of Water: Bluefish Amidst Seven-Game Losing Streak.

By Justin Felisko on May 25, 2009

Bridgeport, CT–Esteban Yan pitched his second straight quality outing of the week yesterday. Though once again, Yan was credited with a no decision as the Bridgeport Bluefish (10-18) dropped their seventh straight game amidst an eight game road trip, falling 4-3 to the Lancaster Barnstormers (13-16).  The loss marked Bridgeport’s second straight road series loss and the ‘Fish have yet to win a road series this season.

Yan pitched a season high eight innings, allowing six hits and three runs, while striking out eight Barnstormers.  In the ninth, Shane Youman (0-1) walked L.J. Biernbaum (2-for-3, two RBIs, one run) to lead off the inning.  Aaron Herr followed with a single to center field and Youman than issued another walk, this one to Jed Morris.

With the bases loaded, Casey Hoorelbeke entered in crisis mode only to falter.  Ryan Mulhern nailed a one strike pitch over the head of shortstop Ed Rogers for the Barnstormers victory and series sweep.

This was Youman’s third appearance for the ‘Fish after making his season debut on May 18 against Southern Maryland.  The Bluefish lost 4-2 but received a tremendous effort from their bullpen.  Youman, Andy Weimer and Rick Asadoorian combined to pitch four and 1/3 innings of scoreless ball.

Yan has been on fire recently.  In his previous start on May 19, the righty pitched seven innings in a pitcher’s duel against Southern Maryland’s Kenny Rayborn.  Yan struck out three while allowing just three hits, two walks and one earned run.  Rayborn was just as good, going seven innings allowing just one run as well.

The Bluefish could not find a way to reward Yan for his outstanding effort, losing 4-3 in 11 innings.  Brandon Sing’s fifth homer of the year in the eighth inning tied the game at two apiece.  In the 11^th, Sing (2-for-3, two runs, one RBI) scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice bunt by Ed Rogers which was thrown into right field by Blue Crabs’ pitcher Jimmy Serrano.

Southern Maryland rallied in front of the home town crowd in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on Bluefish closer Andy Cavazo’s lack of control.  Cavazo’s walked Jeremy Owens and then after a sacrifice by Mike Conroy, he walked James Shanks.  Richard Giannotti was the hero for the Blue Crabs, plating both Owens and Shanks on a two-out single to right field.

Jonathan Plefka continued to be lights out in relief, pitching two innings of scoreless ball along with striking out three.  Plefka’s ERA now sits at 0.77; opponents are hitting just .146 off of the righty.

The following day, the ‘Fish dropped game three of the four game series 3-1.  Gary Knotts was the next Bluefish starter to get victimized by the lack of clutch hitting.  Knotts got credited with a hard-luck loss, tossing six and 2/3 innings and striking out a season high nine batters.  The former Major Leaguer allowed six hits, three walks and three earned runs.

In the last game of the series, the Bluefish were swept out of town by the Blue Crabs 5-4.

Dan Reichert got off to a rough start, getting tagged for four runs on five hits in the second inning.  He would recover, retiring the last eight batters he faced.  Yet despite back-to-back RBIs in the seventh from the newest member of the Tampa Bay Ray organization Henry Mateo and Jay Caligiuri, Bridgeport’s rally was to no avail.

The game represented a series trend for the Bluefish, scoring only four runs in the loss and ten for the series.  Bridgeport lost all four games of the series by a combined six runs.

Up in Lancaster, the ‘Fish fared no better, getting swept by the Barnstormers.  On Friday, Kyle Jackson gave Bridgeport another quality start, lasting seven innings giving up four hits, one earned run, and three walks while striking out three.  The bats were dormant though, and the Bluefish fell 2-1.

David Housel became the first player in Lancaster history to homer from both sides of the plate on Saturday and the Bluefish fell 10-2.  Andy Weimer’s five game scoreless streak of seven innings was snapped when he gave up back to back home runs to Housel and Michael Woods in the sixth inning.

Up Next: The Bluefish finish their eight-game road trip by taking on the York Revolution tonight in a Memorial Day showdown at 6:05 before returning home tomorrow for a three game series against the Somerset Patriots.

Player to Watch: Matt Esquivel. Esquivel is batting .417 against Bridgeport this season with 11 runs and six RBIs on 10 hits.  The outfielder has a total of 14 runs so far this year.

The Week Ahead

May 26-28 vs. Somerset Patriots

Player to Watch: Matt Hagen.  Hagen leads the league in slugging percentage (.567) and is second in the league with 36 hits.  The slugger also sits in third in batting average (.371) and fourth in on-base percentage (.431).

May 29-31 at Southern Maryland

Player to Watch: Jim Ed Warden.  The closer converted on three save opportunities in four games during last week’s sweep of the ‘Fish.  Warden struck out four batters and allowed just one hit in five innings pitched.

‘Fish Facts

Who’s Hot: Ed Rogers. The shortstop is batting .306 over his past ten games and .353 during the last five.

Stuck in a Slump: Tyrone Pendergrass. Pendergrass is amidst a seven-game hitless streak.  Over his past ten games he has just one hit in 32 at-bats. 

Strong out of the ‘Pen: Matthew Pike extended his scoreless streak to six and one-thirds innings pitched.  This week, Pike pitched two and 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit.  The relief pitcher now has a 0.87 ERA.

Run Support, Please? In his last two starts, Esteban Yan has pitched 15 innings, struck out 11, and has allowed only four runs in two no-decisions. 

Reeled in by the Rays: Henry Mateo’s contract was purchased by the Tampa Rays on May 23. Mateo was assigned to Durham (AAA, Rays) of the International League.  Mateo played in 24 games for the Bluefish this season and was an offensive stall worth, leading the league with a .416 batting average. In 154 career games with Bridgeport, the 32-year-old owns a .333 batting average with 47 extra-base hits, 125 runs scored and 42 swipes.

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