Bridgeport’s Bats Come to Life behind Stellar Starting Pitching, Earn First Road Series Sweep

By Justin Felisko on June 1, 2009

Bridgeport, CT – Behind an usual pair of batters and a seven run fifth inning, the Bridgeport Bluefish (14-21) defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (21-14) 10-7 at Regency Furniture Stadium yesterday.  In redemption of last week’s four-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Crabs, the Bluefish returned the favor by earning their first road series victory of the season, sweeping Southern Maryland in this weekend’s three-game series.

The unlikely duo of Tyrone Pendergrass and Rick Asadoorian led the way for the Bluefish.  Pendergrass entered the game batting just .138 with four RBI in his past ten games, before having a season high three hits and three RBI. Pendergrass finished 3-for-4 while also scoring a run for the ‘Fish.

In just his third game of the season as the designated hitter, Asadoorian went 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.  The batter’s box is nothing new for the pitcher as the former first round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox has plenty of experience behind the plate when he played as an outfielder early in his career.

In the fifth, the ‘Fish broke open a 2-2 ballgame, sending seven straight batters to the plate at one point and scoring seven runs.  Bridgeport used a double by Luis Lopez, a triple by Adam Greenberg and five singles to propel themselves in an explosive inning.

The 13 hits and 10 runs gave starter Dan Reichert (4-4) the victory after he allowed four runs and struck out two while scattering seven hits.  Blue Crabs starter Kenny Baugh got roughed up for eight runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Reichert became the third Bluefish starter to earn a victory after former Major Leaguers Esteban Yan and Gary Knotts pitched back to back complete games for the ‘Fish on Friday and Saturday.

Knotts surrendered just one earned run on seven hits while striking out seven in Bridgeport’s 5-2 victory Saturday night.

Ed Roger’s gave Knotts just enough run support as the shortstop went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored.  Tyrone Pendergrass helped out at the plate once again with an RBI single.

Brandon Sing launched his seventh home run of the season and is now tied for second in the Atlantic League.

On Friday, Esteban Yan pitched the first complete game shutout of the season for the ‘Fish, using just 99 pitches.  Yan gave up eight hits, one walk and struck out five on a soggy night in Southern Maryland that included a 51 minute rain delay.  It was Yan’s third straight quality outing.

Tommy John shuffled the infield as Jesse Hoorelbeke returned to the lineup after missing 14 games.  Jay Caligiuri (0-for-3, 1 R) moved to second base, a position the Bluefish have struggled to find production from, for the first time this season and 31^st of his career.

Back at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, the Bluefish struggled against the Somerset Patriots earlier in the week.  A common theme for the Bluefish this year has been an inconsistency at the back of end of the bullpen.  That inconsistency continued on May 28, as the ‘Fish fell 4-3 in the rubber game of the three game series.

After getting a three run blast in the first inning from Ed Rogers, Corey Lee handled the Pats for six innings, striking out four and allowing just one run on five hits and five walks.  Andy Cavazos entered in the eighth inning after a perfect seventh from Andy Weimer.  Cavazos once again showed a lack of command, walking two and allowing two runs to score on one base hit.

Rick Asadoorian could not hold on in the ninth inning, and surrendered the game-tying and winning runs.  Matt Hagen hit a game-tying single to left field that scored Sean Smith, but an overthrow by left fielder Brandon Sing scored Jeff Nettles for the eventual game winner.

Joe Nelson hit a monstrous bomb to left field that landed on the front corner of the Arena at Harbord Yard in the top of the fourth inning, and the Patriots defeated the ‘Fish 10-7 on May 27.  The Pat’s delivered Bluefish starter Kyle Jackson (4-2) his second loss of the season as he gave up four earned runs on six hits and three walks.  Jackson struck out six over five innings of work.

On May 26, the Bluefish recorded their only win of the series against the Pats, 7-2.  Dan Reichert allowed one run on five hits and three walks, while striking out three over eight innings.  Luis Rodriguez paved the way for the offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Bluefish lost their eighth game of an eight game road trip, 3-2 to the York Revolution on May 25.  In a make-up game from May 14, Gary Knotts went eight shutout innings, surrendering just four hits and one walk while fanning two before handing the game over to the bullpen.  Andy Cavazos and Casey Hoorelbeke could not get the job done as the Revs rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to take home the victory.

Up Next: The Bluefish continue their quest of the Ferry Cup, taking on the Long Island Ducks in the first game of a three game series tonight at 7:05.

Tonight’s Matchup:

Kyle Jackson (4-2, 3.57) vs. Julio Mano (0-1, 6.48).

The Week Ahead

June 1-3 vs. Long Island Ducks

Player to Watch: Johnny Hernandez batted .417 in three games against the ‘Fish in the first series of the Ferry Cup.  Hernandez is eighth in the league with a .330 batting average.

June 4-7 at Somerset Patriots

Player to Watch: Matt Hagen leads the league in batting average (.368), hits (46), doubles (12) and slugging percentage (.560).

‘Fish Facts:

May Batter of the Month: Brandon Sing.  Sing leads the ‘Fish with 23 RBI so far this season and hit .280 in the month of May.  Sing is also tied for second in the league with seven home runs.

May Pitcher of the Month:  Esteban Yan.  Yan posted a 2.94 ERA and a 2-1 record over 33.2 innings while striking out 22 in the month of May. Yan has had three straight quality starts for the ‘Fish.

Who’s Hot: Ed Rogers is batting .350 over his past ten games and has five RBI and five runs scored.

Who’s Cold: Shane Youman is the latest member of the Bluefish bullpen to struggle in the set-up role.  Youman gave up three runs on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings pitched yesterday against the Blue Crabs.

From Batista to Bautista: The Bluefish have placed Wilson Batista on the disabled list with a broken wrist and have signed and activated infielder Rayner Bautista.  Bautista had just one hit in eleven at-bats in four games for the York Revolution earlier this year.

Another New ‘Fish in the Tank: Bridgeport has signed and activated outfielder Ryan Radmanovich.  Radmanovich compiled a .267 batting average with 19 extra base hits and 38 RBI in 55 games with the Somerset Patriots last year.

Back in the ‘Pen: Franklin Perez was reinstated to the active list on May 29.  Perez has a 9.77 ERA in five games (three starts). With the move, Ryan Dipietro was placed on the inactive list.

From Sea to Land: The Bluefish traded Charlie Lisk (.288 and seven runs in 20 games) to the Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier League) for future considerations on May 28.  Lisk had asked to be traded to a team closer to his home in Ft. Mill, South Carolina.  Lisk appeared in 87 games for the Grizzlies last year and posted a .313 batting average and knocked in 64 RBI.

Placed back in the ‘Fish tank: With the Lisk trade, Shea Harris was reinstated to the active list.

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