Somerset Strikes Early En Route to Victory

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on July 8, 2009

Bridgeport, CT – – The Bridgeport Bluefish (32-37) were defeated by the Somerset Patriots (43-26) on Tuesday night 6-3 at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

Despite holding the Patriots hitless over his final six innings pitched, starter Kyle Jackson could not recover as the Pats jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the second inning.  Joe Burke led off the top of the frame with a leadoff single and was brought home on Elliot Ayala’s RBI double down the left field line.  Mike Rodriguez then followed with an RBI triple into the left field corner to give Somerset a 5-0 lead.  Rodriguez finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and stole his 21^st base of the year.

Jackson (5-6) retired the final three batters of the inning, and went on to allow four walks and a balk over the next five frames.  The only other run scored against Jackson came in the fourth when Josh Pressley hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Rodriguez.  The righty suffered the loss after going seven innings with three strikeouts while giving up six runs on six hits and four walks.

Casey Hoorelbeke and Andy Weimer combined to hold the Patriots hitless the rest of the game, pitching scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively.

The Bluefish, trailing 6-3, attempted to make a late rally in the bottom of the ninth inning against Somerset closer Ryan Basner.  Adam Greenberg nailed a one out pitch down the right field line and into the home bullpen for a triple.  Tyrone Pendergrass then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Greenberg.  Luis Lopez proceeded to pop up to first base to end the game and give Basner his fourth save of the year.

Somerset starter Chris Buglovsky (1-0) earned his first victory of the season by striking out two and holding Bridgeport to three runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings pitched.  It was Buglovsky’s second start of the year and just his sixth in two years.

Brandon Sing highlighted Bridgeport’s eight-hit performance, finishing 2-for-3 with one RBI.  Sing hit an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning that was just over the outstretched arm of leftfielder Elliot Ayala.

Luis Lopez had two walks for Bridgeport, including one in the seventh inning.  Sing then followed with a walk of his own to bring the tying run to the plate when Jesse Hoorelbeke came up with the ‘Fish behind 6-3.  Lefty Brian Henderson was brought in to face the slugger, and responded by jamming Hoorelbeke into a 5-4-3 double play.

The Bluefish and Patriots play the final game of their three-game series tomorrow during a 10:35 a.m. matinee. Righthander Dan Reichert will be on the mound for the Bluefish, and will be opposed by Patriots starter Brian Adams. Everyone in attendance will be able to experience “Winning Inning Wednesday” and have the chance to take home $10,000. Tickets are still available by visiting the Harbor Yard box office, calling (203)-345-4800, or by visiting www.bridgeportbluefish.com and clicking the tickets icon.

The Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball Club, a charter team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, plays its home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, located off Exit 27 of I-95 on the corner of Broad Street and South Frontage Road in Bridgeport. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans, group outings and individual tickets are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish online at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.

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