Stormers Forced Out of Harbor Yard

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on June 2, 2010

(Bridgeport, Conn. – June 1, 2010) – The Bridgeport Bluefish ended their five game home stand Tuesday night with a win against the Lancaster Barnstormers 6-4 at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

Lloyd Turner led off the game for the ‘Stormers with a single up the middle and then moved into scoring position on a groundout. With two down, Jason Perry drove a single down the left field line to score Turner.

The ‘Fish jumped in front of Lancaster in the bottom of the first when Brandon Chaves began the comeback with a one out, line drive single over the shortstop’s head. Steve Moss followed with a base hit of his own, and Danny Putnam drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Luis Lopez roped a single into left field to bring home Chaves and Moss.

A fifth inning push from the Barnstormers secured the team with the lead for two innings. Bryant Nelson began the frame by reaching first on an error committed by Bridgeport’s shortstop Brandon Chaves, and Reggie Taylor pushed Nelson to third on a double lifted to the right field wall. Nelson moved on to score on a groundout to the right side. Then with one out in the inning, Salomon Manriquez slapped a single into right, allowing Taylor to mark Lancaster’s fourth run of the game.

The key to Bridgeport’s success came in the eighth as they secured the lead, and the win. Wily Mo Pena came up big for the ‘Fish when he stepped up to the plate with one out and drilled a ball to the right side for a single. Pena hurried his way home from first base to tie the game on a Lopez double rocketed into center field, his third RBI of the night. The game winning run came on the heroic efforts of Colin Roberson, who sent a triple through the right-center field gap to bring home Lopez. Roberson then scored on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to two runs.

Kevin Mannix started his first game at home for Bridgeport, giving up four runs (three earned) resting on eight hits. The right-hander walked one and fanned three through five innings of work. Jorge Perez (1-0) earned the win after pitching the eighth inning, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one. The save was awarded to Jorge Julio, who entered in the ninth, allowed only one hit, and struck out two to seal the victory.

Lancaster’s Ben Fritz allowed the ‘Fish to cross the plate twice off five hits and one walk. The Barnstormer struck out an impressive eight batters.  The loss was given to Jason Simontacchi (0-3) in the eighth inning when he gave up three Bridgeport runs on three hits.

The Bluefish now take to the road for eight games beginning tomorrow night in Lancaster. Bridgeport visits the Barnstormers for a two-game series and then travels to Camden for a three-game set with the Riversharks. The final three games of the road trip will take place in York against the Revolution. Fans can keep tabs on their hometown team throughout the road trip by tuning into the Bluefish Broadcast Network. Tomorrow’s contest against Lancaster begins at 6:30 p.m., with the broadcast beginning at 6:00 p.m., exclusively on www.bridgeportbluefish.com. Bluefish radio voice Perry Miles will have the call of all the action.

The Bluefish return home on Friday, June 11, to open a weekend series against the Somerset Patriots. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and gates open at 6:05 p.m. 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. 2010 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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