Bluefish Split Day/Night Doubleheader With Barnstormers

The Bridgeport Bluefish, now in the twilight of their 20-year run in the
Park City, split a day/night doubleheader with Lancaster yesterday.

(Photo by Bob Phillips)

BRIDGEPORT–While this week’s announcement that the Ballpark at Harbor Yard is on its last legs, and a new amphitheater designed to host 25 summer concerts will be built in its place, the Bridgeport Bluefish still have to focus on playing out this season. The Bluefish, currently in second place in the Atlantic League Liberty Division standings—one game behind their cross-Sound arch-rivals, the Long Island Ducks—split a day/night doubleheader with the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The Bluefish won the first game—a seven-inning affair—by a score of 7-1, then fell to the Barnstormers 7-6 in a traditional nine-inning game last night.

In the matinee, Bluefish starter Rainy Lara allowed just one run on three hits, walking two and striking out five in five innings to improve to 8-6 on the season. Lara, a Liberty Division All-Star, earned his first victory since July 1 when the Bluefish topped the New Britain Bees, 7-5, in New Britain. Lancaster starting pitcher John Kuchno took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits across four innings pitched, walking three and striking out two, while falling to 1-1 on the season.

The Bluefish broke the ice with two runs in the bottom of the second. Angelys Nina drove home Sean Burroughs and Jonathan Galvez with double to straightaway centerfield. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, the Bluefish put the game on ice with four insurance runs, taking a 6-1 lead. The key hit was a three-run dinger by Galvez—the team’s home run leader (13) and RBIs (57).

In the nightcap, Bridgeport starter Manny Parra (1-1) was tagged for six runs in 4.2 innings, picking up the loss. Brad Bergesen (9-6) picked up the win for the Barnstormers, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Anthony Carter came out of the bullpen in the ninth to close out the game and notch his team-leading 25th save of the season.

Trailing 7-3, the ‘Fish made a game of it, closing the Lancaster lead to 7-6 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bridgeport then threatened in the bottom of the ninth, but could not bring the tying-run home from second base, giving the Barnstormers the victory. Welington Dotel and Nina had three hits each in a losing effort.

—Staff Reports