Bluefish Win Fifth Straight

The Bridgeport Bluefish topped the Sugar Land Skeeters on Wednesday
night. This is the penultimate home series in the 20-year history of the
'Fish in the Park City. The ballpark is slated to be converted into a music
amphitheater at season's end.

By Bob Phillips

BRIDGEPORT–The Bridgeport Bluefish defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters, 3-2, before an announced crowd of 1,513 on a soggy Wednesday night at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The game was cut short thanks to Mother Nature’s appearance in the form of a deluge in the fifth inning—indeed, ironic, given the catastrophic rains endured in Houston and all of East Texas during Hurricane Harvey. Sugar Land is a suburb of Houston.

Bridgeport starter Manny Parra, who garnered a 29-41 record over the course of eight major league seasons with the Brewers and Reds, went the distance for the first time this season—albeit on a technicality—en route to his third victory vs. three defeats. The 6-3 southpaw allowed just two runs on four hits, with four walks (one wild pitch) and three strikeouts in five innings. Jake Hale, who started for the Skeeters (10-6) was tagged with the loss (while picking up a complete game). He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks (one hit batsman) and four strike outs in five innings.

Bridgeport took a 1-0 lead Hale in the bottom of the third when Luis Hernandez banged out a single to drive in Angelys Nina, who had reached first on a walk. Sugar Land responded with two in the top of the fourth on an RBI ground-out by Wilfredo Rodriguez and an RBI single by Caleb Ramsey. The ’Fish came back with two runs of their own in the home half of the fourth when Gustavo Molina drove in Jose Cuevas, who had reached first on a leadoff walk, with a two-out single.

In the bottom of the fifth, it was “Cuevas time” again as the 6-2 second baseman, batting .276 for the season, smacked a double into the left field corner that drove home D’Arby Myers in what proved to be the winning run.

It was was Bridgeport’s second straight one-run victory over Sugar Land, the reigning Atlantic League champs. With the win, the ’Fish improve to 30-30 in the second half (71-59 overall), and are now five games behind the Liberty Division-leading Long Island Ducks, while the Skeeters fall to 29-30 (59-70). Bridgeport, which finished just one game behind the Somerset Patriots in the first half, are in a virtual dead heat with the Pats in the Atlantic League wild card standings.

The Bluefish and Skeeters conclude their three-game series on Thursday afternoon at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. First pitch is slated for 12 noon, and Mickey Herbert, former president of the Bluefish and one of the founders of the ’Fish, will serve as the team’s guest manager. It will also be Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark, with special deals on beer at the concession stands. Tickets are available at the Bluefish ticket office, or by clicking HERE.

—with staff reports