It was all easy going for the ‘Fish in game one as Luis Lopez connected for his second home run in five days after Adam Greenberg reached base on a single. The two run cushion was all Jackson (5-3) would need as he cruised towards the victory.

Greenberg crossed the plate again for Bridgeport in the seventh inning when Enohel Polanco hit an RBI triple.

Lopez was the hero in Bridgeport’s extra inning walk off victory on June 3 against the Long Island Ducks.  Lopez hit a walk off home run to left field on the first pitch he saw from Robert Paulk in the bottom of the tenth inning.  With a flip of the bat and a loud eruption from the Bluefish bench, the ‘Fish escaped from a possible Ducks sweep in the second series of the season-long battle for the Ferry Cup.

Esteban Yan was fantastic on the mound, allowing only two runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out one on just 81 pitches.  Yan has now had four straight quality starts.

Andy Weimer entered in the ninth inning, and was just as good, throwing two innings of scoreless ball to earn his first victory of the year.  The righty only gave up two hits and a walk.

Though in the second game of the doubleheader, Sean Smith led off the bottom half of the first inning with a home run and turned Bridgeport’s ignition right off.  Corey Lee got tagged for his fourth loss of the season, giving up a season high seven earned runs on six hits in his shortest outing of the year, lasting two and one-third innings.

On Saturday night, Bridgeport erupted for a season high 17 hits and defeated the Patriots 8-7.  Brandon Sing jumped out of his hitting slump in a big way, going 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and two walks.  Sing’s night was capped off with his eight home run of the year, a solo blast in the seventh inning.

Yet, Sing was not the only Bluefish to contribute, as the entire lineup had at least one hit and six players had two or more base knocks in the victory.

Dan Reichert (5-4) had a season high seven strikeouts in six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits.

Matt Pike earned his first save of the season, coming into the game in the eighth inning with two outs and two on.  Pike retired the next two batters in order, striking out Travis Anderson to end the inning.  Another strike out in the ninth inning by Matt Pike, this one to Anthony Granato, granted the Bluefish the victory.

It was a good rebound victory, as the ‘Fish got stomped on by the Pat’s the previous night, 11-2.  It was Somerset’s seventh straight victory.

Bluefish starter Gary Knotts could not survive a troublesome fourth inning, getting chased after three and two-thirds innings pitched.  The former Major Leaguer gave up nine runs (four earned) on nine hits and one walk, while striking out one.

The beginning of the week was no better when Bridgeport took on Long Island.  The Ducks took the first game of the three game series 9-1.  Starter Kyle Jackson suffered the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits, one walk and three strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings.  Three of the runs given up were with two outs in the seventh inning.

Franklin Perez made his first appearance since a stint on the disable list and Long Island slugger Ray Navarrete welcomed him back with a two run home run on Perez’s first pitch.

Bridgeport’s 3-2 loss on June 2 to the Ducks was just as painful, losing a 3-2 heartbreaker in 11 innings.

Bluefish starter Corey Lee excelled in his first Ferry Cup Series start of the year, allowing only two runs on nine hits, while striking out six over eight innings of work. Casey Hoorelbeke added two shutout innings of relief to keep the game within reach, before Matt Pike (1-2) suffered the tough loss in 11^th

The ‘Fish had an opportunity to win it in the bottom of the tenth when the Ducks loaded the bases by intentionally walking Luis Lopez with one out after Todd Davison walked. Adam Greenberg proceeded to sacrifice bunt him to second base and Tyrone Pendergrass then reached base on an error.  With the bases loaded, Brandon Sing struck out swinging and Jesse Hoorelbeke struck out looking to end Bridgeport’s chances.

In an up and down week, the Bluefish failed to finish above .500 and now find themselves with a record of 17-25. The ‘Fish trail first place Southern Maryland by eight and a half games in the Liberty Division.

Up Next: The Bluefish begin a six game home-stand at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard Tuesday night against the Lancaster Barnstormers at 7:05.

The Week Ahead

June 9-11 vs. Lancaster Barnstormers

Player to Watch: Ryan Mulhern had five RBI in three games against Bridgeport earlier this season.

June 12-14 vs. Southern Maryland

Player to Watch: Travis Garcia led the Atlantic League in hits going into Sunday with 58 and is batting .276 against Bridgeport.

‘Fish Facts

Who’s Hot: Luis Lopez now has two home runs in his past five games.  Lopez is hitting .350 over his past five games with four RBI and three runs scored.

Who’s Cold: Corey Lee has been lights out at home this season with a 1.47 ERA but on the road Lee has struggled and after yesterday’s tough outing Lee’s road ERA has now risen to 7.09.

Polanco Swimming in New Tank: On June 4 the Bluefish acquired Enohel Polanco from the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for future considerations.  Polanco is currently hitting .467.

Mateo making a Splash in Durham:  Henry Mateo ’s hot hitting as a member of the Bluefish has now carried over to the Durham Bulls (AAA, Tampa Bay).  Mateo is batting .315 with nine runs in 15 games. The former Bluefish was also named the Atlantic League Player of the Month of May.  Before being signed by Tampa Bay, Mateo led the league with a .416 batting average, while scoring 25 runs, stealing seven bases, and posting a .473 on-base percentage.

Caligiuri Earns himself a Pair of Wings: The Anaheim Angels purchased the contract of infielder Jay Caligiuri on June 4.  Caligiuri reported to Arkansas (AA, Angels) of the Texas League.  Caligiuri had a team leading .404 on base percentage and was batting .289 with 19 RBI in 37 games.

Rogers off to Reno: On June 1 the Arizona Diamondbacks purchased the contract of shortstop Ed Rogers.  Rogers has been assigned to Reno (AAA, Diamondbacks) of the Pacific Coast League.  The 30-year old played in 33 games for the ‘Fish and had a .299 batting average.

Instead of falling out of the Liberty Division hunt, manager Gary Carter saw his team take care of business against the Atlantic League’s two worst clubs, sweeping York and taking the first two from Bridgeport.

Despite a plethora of chances, the Ducks failed to cap a second consecutive sweep. Carter saw his team make four outs on the base paths and leave three runners on base in the final two at-bats before Luis Lopez tagged Robert Paulk’s first pitch deep over the leftfield wall for a 10th inning solo home run, lifting the Bluefish to a 3-2 win in a rare morning start in front of 2,522 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard Wednesday.

Instead of moving 1 ½ behind Southern Maryland, the Ducks were held scoreless for nine innings after a two-run first as the three-four-five hitters went a combined 3-14. Bridgeport staff ace Esteban Yan scattered eight hits in eight innings after entering the contest with the league’s seventh-lowest ERA at 3.89.

Estee Harris accounted for both Ducks runs, recording a RBI and a run scored while Ray Navarrete was the only visitor to log a multi-hit game in a 2-4, one-run effort. With a five-game winning streak over, the Ducks dropped to 20-17.

The Ducks put runners on first and third in the top of the 10th thanks to shortstop Rayner Bautista booting Harris’ ground ball that would have ended the inning. Instead, the ball glanced off his glove before rolling into shallow center as Navarrete advanced to third.

Andy Weimer prevented the go-ahead run from crossing the plate, setting up Lopez’s third home run of the season in the bottom of the inning as the Bluefish evened the season series at 3-3.

Ducks starter B.J. Lamura lived dangerously through six innings, walking five and allowing five hits in throwing 109 pitches. But the righty kept the Bluefish to just two runs, stranding seven runners to pick up the quality start.

While Lamura labored through his effort, Yan capitalized on the free-swinging Ducks, needing just 85 pitches to breeze through his eight innings. Yan, a former Tampa Bay Devil Ray, walked just one batter and registered a single strikeout.

“I’m glad they gave me a chance to win and prove what I can do,” Yan, an 11-year major league veteran, said. “I’d like to get the win, but I’m happy the team won. I’m proud of what I’m doing and will continue to throw every outing and every opportunity.”

Despite the starters’ style dichotomy, both pitchers ended up with no-decisions. Yan allowed just one runner to make it into scoring position after the Ducks scored twice in the first. Bridgeport manager Tommy John elected to take out Yan for the ninth, bringing in Weimer.

Ron Davenport lined a leadoff double and a walk put two runners  on base before Johnny Hernandez placed a perfect sac bunt attempt down the third base line, moving both men into scoring position in the ninth. Dennis Donovan then hit a weak grounder to third and Davenport broke on contact and caught caught in a rundown between third and home.

Bridgeport got the tag out and then completed the double play when Donovan tried to take second base and was thrown out by 10 feet, killing a rally with the fourth out the Ducks made on the base paths.

Bluefish manager Tommy John is friends with Carter from their playing days. After a rough start, the Bluefish won four of the last six even after dropping the first two to the Ducks. Bridgeport is still looking to find consistency with a 15-23 record.

“If you don’t play very well like we’ve had the last couple of days, it’s not a lot of fun to manage anything,” John said. “But it’s fun. Gary’s been a friend of mine for a long time. We played against each other when he was with the Mets and Expos.”

Ken Ray, Randy Leek and Brad Halsey were entrusted to anchor the Ducks top three rotation spots before Opening Day. Ray is now in the Indians organization, Leek is inactive with an oblique strain and Halsey is looking to regain the form that once made him a heralded Yankee prospect.

But the Ducks qualified for the playoffs the past five seasons based on depth and are looking to employ a similar strategy with the new campaign barely a month old. Enter Lamura and Jake Dittler, who are two right-handers looking to become established Atlantic League starters.

Harris and Victor Rodriguez jumped on Yan early, lining back-to-back RBI singles before taking second on wild throws to the plate in the opening inning despite the 10:30 a.m. start time. Rodriguez prematurely ended the rally, getting thrown out trying to take third.

Bridgeport battled back, supporting its top starter by manufacturing a run off Lamura. Adam Greenberg worked a a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before coming home on Jay Caligiuri’s infield single to make it 2-1 after the first inning.

Lamura struggled with command but was able to minimize the damage. In the third, the Bluefish put runners runners on the corners with none out before Lamura induced a pop out before Ryan Radmanovich hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to tie the score at 2. That would be it as the Ronkonkoma escaped the inning without Bridgeport taking the lead.

The Ducks will head to Somerset for a three-game series against the reigning league champions. The Patriots entered Wednesday evening with a Freedom Division-best 24-17 record.