Bridgeport, CT—The last time Southern Maryland saw Esteban Yan, he blanked them over nine innings for a complete game shutout. Yesterday at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, Yan once again pitched a complete game, but could not prevent the Blue Crabs (29-20) from crossing the plate in Bridgeport’s (20-28) 5-3 loss in the rubber game of a three game series.
Yan’s (4-2) streak of five consecutive quality starts was snapped as he gave up five runs (four earned) and five hits with two walks while striking out six. He has now pitched a total of 48 innings in his last six outings and has allowed a combined 10 earned runs.
Despite getting ten hits off of knuckleballer Joe Gannon (5-5), Bridgeport could only manage three runs on the day. All three came from the bat of Ryan Radmanovich in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Bluefish attempted to make a late rally. With the bases loaded, Radmanovich hit a blistering double off of the right field wall to score Ryner Bautista, Todd Davidson and Enohel Polanco.
In the eighth inning, the Bluefish had the tying run at third with two outs after Tyrone Pendergrass advanced to third on a passed ball; but Enohel Polanco grounded out to third to end the rally.
Pendergrass led the Bluefish to victory in Yan’s previous start on June 9 in Bridgeport’s 4-1 victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers. Pendergrass went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored while Yan blanked Lancaster for seven innings allowing only three hits while striking out eight.
Even though Polanco could not deliver Sunday, he had a huge impact in Bridgeport’s 9-6 victory on Saturday against Southern Maryland in front of a season-high 4,552 fans at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Polanco finished 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI.
Brandon Sing (3-for-4, four RBI, one run scored) joined the Bluefish home run fest, launching a 2-2 Jimmy Serrano pitch out of the ballpark for his team leading 10th home run of the year. The Bluefish had four home runs in the game, one shy of their all-time single-game record. Bridgeport and Southern Maryland combined to hit eight total home runs in the game.
Corey Lee (2-4) benefited from Bridgeport’s nine runs on 14 hits, earning the win after pitching five and two-thirds innings. Lee gave up six runs on eight hits with one walk while striking out five.
Sing (2-for-4, 1 RBI) had another monstrous home run in Friday’s 6-2 loss to Southern Maryland. The first baseman drilled a 2-1 pitch from Blue Crabs starter Ryan Bicondoa in the sixth inning that bounced off of the nearby Arena at Harbor Yard.
James Shanks (2-for-3, 5 RBI) may not have hit the farthest home run in the game, but his grand slam in the sixth inning off of Kyle Jackson (5-4) proved to be the difference maker in the game. Jackson finished with six innings pitched and five runs against on six hits and two walks, while striking out four.
On June 11, Dan Reichert battled through a 125 pitch count to deliver Bridgeport a series clinching victory in the rubber game of a three game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Reichert pitched eight innings and was tagged for just one run on seven hits. The righty also set a team season high with 10 strikeouts.
Reichert had plenty of run support as the ‘Fish exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Four of the runs were unearned as the Barnstormers got sloppy in the field resulting in two errors. Polanco and Pendergrass combined for five runs and five hits in the game. Polanco finished 3-for-5 with one run scored and three RBI while Pendergrass chipped in with a 2-for-3 performance and a run scored.
Ryner Bautista tied a single-game season high with three runs in the game.
On June 10 the Bluefish participated in their longest extra-innings game of the season, a three hour and 27 minute affair against the Barnstormers. Matt Pike avoided trouble in the ninth inning, but proceeded to load the bases in the 10th, and Michael Campbell drove in the winning run with an RBI single.
Luis Rodriguez sent the game into extra innings when he connected on a two run double in the bottom of the eighth inning, plating Sing and pinch-runner Todd Davidson.
Luis Lopez was the only member of the ‘Fish to have a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with one run scored and two walks.
The Bluefish finished the week 3-3, and after dropping this weekend’s series against Southern Maryland, they now trail the Blue Crabs by 8.5 games for first place in the Liberty Division.
Up Next: The Bluefish travel to Lancaster (24-25) today to begin a four-game series with the Barnstormers before returning home on Friday to take on the York Revolution (15-34). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
Tonight’s Matchup
Gary Knotts (1-3, 3.77) vs. Eric Ackerman (2-3, 2.91)
The Week Ahead
June 15-18 at Lancaster Barnstormers
Player to Watch: L.J. Biernbaum has only played in one game against the Bluefish this season, but is currently ranked fourth in the Atlantic League with a .320 batting average and 32 RBI. In his one appearance against the ‘Fish, Biernbaum went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
June 19-21 vs. York Revolution
Player to Watch: Matt Padgett has a team high seven RBI against Bridgeport this season. He is 10-for-24 against the ‘Fish in seven games.
‘Fish Facts:
Who’s Hot: Tyrone Pendergrass has made a huge turnaround from his prior 4-for-44 hitting slump in late May. Over his last ten games Pendergrass has a .407 batting average with 11 hits in 27 at-bats.
Power Outage: Slugger Jesse Hoorelbeke has struggled to find his power stroke this season. He has posted a .143 batting average in the past ten games and has just one home run and 14 RBI on the year.
Good First Impressions: Enohel Polanco has made an immediate impact for the Bluefish since joining the team on June 4. In ten games with Bridgeport, the second baseman has posted a .357 batting average and has knocked in nine RBI…Outfielder Colin Roberson made his Bridgeport Bluefish season debut yesterday going 2-for-4 with a stolen base as the designated hitter.
High Sailing: In Saturday’s game against the Blue Crabs, Bridgeport and Southern Maryland combined for a total of eight home runs. The game also featured a leadoff home run (John Ramistella), an inside the park home run (Patrick Osborn), and a grand slam (Brandon Sing). The Bluefish’s four home runs were one shy of their all-time single-game record. It was the first time the Bluefish hit four home runs in one game since September 2, 2008 at York.
Youman Moving on to Starting Role: Bridgeport traded relief pitcher Shane Youman to the York Revolution on June 12 for outfielder Colin Roberson. Roberson joins the Bluefish after appearing in 19 games for York. Youman was 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA in five games for the ‘Fish.
Former Bluefish part of Japanese record: The Chiba Lotte Marines set a new Japanese Professional Baseball record with 15 runs in the sixth inning on June 11. The Marines sent 20 batters to the plate and had 12 hits, 11 of which were singles. Former Bluefish player Gary Burnham is a member of the Marines and has a .247 batting average with 11 RBI. The previous record for runs in an inning was 14, and the modern Major League record is 17, set by the Boston Red Sox against Detroit in 1953.