by David F. Pendrys

BRIDGEPORT, CT- The Bridgeport Bluefish picked up the win 8-4 over the Sugarland Skeeters Saturday Night at Harbor Yard.

Bluefish pitched Cody Scarpetta pitched very well but departed the game relatively early. Matt Wright of Sugarland took the loss after giving up 6 of the team’s 8 runs. Sam Gervacio in relief got the win for the Bluefish, and Patrick Mincey picked up the save after the Skeeters made a comeback attempt in the ninth.

The fireworks actually began with a defensive play as Bluefish Center Fielder Josh Prince made a magnificent catch in deep center field in the top of the 2nd. He lost the ball for a minute but then followed it back to the wall seeming to catch it blind to prevent extra bases.

In the bottom of the inning, Jobduan Morales doubled to lead off the bottom of the second by lofting the ball into left. Wilson Batista followed that with a double down the right field line to bring in Morales. Brandon Jones would later double in Batista and the Bluefish had a 2-0 lead. Doubles would be the theme of the night.

In the third with a runner on 2nd, a Sugarland batter hit to the gap in right but Prince hustled to catch it and save a run. In the bottom of the the inning, Sugarland’s Kevin Russo robbed the Bluefish with a diving catch of his own.

In the top of the 4th the Bluefish escaped some fielding mistakes from Shortstop Matt Wessinger and didn’t give up a run. In the 5th, Gervacio took the mound and Wessinger redeemed himself to the crowd when he snagged a liner. Wellington Dotel opened the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle. He stole second with John Alonso up, and Alonso soon doubled down the line to score him giving the Bluefish a 3-0 advantage.

In the top of the 6th 2nd Baseman Bryant Nelson prevented a hit by hurrying into right field to snag the ball on the fly. The bottom would be very fruitful for the Bluefish as Batista doubled down the line. Andres Rodriguez than doubled as well plating Batista. Jones singled to move Rodriguez to third and a Wessinger sacrifice fly scored him. Prince than stepped in to single and ended Wright’s day as in came Andrew Johnston for the Skeeters. Nelson came up and singled to bring in Jones and put the score at 6-0.

That would be enough but in the bottom of the 8th Prince knocked a home run ball to left after Wessinger had gotten on with a single for the 8-0 lead.

In the ninth Sugarland managed to put up 4 on Luis Perdomo, but Mincey came in and shut them down.