By David F. Pendrys [Official Atlantic League Box Score]

BRIDGEPORT, CT- The Bridgeport Bluefish held off the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to pick up a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Harbor Yard. Starter Mike Antonini earned the win going 6 innings, giving up four hits and 1 run, and striking out 4 and walking the same amount. His relief in the form of Joseph Kuzia, Taylor Thompson, and Eric Niesen held the Crabs scoreless en route to Niesen’s save.

Southern Maryland’s Gaby Hernandez took the loss giving up all 3 of the Bluefish runs though only 2 were earned as an error.

Bridgeport struck first in the bottom of the fourth when Dan Johnson singled to center, and was later moved to third by a single from Luis Rodriguez with one out. Anthony Giansanti stepped in and whacked the ball to right field, where it was not caught and in came Johnson. Hernandez escaped the inning without further damage and Angel Flores responded immediately for the visitors by walloping the ball over the left field fence to tie the game at 1, but that would be the extent of his team’s runs.

In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Giansanti walked and Rossmel Perez advanced him to second on a ground out. Luis Nunez singled an 0-2 pitch to left to plate Giansanti. Luis Hernandez came to bat and Nunez stole second, which set up the next run. Hernandez whacked the ball to first but the first baseman mishandled it and it passed by him allowing Nunez to get home.

Antonini managed to strand two Blue Crabs base runners in the first and sixth staying out of a jam. Niesen also had 2 base runners on in the ninth before he got the batter to ground it to him to close out the game.

Steve Lombardozzi stole third base for the Blue Crabs though it proved to not figure into the game, however later on Eric Garcia attempted to steal second and was thrown out by Bridgeport’s Rossmel Perez.

The game also featured USA Softball Olympian Jennie Finch serving as Guest Manager for the day.