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

NEW BRITAIN, CT- The New Britain Bees captured the victory in their first ever game versus the Somerset Patriots Tuesday night. Starter Josh Outman held the Patriots to three runs on five hits, he departed in the seventh after his only walk of the game with the game tied at three. His relief, Sean Gleason picked up the win when the Bees scored the game winning run during his time on the mound. The loss went to Somerset’s Jeremy Horst, who despite striking out 5, gave up 11 hits and 5 runs, (though 3 earned.

Jovan Rosa led off the scoring for NB in the first when he homered to center field with a 395 foot shot over the wall. In the second, Jonathan Roof got on base by grounding to short only to have the shortstop fling the ball into the stands to allow Roof to get sent to second base. Michael Crouse stepped in and singled to left scoring Roof, though Crouse would try to get to second and be thrown out handily. Nonetheless the Bees had a 2-0 lead they would hold until the top of the fifth.

Somerset’s Matt Fields singled to right and advanced to third when Trayvon Robinson doubled to left. Yovan Gonzalez plated Fields with a deep sacrifice fly to right, and Robinson moved to third. Carlos Guzman followed that hitting the ball to first but Jon Griffin through home to catch Robinson in a run down. Though, Guzman made it to second in the ensuing back and forth. Scott Kelly doubled to left to get Guzman home and the score was tied at 2.

In the top of the six Somerset gained their first lead of the game when Aharon Eggleston singled then was advanced to the second and third on two successive pitched balls in the dirt. Bryan LaHair would eventually double Eggleston home.

In the bottom of that same inning, Craig Maddox smacked the ball up the first base line, the first baseman grabbed it with a dive, but threw the ball over the pitcher’s head allowing Maddox to reach safely. Jonathan Roof than smashed the ball towards third. The third baseman snatched it and threw it to first but it was dropped by the first baseman allowing Roof to get on base and Maddox moved. Horst got two outs in a row, but Jon Jones singled Maddox home to tie the game.

In the seventh, Outman got the first two batters out, but walked Scott Kelly leading to Gleason being called from the bullpen. Gleason would get out of the inning with a strike out and go on to pitch a quick top of the eighth as well. In the bottom of the inning, Horst got the first two batters, but Brandon Chaves singled to right field and Jovan Rosa got walked. Craig Maddox flied the ball to center field but the center fielder lost it allowing the ball to drop in and the Bees to take a 5-3 lead.
Gleason struck out the first two Patriots in the bottom of the eighth and got Bryan LaHair to ground out to finish the end the inning. Shawn Gilbair came in at the top of the ninth, struck out fields and saw the Patriots fly out with their last two batters for the save.

Every member of the Bees lineup had a hit, and Rosa, Griffin, and Jones produced two on the night. The Bees are now 22 and 21, and two games behind the Patriots for the lead in the division.