By David F. Pendrys

BRIDGEPORT, CT-In their first meeting of a four game set, the New Britain Bees topped the Bridgeport Bluefish 7-1 in the first half of a double header at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The Bluefish sent Blake Beavan to the mound and the Bees deployed Shawn Haviland. Haviland would go the distance giving up 8 hits but only 1 run, and striking out 1 and walking 2 on his way to the win. 76 of his 110 pitches were strikes. Beavan would not be as fortunate giving up all of the Bees runs on his way to a loss, despite 2 strikeouts and no walks. The Bluefish starter threw 66 strikes from his 93 pitches.

In the top of the first, the Bees got on the board when Greg Golson reached on a grounder through the shortstop’s legs. Later Craig Maddox hit a ground rule double moving Golson to third, where he was able to score on a wild pitch for the lead.

In the bottom of the second, Bridgeport’s Josh Vitters got on board with a single to left field. With two outs, Rossmel Perez hit a single to right moving Vitters to second. A wild pitch to Luis Nunez would move both the runners and Nunez himself was walked soon after. But Luis Hernandez hit an out to follow and the opportunity was lost.

All was quiet on the scoring front until the fifth when Kevin Rivers singled to right field, and stole second base. Jon Jones hit the ball to the outfield scoring Rivers, but instead of holding at first went for two and was thrown out by the cut off man. Still the visitors were up 2-0.

It would be in the top of the sixth when the wheels really came off. With one out, Jovan Rosa whapped a single over the infield to center field, and Craig Maddox singled to right field. Jonathan Roof stepped in and whacked a ground rule double to the right field corner scoring Rosa and moving Maddox to third. Michael Crouse then drove in both with a single to left field, and followed that by stealing second. Rivers flied out, bu tit didn’t matter as Jon Jones homered to left field scoring Maddox and himself. By the time the inning was over, the Bees had a 7-0 lead.

Bridgeport called Scott Shuman in from the pen for the top of the seventh and he held the Bees off the board,. In the bottom of the seventh the Bluefish showed some signs of life when Perez launched a homer to right. Luis Nunez and Luis Hernandez both singled to put two runners on, but Haviland closed the door and three put out later the Bees had their third victory in the four games so far this week.

Jones, Roof, and Maddox all had 2 hits on the day, and the entire Bees lineup other than Nick Murphy had a hit. Endy Chavez and Perez had 2 hits on the day for the Bluefish. Hits were not lacking, but the RBI certainly were.