By David F. Pendrys

In game two of a doubleheader between the Bridgeport Bluefish and the New Britain bees, the Bluefish sent R.J. Hively to the mount and the Bees deployed Craig Stem, their former closer. The result would be a 5-4 victory for the home team.

In the bottom of the first the Bluefish benefited from Bees mistakes. Luis Hernandez reached first safely when his grounded to short resulted in a throw off the bag. Endy Chavez then grounded to second and Hernandez was out but Chavez reached safely. Wellington Dotel grounded to second base but the fielder bobbled it and both runners were safe. Jose Cuevas then hit the ball into left, and what should have been a routine fly ball was dropped allowing Chavez to score. The next batter, Luis Rodriguez singled to bring home Dotel. With Cuevas now on third, a wild pitch from Stem allowed him to score. With that Bridgeport led 3-0.

The home squad tacked on another run after Dotel doubled down the line, and he was singled in by Cuevas. With Cuevas on first, Luis Rodriguez whapped a likely single, only to have Steve Carillo pursue it from second and snag it with a leap preventing potential further damage.

New Britain began their own comeback in the fourth inning when Greg Golson walked, and was later reached second after a wild pitch. Craig Maddox singled in Golson from second and got to second on the throw home. With two outs Jon Jones tripled and brought Maddox home.

In the bottom of the inning Bridgeport tried to get something going with Connor David on second and Luis Nunez at first, however following a pitch to Luis Hernandez, New Britain Catcher James Skelton flung the ball to second catching David off base before he returned. The Bluefish would eventually not be able to translate their initial hits into runs after that.

An inning later with Joseph Kuzia in for Bridgeport, Anthony Hewitt singled up through center, and Steve Carillo moved him along with a single of his own. Later a grounder from Golson would bring in Hewitt and Golson would be safe when the throw to first was too high. Golson stole second as well. Paul Demny came in to relieve Kuzia but a single from Jovan Rosa brought home the tying run.

Later, in the top of the sixth Bridgeport’s Nunez chased down a foul ball to get a valuable out.

In the bottom of the sixth, with Connor David at second base, Endy Chavez singled to bring him home. They would strand him and another run but the score was now 5-4.

Eric Niesen picked up the win in relief and Sean Gleason the loss. Hively had 58 pitches and 40 of them were strikes. Stem had 67 pitches and 52 were strikes. 17 of Gleason’s 29 pitches were strikes. Niesen had 15 strikes of his 23 pitches.

Modest: Highlights