Bridgewater, NJ – The Bridgeport Bluefish defeated the Somerset Patriots 8-7 in front of a season high 7,410 fans at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday night.
Somerset took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after designated hitter Teuris Olivares reached on an error, left fielder Elliott Ayala was hit by a pitch, and right fielder Jon Nelson singled to score Olivares.
Bridgeport tied the game in the top of the third inning after left fielder Tyrone Pendergrass singled, center fielder Adam Greenberg singled, and third baseman Luis Lopez singled to score Pendergrass to make the score 1-1.
The Bluefish took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Catcher Luis Rodriguez singled, shortstop Rayner Bautista doubled, and Pendergrass hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Rodriguez for a 2-1 advantage.
Bridgeport extended the lead with three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Second baseman Enohel Polanco singled, Lopez singled, and designated hitter Brandon Sing followed with an RBI single. Right fielder Ryan Radmanovich drove home Lopez with an RBI double and Sing scored on an RBI single by Rodriguez for a 5-1 lead.
The Patriots scored in the bottom of the fifth inning after shortstop Anthony Granato walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Josh Pressley to cut the lead to 5-2.
The Patriots added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo homerun by Olivares (5) to make the score 5-3.
The Bluefish scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning after first baseman Jesse Hoorelbeke (1) hit a solo homerun, Pendergrass walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Greenberg for a 7-3 lead.
Somerset scored in the bottom of the seventh after Granato, Pressley, and third baseman Jeff Nettles walked to load the bases and then catcher Travis Anderson walked to force in a run to make the score 7-4.
Designated hitter Brandon Sing (8) added a run for Bridgeport in the top of the eighth inning after a solo homerun to left field.
The Patriots cut the lead to 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Nelson (5) started the rally with a solo homerun, center fielder Sean Smith then reached on an error, Granato was hit by a pitch, and Pressley singled to score Nelson and Smith. Second baseman Matt Hagen followed with an RBI single to plate Granato.
Bluefish starter Dan Reichert (5-4) picked up the win after allowing two earned runs on five hits and seven strikeouts in six innings pitched. Patriots starter Jared Gothreaux (2-5) suffered the loss after allowing five earned runs on 13 hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Reliever Matt Pike (1) picked up his first save for the Bluefish.
The 2009 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford will continue at home with a double header beginning at 1:35 pm on Sunday, June 7th against the Bridgeport Bluefish. The game features Youth Batting Gloves for the first 1,500 kids courtesy of Topps Attax and a Pre-Game Autograph Session. For tickets, stop by the Patriots Ticket Office located at the ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com. 
