Baseball

Game 1

The Bristol Blues entered Father's Day in a double duo against the Pittsfield Suns on a warm Sunday afternoon in Bristol, CT. It started out well for Bristol on the offensive side scoring two runs-one a piece, in the first two innings of the ball game.

However, starting pitcher Jake Regula had a tough time commanding his breaking ball during his 4 innings of work. Even though this was his first start as a Blue, he had made two relief appearances prior to making this start.

He didn't have any sort of feel of his breaking ball, which made Regula a one pitch pitcher. No matter what look you're in if you cannot throw anything but a fastball you aren't longed for the game. That's what happened with Regula.

The Suns managed to get 1 run in the 2nd innings, 2 in the 4th/2-5th/1-6th. Three of those runs came off the bat of Dave Matthews the center fielder for the Pittsfield Suns. He crushed a ball into left field off of Regula in the 4th inning, and then followed that up by hitting a two run dinger off of Mark Silvestri to dead center.

Bristol had their opportunities during game 1 to score more than two runs, but they stranded over 6 runs in scoring position. That's not a recipe for success.

Bristol Blues lose 6-2 over Pittsfield

Game 2

The second game of the doubleheader turned out to go rather quick, ending in under 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Thanks to the quick work of Suns Joey Rogers and Blues Justin Rouse whom, like Regula in game 1 didn't have their best stuff but had to fight through just to make it through the necessary innings. The big blow for the Blues was a three spot in the bottom of the third that sent nine batters to the plate.

Dylan Reynolds started the 3 run inning by hitting a double, then Ethan Hunt was hit by a pitch. Peyton then hit a ball to left field that was misplayed by the left fielder that left the based loaded with one out.

Ryan Lutz had the double down the third base-line that drove in both Reynolds and Hunt, and the icing on the cake was a Cooper Mrowka single that scored Lutz to top of the scoring for the Blues.

In all, 3 runs-3 hits- one error by the suns let the blues breathe a little as the innings progressed.     

On the pitching side:

Rouse didn't have his best control, but he grinded through some traffic on the bases most of the game, and with the help of Jason Hebner who came in relief of Rouse in the 5th. Hebner would get two consecutive strikeouts both via the swing to stop the run scoring for the Suns at 3.

Hebner went on to have a clean 6th, before Richard Brereton came into the 7th and went 1-2-3 to close out the game and help Bristol split the Father's Day Double header. In the split Bristol went from 10-5 to 11-6.

Bristol's next home game will be tomorrow at 7:00 against the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.