The Fort Lee Bridgemen will head out to take on the Cliffside Park Raiders at 4:15 p.m. on Monday. Fort Lee is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.
Fort Lee took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Saturday. They had just enough and edged out Waldwick 4-2.
Fort Lee got a great performance from Bradley Li as he pitched five innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. What's more, Li posted five strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Marcus Lee, who got on base in both of his plate appearances with two stolen bases and one run. Stephan Kim was another key player, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
The scorekeeper got an easy start on Saturday as neither Cliffside Park nor Wood-Ridge made it on the board until the sixth inning. The Raiders blew past the Blue Devils 8-1. The Raiders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven contests by six runs or more this season.
Breidy Marine spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on three hits. He is becoming a predictor of Cliffside Park's success: when he allows at most three earned runs the team is 2-1 (and 6-12 when he doesn't).
On the hitting side, Nicolas Ortiz was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Victor Freytas, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
Fort Lee pushed their record up to 14-7 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.2 runs over those games. As for Cliffside Park, their victory ended a six-game drought on the road and puts them at 8-13.
Monday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Fort Lee has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .451. However, it's not like Cliffside Park struggles in that department as they've averaged .434. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Fort Lee was able to grind out a solid win over Cliffside Park when the teams last played back in May of 2024, winning 8-5. Will the Bridgemen repeat their success, or do the Raiders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
