Ducks Relief Stymies Stormers
June 19, 2009 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers put together a strong comeback effort on Friday evening, but the Long Island Ducks bullpen eventually prevailed, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game series at Citibank Park.
With the loss, the Barnstormers dropped back to .500 and fell nine games behind the division leading Somerset Patriots.
Down, 7-2, with two outs and nobody aboard in the top of the sixth, the Barnstormers strung together four hits to climb back into the game. Gerard Haran started the rally with a single to left and advanced when the ball escaped Estee Harris for an error. Danny Bravo singled Haran to third, and both runners scored when Jed Morris rode a pitch from Mike Hrynio into the alley in left center field. Michael Campbell singled Morris home to cut the deficit to two. Campbell stole second, and Dan Williams walked against Robert Paulk, the second Ducks reliever of the inning. Gary Carter went back to his bullpen and brought on lefty Jason Norderum to face Quincy Foster and barely beat Foster to first on a 3-1 groundout ending the inning.
Norderum walked Bryan Sabatella to open the seventh, and, one out later, Michael Woods doubled to right center. The Barnstormers final chance on the night died when Sabatella lost his balance on a wide turn at third base and was tagged out. Joe Valentine retired four straight batters, and Bill Simas got the final three to earn his 12th save.
Long Island broke the game open with a five-run third inning off Jason Scobie (3-3). Lew Ford opened the inning with a single to right, and Matt Cavagnaro followed with a bunt single down the third base line. Ray Navarrete singled through the left side of the infield to load the bases, and Long Island took a 3-1 lead on Harris' two-run single to center. Vic Rodriguez walked to reload the bases. Johnny Hernandez extended the margin to three with a ground out, and John Pachot delivered two more with a single to center.
Campbell tripled and scored in the top of the fifth, but Rodriguez countered that with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning.
Randy Leek (2-5), in his first start since spending two weeks on the disabled list with a strained oblique, pitched five innings to record the win for the Ducks.
The Barnstormers have six more games on the extended road trip before returning home to face the Somerset Patriots on Monday, June 29. Tickets for all home games are available at www.lancasterbarnstormers.com
NOTES: Haran has driven in at least one run in six of the last seven games and has hit in eight of the last nine...Morris has eight doubles in his last 15 games...Lancaster played without Aaron Herr and Ryan Mulhern who both left Thursday's second game...Both injuries are day-to-day...Sabatella played his first game at third base as a Barnstormer.
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Atlantic League Stories from June 19, 2009
- Orioles Sign Blue Crabs First Baseman Eric Crozier - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Ducks Relief Stymies Stormers - Lancaster Stormers
- Ducks Use Five-Run Third En Route to Victory - Long Island Ducks
- Patriots Defeat Blue Crabs in Front of Season High Crowd - Somerset Patriots
- Bears Rally to Beat Riversharks - Camden Riversharks
- Five Sharks Selected to All-Star Team - Camden Riversharks
- Barnstormers Sweep Doubleheader, Head Above .500 - Lancaster Stormers
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