Renault drives Barnstormers to win
June 15, 2008 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Right-hander Nick Renault took a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning, and Lancaster survived a shaky ninth to down York, 4-2, before 5,309 on Father's Day at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
With the win, Lancaster gains a 4-2 lead in the War of the Roses.
Renault (2-2) finished his afternoon allowing four hits and two runs while walking five and striking out eight, a Barnstormers season high. For the second time in six starts since coming to Lancaster, the 28-year old from Oregon had a no-hitter for 5 1/3 innings. Keoni De Renne ended the big with a single into center field, but Renaulr got a double play grounder off the bat of Chris Ashby to end the inning.
York really challenged the Barnstormers starter for the first time in the seventh. Jason Aspito picked up a leadoff walk, and Sandy Aracena followed with a lined single into right center. Renault battled back and struck out Matt Padgett looking, then got Matt Esquivel to ground into another double play, the third turned by the Barnstormers middle infield on the afternoon.
He could not get through the ninth. Ashby led off with a ground single up the middle that just scooted under Danny Gonzalez' glove, and Aspito drew his third walk of the game. With a save situation in place, Von Hayes went to Jose Cabrera, his closer. Cabrera retired Aracena on a foul pop to first. Padgett followed with a sinking liner to right, and Ashby scored after stopping at third when Jarred Ball's throw home was well to the right of catcher Manny Mejia. Matt Esquivel followed with a busted bat blooper to center, scoring Aspito, as York closed to within two.
Matt Dryer banged a sharp ground ball up the middle, but Gonzalez made a diving stop and backhanded flip to Juan Francia at second for the force play, gaining the second out. Cabrera then struck out Kevin Kotch on a string of 93 mph fastballs to nail down the game for his third save.
Ball gave Lancaster a 1-0 lead off Mark Rosen (0-1) in the second with an RBI single into center. The Barnstormers added to the lead in the fifth off reliever Heath Totten. Lloyd Turner rapped a one-out double into the left field corner and scored when Gonzalez screamed a double just inside the right field line. Mejia followed with a bouncing single up the middle to score Gonzalez, and Jutt Hileman doubled to put Totten in further jeopardy.
The Barnstormers failed to produce additional runs in the fifth but did go up, 4-0, in the sixth. Francia led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a single by Mike Woods. Turner advanced the runners with a sacrifice, and Francia scored on a sac fly to left by Gonzalez.
NOTES: Lancaster had eight hits by eight different batters...Lancaster's bullpen ERA dropped to 1.19 since May 28...The last 15 2/3 innings by the relief staff have been scoreless...Hileman's double in the fifth extended a hitting streak to five games, longest on the club...Former Pirates lefty Shane Youman will make his Atlantic League debut for Lancaster on Monday night in Long Island...Game time is 6:35.
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Atlantic League Stories from June 15, 2008
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- Renault drives Barnstormers to win - Lancaster Stormers
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