AtL Lancaster Stormers

Ambrosini Single Delivers Third Straight Win

Published on May 31, 2007 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


They're not coming easily, but at least they are coming.

For the third straight night, the Barnstormers survived a late-inning rally as Lancaster edged Bridgeport, 7-6, Thursday evening on pinch hitter Dominick Ambrosini's bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth.

Steve Van Note opened the ninth inning with a looping single to center field. He promptly stole second and raced to third when John Nathans' throw bounced away from the middle infielders. Bridgeport manager Tommy John intentionally walked both Lance Burkhart and Chris Van Rossum. Ambrosini was then called upon to pinch hit for Jeremy Deitrick against right-hander Eddy Ramos (0-1). He got ahead, 3-0, and took a strike before slapping a ground ball through the infield to produce the winning run.

It was a winning uprising that the Barnstormers wish had not been needed.

Lancaster led, 6-4, heading into the top of the ninth when Nick Ortiz rolled a single along the third base line and under the glove of Van Note. James Lira (1-1) struck out Bobby Malek, but Jay Caligiuri lined a two-run homer clearing the wall in right center to square the game at 6-6.

The Bluefish built an early 3-1 lead against starter Rob Henkel, piecing together a run in the first and two more in the second on four singles, a walk, two errors and a sacrifice fly. Henkel then got into a groove and mowed down 17 of 19, six on strikes, allowing his team to bounce back.

A triple by Van Rossum and single by Deitrick combined to pull the Barnstormers to within a run in the second. One inning later, Danny Gonzalez lined a homer down the right field line for a 3-3 tie.

Lancaster grabbed its first lead in the fifth inning. Quincy Foster lined a single into left center, stole second and scored when Gonzalez doubled past Quinton McCracken in right field as Lancaster went up, 4-3.

Russ Cleveland, playing his first professional game at second base, slugged a two-run homer to right center in the sixth, and Henkel held the three-run cushion through the seventh.

McCracken beat out an infield single to open the eighth and went all the way to third when Espada pushed a bunt into a vacant hole on the right side of the infield. Derrick DePriest replaced Henkel and survived a Junior Spivey blast that went barely foul down the left field line. Spivey did produce a run with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

NOTES: Van Note's single in the ninth extended his hitting streak to nine games, Lancaster's longest this season...Henkel missed winning his 10th game as a Barnstormer for the fourth start...Gonzalez had three hits for the second straight game...He has seven extra-base hits in the last 11 games...Jeremy Todd singled in the third inning for his first hit in five games...Van Rossum's triple was Lancaster's first of the season...The game was the first won by the Barnstormers on their final at bat in 2007...Josh Stevens (3-1) will start against Bryan Edwards (0-0) Friday evening as Lancaster seeks the series sweep.

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Atlantic League Stories from May 31, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central