Barnstormers batter Bluefish
Published on June 6, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers unleashed their biggest extra-base barrage of the season Friday night as the club downed the Bridgeport Bluefish, 9-6, in the second game of a four-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Overall, the club banged out five doubles, a triple and three home runs in leveling the current series at one game apiece. Jutt Hileman doubled twice while Danny Gonzalez and Lance Burkhart each had a homer and a double in the seesaw game that had five lead changes.
The Barnstormers finally took possession of the lead to stay in the bottom of the seventh. Gonzalez greeted Jeff Tam (2-2) with a booming home run to right center, his fourth of the season, tying the game at 6-6. Two batters later, Ivanon Coffie, playing in his first game in Lancaster, crushed another homer on the same trajectory for a 7-6 lead that finally held.
Barnstormers starter D.J. Mattox survived a rocky first inning. After allowing an RBI single by Luis Lopez, Mattox loaded the bases on a walk to Jesse Hoorelbeke. He induced a 1-2-3 double play out of Ryan Bear and got Calvin Pickering on strikes to end the inning trailing by just one.
An RBI ground out by Manny Mejia and the first of the two doubles by Hileman, a drive to the right field wall, gave Lancaster its first lead in the bottom of the inning.
Bridgeport tied the game on an unearned run in the second and went ahead in the third on Bear's two-run homer to right center.
Again, Lancaster fought back. Hileman knocked home a third run in the third inning on a double into the left field corner that scored Mejia from second. Lancaster left runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings but finally tied the game in the fifth. Gonzalez led off with an opposite field double and scored on Mejia's triple to dead center. However, three straight batters were retired as the game remained deadlocked.
Burkhart opened the sixth with a long homer onto the hillside in left center, his club-leading eighth of the season, giving the Barnstormers a 5-4 lead.
Bridgeport overcame that quickly as well. Pickering led off the seventh with a double off the glove of left fielder Mike Woods and scored when Bobby Darula doubled to right. With one out, Darula took off for third and scored when Burkhart's throw skipped into left field as Bridgeport gained the 6-5 edge.
Lancaster was finally able to put the game away with a two-run inning keyed by Juan Francia's double down the left field line.
Yamel Guevara (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits in his two innings of work but recorded the win. Ryan Cullen held the lead in the eighth after allowing two infield singles, and Jose Cabrera worked a perfect ninth for his first Atlantic League save.
NOTES: Hileman has 16 RBI in 12 games with five doubles and four homers in that stretch...Gonzalez has hit safely in six in a row (9-for-25, .360) and in 20 of 23 (34-for-88, .386)...He has 12 RBI in 13 games...Francia stole two bases, the fourth time he has swiped a pair in a game for Lancaster...Cabrera has now worked eight innings and has given up only three hits and one walk...The series continues on Saturday night with Eric Ackerman (0-3) on the hill against Rafael Bergstrom (2-1)...Game time is 7:05 with fireworks to follow.
Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2008
- Barnstormers batter Bluefish - Lancaster Stormers
- Pats can't catch Blue Crabs - Somerset Patriots
- Pats can't catch Blue Crabs - Somerset Patriots
- Ducks defeat Newark - Long Island Ducks
- Riversharks lose pitcher's duel with Revs - Camden Riversharks
- Blue Crabs down Patriots 6-2 - Somerset Patriots
- Ducks Bolster Pitching Staff - Long Island Ducks
- Somerset Patriots Welcome Back Ryan Radmanovich - Somerset Patriots
- Riversharks Swap Abe Alvarez For Outfielder - Camden Riversharks
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.
