Barnstormers Gain Series Split, Extend Lead
Published on June 17, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Two swings of the bat produced all six runs for the Lancaster Barnstormers on Sunday afternoon in a 6-3 victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
The win gave Lancaster a split of the four-game series and stretched the division lead back to 5 1/2 games over the York Revolution. Somerset stands six back.
Lancaster loaded the bases off Raymar Diaz (1-6) in the top of the second. Ryan Harvey reached when Luis Lopez made a low throw on his one-out grounder to third. Brad Boyer picked up a walk, and Francisco Hernandez scalded a single to right. Diaz struck out Adam Godwin, but Blake Gailen lofted a fly ball over the left field wall for the Barnstormers first grand slam of the season and a 4-0 lead.
John Halama (5-3), pitching on three days rest, tossed six shutout innings on five singles and three walks. He let Bridgeport get as far as second base in five different innings, but no Bluefish runner ever advanced to third during the left-hander's stay in the game.
Fehlandt Lentini belted a two-run homer to left off reliever Wynn Pelzer in the top of the eighth to boost the lead to 6-0.
It turned out that lead was not so comfortable.
Brock Peterson and Lopez drew back-to-back walks from Beau Vaughan to start the Bridgeport eighth. Angel Flores dropped a single into shallow left center to load the bases, and James Simmons cracked a three-run double into the left center gap to cut the lead in half. Peter Barrows followed with a high bouncing single into the hole at short, bringing the tying run to the plate.
Joe Poletsky, without a base hit since joining the Bluefish out of college, laid down a sacrifice bunt for the first out. Vaughan fanned Elliott Ayala for the second out. The Barnstormers went to Jeff Bennett, who retired Eddie Rogers on soft fly ball down the left field line to get out of the inning.
Tim Hamulack got through the side in order in the ninth for his 11th save of the season.
Both clubs are off on Monday before the venue changes for the extended series on Tuesday night. Lancaster will send J.D. Durbin (2-4) to the hill on Tuesday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium. The Bluefish will counter with Tobi Stoner (1-7). Game time is 7:00. Fans may tune in to the broadcast on 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, starting at 6:45.
NOTES: Hamulack passed Scott Patterson as the all-time career saves leader with 29...Gailen's grand slam was the first by a Barnstormer this season...Lentini's homer stretched his hitting streak to 16, which ties Godwin for the longest on the team this season...Godwin stole two bases to jump over Lentini and Somerset's Freddie Bynum for the league lead...Halama's ERA dropped to 2.49.
Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2012
- Phillips Leads Skeeters to Win - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Blue Crabs Pinch Ducks in Series Finale - Long Island Ducks
- Barnstormers Gain Series Split, Extend Lead - Lancaster Stormers
- Revolution Split with Somerset - York Revolution
- Bluefish Fall in Finale of Series - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Patriots Win It in Bottom of the Ninth 3-2 - Somerset Patriots
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