Barnstormers Hammer Bluefish, Record Book
Published on August 11, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The comforts of home.
Fresh off their longest road trip of the season, the Lancaster Barnstormers blasted a season-high five home runs en route to tying the largest run output in club history with a 19-4 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish in front of 5,962 at Clipper Magazine Stadium Wednesday evening.
The win put Lancaster two games ahead of the York Revolution in the Freedom Division.
Over the course of the night, the Barnstormers racked up 41 total bases, a franchise record. Adam Witter and Joe Gaetti became the first pair of Barnstormers ever to two homers apiece in the same game. Witter's second was a grand slam. Gaetti's second hit the back fence in left field, the first time a Barnstormer has ever reached it with a fair ball. Eight different Barnstormers drove in a run.
It turned out to be a bittersweet night, though, as the Barnstormers parted company with two of their players. Jason Perry, the league home run leader with 22, has retired in order to return to school in pursuit of a management degree. Left-hander Eric Ackerman, who has struggled all season after surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow, was released by the ballclub.
Not even Ben Fritz could really enjoy the rare barrage of run support. The ace right-hander's back stiffened over the first three innings, and he was lifted in favor of the bullpen. He did strike out five to increase his league-leading total to 115 for the season.
The Barnstormers grabbed a 2-0 lead off Denny Stark in the first. Stark (6-3) walked Witter with one out, then hit Perry in the leg. Aaron Herr followed with a double into the left field corner scoring both runners.
Lloyd Turner doubled home Octavio Martinez with an unearned run in the third, then Martinez took his turn the next inning. With runners at second and third and two outs, the Lancaster catcher hit a crisp one-hopper up the middle. Bridgeport shortstop Tim Johnson flagged the ball, then tried to spin and throw to first base. He overshot first, and both runners scored on the play with one RBI going to Martinez. Gaetti followed with his first homer, a drive onto the hillside in left for a 7-0 edge.
The Bluefish put a run on the board in the fourth as Joe Jiannetti singled home Tike Redman with an unearned run off Pat Overholt. It didn't matter. Witter and Perry connected with back-to-back homers to right to start the bottom of the inning, and Martinez drove in two more with a triple. Brett Flowers, who took over for Perry mid-game singled home a run in the fifth, and Ryan Mulhern added two more with a double. Witter's slam to right center in the sixth made it an 18-1 game, and Gaetti's mammoth shot in the eighth put the final run on the board for the Barnstormers.
Adam Greenberg was able to poke a three-run shot onto the picnic deck in the top of the ninth.
Sean Thompson (3-7) pitched three innings of scoreless relief for the Barnstormers to earn the win.
The Barnstormers and Bluefish conclude their home-and-home series with a 7:05 start on Thursday. Jason Simontacchi (4-5) goes for Lancaster while Bridgeport will counter with lefty Dan Serafini (3-1).
NOTES: Witter has homered six times in his last 12 games since coming off the DL...He became the sixth Barnstormer to reach double figures this season...Lancaster leads the league with 123 homers...Perry had homered in five of his last eight games...Thompson still has not allowed a run as a reliever over 17 innings of work...The lefty has picked up the last two Barnstormers wins...Fritz emerged from the game as the league ERA leader among active pitchers at 3.51...Lancaster is 12-3 at home in the second half.
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