Barnstormers Have Just Enough
August 4, 2011 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Lancaster pitchers retired 15 of the final 16 batters they faced on Thursday evening to hold onto a 4-3 victory over the York Revolution at Sovereign Bank Stadium.
The win vaulted the Barnstormers back into first place in the Freedom Division's second half, one-half game ahead of the Revolution.
York tore into a 4-0 Barnstormers lead in the bottom of the fifth. Vince Harrison lashed a J.D. Durbin breaking ball into right center for a leadoff single, and Liu Rodriguez followed with an RBI double into the right center alley. Octavio Martinez singled through the left side to put runners at first and third with no one out. Chris Walker hit a bounder on the right side that danced under Gilberto Mejia's glove for an error as a second run scored.
Carlos Guzman bunted the runners to second and third, and Ramon Castro grounded to second to cut the lead to 4-3. Durbin (6-2) retired Jose Herrera on a grounder to short, preserving the one-run edge.
York's only remaining baserunner reached with the aid of the infield surface. Guzman, leading off the eighth against Durbin, hit what appeared to be a routine ground ball to Iggy Suarez at short. However, the ball shot high over Suarez' head for the leadoff single. Durbin struck out Castro and retired Herrera on a grounder up the first base line.
Butch Hobson made the change and went to Jon Huber, who quickly got James Shanks to foul out to Tommy Everidge at first to close the eighth. Jonah Bayliss tossed a perfect ninth for his 11th save.
The Barnstormers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third. With one out, Mejia singled into right. Starter Dumas Garcia struck out Adam Calderone for the second out. With Everidge at the plate, Mejia swiped second and was able to get up and head to third as Martinez' throw deflected into shallow center. Everidge grounded a single into left for the go-ahead run.
Mejia singled home Brandon Jones with two outs in the fourth for a 2-0 edge. In the fifth, Everidge and Aaron Herr both singled to put runners at first and third with one out. A wild pitch from Jack Spradlin allowed the 'Stormers' third run to cross the plate. Jones reached on an error by Castro at second, and Suarez laced a single into left center to plate Herr with the eventual decisive run.
Lancaster and York wrap up the series on Friday evening at 6:30. John Halama (4-3) will take the hill for the Barnstormers against right-hander Shaun Garceau (2-5). The game will be aired on Fox Sports Radio, 1490, WLPA and on sportsjuice.com.
NOTES: The Barnstormers lead the War of the Roses, 8-6...Lancaster is now 21-7 in one run games...Bayliss has not allowed a run in any of his 11 save chances...Huber has retired 19 of the last 22 batters he has faced...Mejia has seven hits in the series and is batting .378 in his last 17 games...Everidge has hit safely in eight straight...Durbin has won six of his last seven starts.
• Discuss this story on the Atlantic League message board...
Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2011
- Mathes Dazzles 'Sharks to Victory - Camden Riversharks
- 'Fish Split Doubleheader - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Lancaster Holds On To Win Second Straight In York - York Revolution
- Vasquez's Great Performance Comes in Vain - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Barnstormers Have Just Enough - Lancaster Stormers
- Ducks Outlast Patriots 8-7 - Somerset Patriots
- Crabs Make Roster Moves - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- 'Stormers launch five to down York - Lancaster Stormers
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.
