Barnstormers Rally Late, Dump Bridgeport
Published on June 8, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers relocated their power strokes in the late innings Sunday afternoon to recover from a three-run Bridgeport seventh, pulling out a 7-4 win over the Bluefish on a sizzling afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Trailing, 4-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Barnstormers reached reliever Franklin Perez (1-1) for three runs. Manny Mejia started the rally with a four-pitch walk and moved up on a one-out single by Kyle Nichols. Ivanon Coffie ripped a liner on one hop off the right field wall to load the bases, and Lance Burkhart followed with a single to left, bringing home Mejia. Pinch runner Jarred ball crossed the plate on a sac fly to right by Lloyd Turner. Mike Woods drove in Coffie with the go-ahead tally on a double off the fence in right center.
The Barnstormers faithful had to squirm through the top of the eighth inning. Ryan Bear and Calvin Pickering greeted Ryan Cullen (3-2) with consecutive singles, and Bobby Darula moved the tying and lead runs into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Von Hayes opted for Jose Cabrera who got Alex Prieto on a shallow fly to left for the second out. Cabrera hit #9 hitter Shea Harris with a pitch to load the bases, then took Travis Ezi to a 3-2 count before striking him out to end the threat. Danny Gonzalez and Jarred Ball homered in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead, and Cabrera fired a perfect ninth for his second save.
On a day designed for offense, starters Josh Hall and Eric DuBose kept their opponents mostly in check through the first six innings. Hall was only nicked for an unearned run in the fifth inning and took a three-hitter into the seventh. DuBose yielded six singles in his six innings of work, three of which did not leave the infield. Jutt Hileman drove in a two-out run against him in the first, and Juan Francia gave the Barnstormers a 2-1 lead with a two-out RBI single to center in the sixth.
Bridgeport finally got to Hall in the seventh. With Bobby Darula at second and two outs, Travis Ezi beat out an infield single behind the third base bag. Henry Mateo, who had struck out twice and grounded out earlier in the game, smacked a game-tying single up the middle, and Brian Munhall chased two home with a double to right center. Cullen induced Jesse Hoorelbeke to pop out to shortstop to end the inning.
NOTES: Burkhart, Francia and Woods have all hit safely in six straight while Hileman has a seven-game streak...Lancaster and Bridgeport split the four-game series...Munhall has an extra-base hit in all five games he has played against Lancaster...Luis Lopez was ejected from the game for arguing a call on which he was ruled to have swung for a third strike in the top of the first...Ball's homer was his first at Clipper Magazine Stadium...Francia stole two bags in a game for the fifth time...Woods stole his 14th...Lancaster will open a three-game series at Newark on Tuesday evening with Nick Renault (1-1) appearing on the mound...Game time is 7:05.
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