AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers squeak past Bluefish, 4-3

Published on August 31, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


In a ninth inning as puzzling as it was nerve wracking, the Lancaster Barnstormers held on to defeat the Bridgeport Bluefish, 4-3, Monday evening at Harbor Yard.

The win, Lancaster's fifth straight, pushed the Barnstormers to within five games of Newark for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic League. Lancaster also gained a game on Bridgeport and Long Island, the other two clubs the Barnstormers are pursuing in the wild card chase.

With the Barnstormers ahead by one, Antonio Alfonseca, who had struck out Enohel Polanco for the final out in the eighth inning, walked Ryner Bautista to open the ninth. Adam Greenberg attempted to move Bautista along with a bunt but popped the ball up instead. It landed between the mound and the second base position. Alfonseca made a desperation throw to second but missed his mark. Bautista sprinted to third and Greenberg to second on the error, and the Barnstormers found themselves on the brink of either extra innings or another gutwrenching loss on the road.

Then came the night's mystery. Tyrone Pendergrass laid a drag bunt past the mound. Alfonseca scrambled to get the out at first base. To the Barnstormers surprise, Bautista, who would have scored the tying run easily on the play, was still standing at third.

That set up the rest of the inning. The Barnstormers opted to intentionally walk Luis Lopez to load the bases. Alfonseca fanned Jesse Hoorelbeke easily for the second out. Brandon Sing worked the count to 3-2 before he, too, went down swinging as Alfonseca notched his 12th save.

Anderson Machado gave the Barnstormers a quick 2-0 lead with a homer to right in the first inning off Matt Pike (6-8).

Zack Parker (4-5) struggled early for Lancaster. He walked Pendergrass and Lopez consecutively in the first inning. Pendergrass stole third, and Lopez gained second on a passed ball. Hoorelbeke brought one run across with a deep fly to right, and Sing knocked home a second run with a single off Parker's glove to tie the game at 2-2.

Parker was still rocky in the second. Polanco greeted him with a leadoff double inside the right field line. Greenberg scored him with a broken bat single to left, and Bridgeport stood on top, 3-2.

Aaron Herr doubled to lead off the fourth inning and scored in front of a two-run homer to right by Jed Morris three batters later as Lancaster took the 4-3 lead.

Parker, who lasted through seven innings, was tested in the sixth. Luis Rodriguez tripled to right center on the southpaw's first pitch of the inning. Ne never budged. Wilson Batista popped to short on the second pitch. Polanco did likewise on the first, and Bautista whiffed on three as Lancaster survived the scare.

The Barnstormers and Bridgeport continue the series on Tuesday evening with a rematch of last Wednesday's 2-1 Lancaster win at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Jason Scobie (6-8) will start for Lancaster against Bridgeport ace Esteban Yan (11-5) at 7:05. The Barnstormers return home to face the Long Island Ducks this weekend. Fireworks will follow the games on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tickets are available at www.lancasterbarnstormers.com or by calling 717-509-HITS.

NOTES: Parker gave up two earned runs, dropping his ERA to 3.90...He allowed seven hits and three runs, walking three and striking out six...Morris has four RBI in his last two games after going without since August 1...The homer was his first since July 28...Woods had hit safely in five straight.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 31, 2009


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