Barnstormers stay perfect at home
May 10, 2006 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Barnstormers' hottest hitter and two guys shaking out of deep slumps combined to keep Lancaster's record perfect at home in 2006 with a 3-2 victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish Wednesday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Reggie Taylor slammed his second homer in as many nights early in the game, but it was Lance Burkhart and Travis Hake providing the late-inning heroics as the host Barnstormers improved to 5-0 in their own yard and 6-4 overall. The win kept Lancaster within one-half game of first place in the Southern Division.
Lancaster's Denny Harriger and Brian Boehringer, a member of the '96 World Champion Yankees, locked horns in a 1-1 battle through six. Boehringer (1-1) allowed Taylor's one-out solo blast in the fourth, a drive off the back fence above the walkway in right center, and Hector Kuilan answered immediately with a leadoff homer in the fifth off Harriger (2-1).
Bridgeport grabbed its only lead of the night in the top of the seventh. Norm Hutchins doubled to center with one out and remained in place on a shallow fly ball by Kuilan. Angel Espada rapped a grounder along the third base line which was knocked down by Travis Hake to save a run. Buzz Hannahan, with two outs and the runners at the corners, caught the defense off guard with a perfect bunt along the third base line to drive in Hutchins. Hake wisely bluffed the throw to first, drawing Espada around second, and gunned down the lead runner to end the half inning with the Barnstormers down by one.
Burkhart, who had been 1-for-18 since Opening Night, took Boehringer into the picnic pavilion on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh to pull the Barnstormers even. Chris Van Rossum followed with a walk and moved to second on Jason Bowers' sacrifice bunt. DH Manny Santana singled Van Rossum to third, and Hake, who had been just 4-for-35, brought the winning run across with a smash into left center. It was Hake's first RBI of the year.
Charlie Weatherby pitched a scoreless eighth inning. He needed help from Burkhart as the Lancaster catcher nailed Barry Wesson on a steal attempt just before Gary Burnham lined a single to center.
Tom Herr gave the ball to Scott Patterson for the ninth inning. The Barnstormers closer converted his league-leading fifth save opportunity of the season, but it did not come easily. After Angel Echevarria popped out on the first pitch, Hutchins pulled in at second with his second double as Taylor missed a shoestring grab in center. Kuilan nearly belted his second homer of the night, but his drive down the right field line curled foul just in front of the pole. He then popped to second. Espada who fanned for the final out on Tuesday night, hit a deep fly to right which Van Rossum caught in front of the scoreboard to pin down the Lancaster victory.
NOTES: The last five games have been decided by a total of six runs with the home team scoring the deciding tally in the sixth inning or later...Patterson now has 11 straight saves dating back to last year...Taylor extended his hitting streak to seven games with the home run...The Barnstormers had their first multi-homer game of the season...Lancaster is 5-0 at home despite collecting only 30 hits in those five games for an average of .213...For the second straight night, Lancaster pitchers have struck out only one batter...Lefty Mike Porzio (0-1) will take the hill for Bridgeport on Thursday against right-hander Andy Zwirchitz (1-1)...Game time is 7:05...BirdZerk will perform.
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Atlantic League Stories from May 10, 2006
- Bears score early to defeat Riversharks - Newark Bears
- Elvis propels Ducks to victory - Long Island Ducks
- Barnstormers stay perfect at home - Lancaster Stormers
- Second annual HIP Grand Slam Challenge at Citibank Park - Long Island Ducks
- Barnes' three-run home run wins it for Patriots in 10th inning - Somerset Patriots
- Bears Robertson sold to Mets - Newark Bears
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