Barnstormers Streak Ends On Slam In Ninth
May 13, 2010 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers' bid for a fifth straight win ended early Wednesday afternoon when Travis Garcia launched a grand slam onto the picnic deck at Regency Furniture Stadium, giving the host Southern Maryland Blue Crabs a 6-2 victory.
Shaun Cumberland opened the inning with a single into right off Tim McNab (3-1). After failing to get a bunt down, Christian Lopez dropped another single into right despite shattering his bat. Tim Hamulack took over to face switch hitting Rich Giannotti, who pushed a bunt onto the left side of the diamond. No one went for the ball, and the bases were loaded as the result of the hit. Hamulack bounced back to fan Casey Benjamin and got ahead of Garcia at 0-1 before surrendering the game-winning blow.
Southern Maryland grabbed a lead in the bottom of the first off Nick Maness. With one out, Benjamin singled to right. Garcia forced him at second. Patrick Osborn then drilled a liner into the right field corner, scoring Garcia.
That lead was extended in the fourth. This time it was Garcia reaching base on a single and being replaced as Osborn hit into a 5-4 force play. Eric Crozier flied to left for the first out, but Matt Craig kept the inning alive with a base hit into right center. Maness hit both Jeremy Owens and Brian McFall in succession to force home a run as the Blue Crabs went up, 2-0.
The Barnstormers got one run back in the fifth on consecutive walks to Matt Watson and Jed Morris to start the inning and a two-out single up the middle by Lloyd Turner. They tied the contest in the top of the sixth. Aaron Herr drew a one-out walk. Benjamin was unable to cleanly handle a potential double play grounder, a smash by Brett Harper but still got an out at first. Matt Watson then ripped a triple into the alley in right center for the tying blow.
Over the following two innings, Lancaster wasted chances to break the tie, not scoring despite three singles and a walk. Southern Maryland was also guilty against McNab in the bottom of the eighth as Garcia reached on a third strike wild pitch and Bryant Nelson made a wide throw to second off a ground ball by Osborn.
Jim Ed Warden (2-2) pitched the ninth to get the win for Southern Maryland.
The Barnstormers return home to face the Camden Riversharks on Friday night at 7:00. Josh Brey (1-1) will take the hill for Camden while the Barnstormers will go back to Opening Night starter Josh Hall (1-1). Fireworks will follow the game.
NOTES: Jason Perry has now hit in six straight and Brett Harper five...Watson became the first Barnstormer with two triples this season...Watson has reached base 36 times in 19 games...The walkoff homer was the first against the Barnstormers since May 1, 2008 when Ray Navarrete connected for Long Island.
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