AtL Lancaster Stormers

Bizarre ninth sends Barnstormers to sixth straight loss

Published on August 27, 2006 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


George Sandel was safe, then out, then safe again as he scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Somerset Patriots a 5-4 victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers in a steady drizzle Sunday evening at Commerce Bank Park.

The loss was the sixth straight for Lancaster (22-17) which now leads the Southern Division by only one game over Atlantic City.

Sandel walked against Charlie Weatherby (3-3) to start the bottom of the ninth. Jim Buckley bunted back to the mound, but Weatherby fired the ball into center field, Lancaster?s fourth error of the game, enabling both runners to reach safely, and Sandel continued to third as Jutt Hileman fumbled the loose baseball. Patrick Boran ripped a liner into right field that appeared it would decide the game on its own, but Eric Crozier raced toward the infield and made a diving catch. He fired back to the infield as Sandel crossed the plate. As the Patriots celebrated the apparent win, the Barnstormers appealed to third. Sandel was ruled out on the appeal, bringing him and manager Sparky Lyle charging out to home plate. The call was overturned, fueling the Barnstormers ire, but the argument went for naught as Somerset captured the win.

The Patriots took an early 2-0 lead against John Boker, making his Lancaster debut. Boker, after retiring the side in order in the first inning, walked Larry Barnes and Edgard Clemente to open the second. One out later, Jim Burt lined a triple into right center, driving both home. Boker pinned Burt at third with a pop up and a liner back to the mound.

Crozier led off the fourth with a home run to right off starter Sam McConnell to slice the lead to 2-1, but the Patriots answered in the fifth, with walks again involved. Boker, who had retired eight in a row entering the fifth, walked Burt. Sandel switched from bunting and punched a single into short left, putting runners at first and second. Buckley bunted into a 3-5 force at third, and Boran struck out. Then Boker walked Henri Stanley on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Nick Ortiz followed with a ground single into left, scoring Sandel. Buckley scored as well when the ball skipped past Chris Van Rossum in left as Somerset went on top, 4-1.

Lancaster rallied in the sixth. Crozier blooped a single to left, his third hit of the game, and Jutt Hileman drew a walk. Reliever Jason Olsen retired Van Rossum and Lance Burkhart easily, but Manny Santana crushed a three-run homer to right center, his ninth long ball of the season, forging the tie.

The Barnstormers managed only one other threat against the Patriots, loading the bags with two outs in the eighth on singles by Van Rossum and pinch hitter Reggie Taylor and a walk to Santana. Another pinch hitter, Kris Dufner, struck out against Kane Davis, the fourth of five Somerset pitchers, to end the inning. It marked the second time on the night that Lancaster had left the bases full.

Robert Marquez (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.

NOTES: Boker allowed only three hits in his five innings but walked four?The four errors by the Barnstormers tied a season high?Lancaster?s bullpen allowed only one hit in 3 1/3 innings?The six-game skid is one short of the franchise record, set June 30-July 6, 2005?Denny Harriger (13-4) will start for the Barnstormers on Monday against LHP Chris Steinborn of the Road Warriors?Game time is 7:05 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 27, 2006


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