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AtL Lancaster Stormers

Bullpen shines in 5-4 win

September 5, 2006 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


A hamstring injury to starter Cam Smith put the Barnstormers in a tough situation Tuesday evening, but the Barnstormers bullpen responded with eight strong innings, staving off the visiting Bridgeport Bluefish, 5-4, in front of 4,212 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Smith started the night strong, retiring the side in order on nine pitches in the first inning, trying to follow up on a two-hit, 10-K performance five days earlier. He was supported by four runs in the bottom half of the first inning, two on a double to left by Keith Maxwell and two more on an opposite field homer by Jutt Hileman.

Then, the night took a sharp downward turn. P.J. Rose led off the top of the second with a double to left center. Willis Otanez followed with a ground single up the middle. Reggie Taylor's throw to the plate sailed over catcher Manny Santana, and Smith got in position to back up the play. He cut loose a wild throw to second that advanced Otanez another base, and could not continue.

So the Barnstormers, already facing a Wednesday game with Andy Zwirchitz making a spot start and the entire bullpen on call, had to dig into the relief corps early. Scott Sobkowiak (8-5) took over for the injured Smith and gave the Barnstormers four solid innings, allowing only a sacrifice fly that scored Otanez and a solo homer to Deivi Cruz in the third.

Ross Peeples carried the ball for the next two innings. The lefty from Georgia gave up a two-out solo homer to Damian Rolls in the sixth inning as Bridgeport pulled to within one, then stranded Hector Kuilan at second base, following a leadoff single in the seventh.

Charlie Weatherby got the call for a two-inning save. The Barnstormers closer allowed a two-out single to Otanez in the eighth, then ran into trouble in the ninth. He walked Steve Hine on a 3-2 pitch to open the inning. Kuilan sacrificed the tying run to second. Norm Hutchins lined to left for the second out, but Bryant Nelson reached on an infield single, putting the tying and winning runs on base.

John Nathans bounced Weatherby's first pitch to Steve Van Note at third. Van Note juggled the ball for a moment, but recovered and threw to first for the final out as Weatherby earned his 10th save.

Matt Beech (5-5) shrugged off the slow start and went the distance for the Bluefish. He allowed the four runs on four hits in the first inning, then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the second. After that, Lancaster produced only one more hit, a meaningless single by Reggie Taylor in the fourth. Beech ended the night with three walks and six strikeouts in absorbing the loss.

NOTES: The season series is even at 7-7...Lancaster pulled into a virtual tie with Camden for first place in the Southern Division as the rest of the Atlantic League was rained out...Lancaster has now won four of its last five games...Maxwell has nine RBI in the last five games...The Barnstormers are expected to add RHP James Lira on Wednesday...Lira pitched for the Coastal Bend Aviators of the American Association earlier this year...The Texas native is a former Houston Astros farmhand...Zwirchitz (6-9) will match up against lefty Pedro Borbon, Jr. (0-0) Wednesday at 7:05 in the finale of the rain-plagued homestand on which the Barnstormers are 4-4.

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