AtL Lancaster Stormers

Harriger sets record in 13-4 win

September 20, 2006 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


There was another celebration on the field after the game at Harbor Yard Wednesday evening. This time, one by one, the Lancaster Barnstormers greeted right-hander Denny Harriger with a handshake and a hug as the veteran right-hander defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish, 13-4, for his record-setting 17th win of the season.

Harriger now stands alone at the top, breaking a four-way tie at 16.

"Thank God, first of all, for keeping me healthy all year," said the veteran right-hander after the game. "And I'd like to thank all those guys in there (the clubhouse). They deserve all the credit."

Overall, it was not Harriger's best performance of the season. He worked seven innings, yielding 10 hits and four runs, walking one without a strikeout. Still, with all the offensive support, it was enough to alter the league record book.

Reggie Taylor, who had a monstrous game, led off the night with a homer, the fourth time he has done so, for a 1-0 lead, and Bridgeport came right back against the Barnstormers' right-hander.

Darryl Brinkley opened the bottom of the first with a looping single to right. John Nathans beat out a bunt along the third base line, and Deivi Cruz loaded the bases with a single to center. However, Bridgeport managed only one run, on a sacrifice fly by P.J. Rose to tie the game.

Eric Crozier drew a walk leading off the second. With one out, Crozier broke for second, and Chris Van Rossum laid a bunt to the third base side of the mound. Mathews hurried a throw and skipped it away from Rose at first. Crozier took third as the ball hopped into shallow right, and Van Rossum bolted to an uncovered second base. Lance Burkhart followed with a walk to load the bases. Travis Hake got the Barnstormers a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to right which also sent Van Rossum to third.

Taylor continued his attack with a double into the left field corner for a 3-1 lead. Jason Bowers also took Mathews to the opposite field for a two-run single as the Barnstormers opened a 5-1 edge.

Again, the Bluefish mounted a comeback. Steve Hine bunted his way on to open the bottom of the second. Hector Kuilan and Norm Hutchins each slapped a single to right field, and Hine scored when Crozier lost the handle on the ball trying to toss back to the infield on the Hutchins single. The other runners advanced on the throw to the plate.

Then came a costly baserunning mistake. Brinkley hit a one-hopper right at third baseman Jose Ortiz. Kuilan broke for the plate and became an easy second out, with the other runners forced to stay at first and second. Nathans then bounced into a 6-3 double play to end the inning, again with only one run scoring as Harriger held the 5-2 lead.

"Denny's damage control was tremendous," commented pitching coach Rick Wise.

"It had been a week since I had last thrown," added Harriger. "I didn't have my best stuff early. But I was able to make some good pitches when I had to."

Working with a 7-2 lead after Taylor's second blast of the night, Harriger got out of another tough spot in the sixth. Willis Otanez led off with a single to left. One out later, Steve Hine was drilled by a fastball. Kuilan singled home a run with one out, getting runners to first and third. Harriger again found the right pitch and got Hutchins to bound into a 4-3 double play, preserving the bulk of the lead.

Jeremy Todd added a two-run double in the seventh, and Ortiz followed with a two-run homer to go up, 11-3, effectively putting the game away.

NOTES: Harriger allowed a solo homer to pinch hitter Bryant Nelson in the seventh, the first extra-base hit he had allowed in 29 2/3 innings...The previous was a homer by Teuris Olivares in the third inning on August 28...His ERA jumped to 2.68, now third in the Atlantic League...He threw at least six innings in his last 24 starts...Taylor now has four homers in the last three games and 22 for the season along with 75 RBI...Todd extended his hitting streak to 13 games with the double in the seventh...Ortiz hit his 17th homer of the second half...Steve Van Note batted for Todd in the ninth and singled against Hutchins...Van Note is 4-for-4 in the series...James Lira retired all six batters he faced at the end of the game...Josh Stevens (1-0) will pitch for the Barnstormers on Thursday against Kevin Hodges (12-6)...Game time is 7:05.

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