AtL Lancaster Stormers

Harriger ties league mark

September 13, 2006 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


For the second year in a row, Denny Harriger has reached 16 wins, tying the Atlantic League record. He will get one more start in an attempt to break it.

Harriger (16-4) allowed four singles in 6 2/3 innings, pitching the Barnstormers to a 5-1 win over the Road Warriors Wednesday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium. The 37-year old Western Pennsylvania native walked one and struck out three in posting his third straight win. With the performance, Harriger's ERA dropped to 2.58, second in the league.

With the win, the Barnstormers stayed within two games of the division leading Atlantic City Surf. Camden lost and fell 4 ½ games off the pace.

The right-hander retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced before the Road Warriors strung together singles by Teuris Olivares, Mike Huggins and Manny Mejia in the fourth for their only run. Harriger got out of the mess, striking out former Barnstormer Jason Bryan and coaxing a 1-6-3 double play out of Sandy Aracena.

He was not touched again until Bryan singled to right field in the seventh. Tom Herr turned the game over to the bullpen with two outs in the inning, keeping Harriger's pitch count in the low 90's.

Ross Peeples allowed three singles in one full inning, giving way to James Lira with two outs and two aboard in the eighth. Lira walked Huggins to load the bases but got Mejia looking to escape the inning. The Texan followed up by retiring the side in order in the ninth to earn his first Atlantic League save.

Lancaster built its 5-0 lead early off starter Alberto Castillo (4-3). Reggie Taylor led off the game with a double off the fence in center and scored when Travis Hake lined a single off the signs in right. Hake then stole second and took third when Mejia's throw skipped into center. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Ortiz.

In the third, the Barnstormers added two home runs to their league-leading total. Taylor led off with a single to right, and one out later, Jose Ortiz clubbed his 16th of the year over the wall in left for a 4-0 lead. Later in the inning, Jeremy Todd ripped a solo shot to right center as Lancaster finished its scoring for the night.

NOTES: Ortiz has 15 homers and 42 RBI in the second half...Todd has 11 homers in his last 37 games...Overall, Lancaster has homered in 40 of the last 43 games, hitting a total of 75 long balls...With his two hits, Taylor improved his average to .303...Ortiz and Jutt Hileman also had two hits apiece...Lancaster has not scored off a relief pitcher in 16 2/3 innings...Josh Stevens (0-0) will start against Chris Eickhorst (1-13) Thursday morning at 11:05.

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