AtL Lancaster Stormers

Lancaster Keeps Winning

Published on July 28, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Lancaster Barnstormers are not making it easy on themselves or their fans these days.

But, they are winning ballgames.

Aaron Herr and Reggie Taylor each had three hits and two RBI on Wednesday evening to build a 9-3 lead, and the Barnstormers got through three consecutive homers in the top of the seventh to hold on for a 9-7 win over the Newark Bears in front of 4,506 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The win, the third straight on the homestand, kept the Barnstormers one-half game ahead of the surging York Revolution in the Freedom Division. York has won its last seven.

Adam Wittter, in his first at bat in five weeks, reached the picnic deck for a home run in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 2-2. Two outs later, Jason Perry was walked by Ryan Glynn (2-1), stole second and rode home on a single to center by Herr as Lancaster went ahead to stay, 3-2.

Taylor ignited the fourth with a sharp single to right. Lloyd Turner followed with a base hit to center, and both runners advanced as a third strike to Jed Morris got away from catcher Manny Mejia for a wild pitch. Vic Gutierrez drilled a liner to left center which just eluded a diving try by Elijah Dukes for an RBI double, and Witter plated Turner with a ground ball on the right side as Lancaster pushed the lead to 5-2.

Newark inched closer with an unearned run in the top of the fifth, but Perry slammed a solo homer to right, his first since June 27 to cancel it out. Herr followed with a single flared to center. He rode home in front of Taylor's blast to right as the Barnstormers lead was stretched to 8-3.

Perry and Herr roped back-to-back doubles in the sixth for a 9-3 cushion.

An easy win, right? Not in this stretch of games.

Jason Simontacchi (4-5) got the first two outs of the seventh on ground balls. A third grounder, off the bat of Pablo Ozuna, got through the left side of the infield, the first hit off Simontacchi to reach the outfield since a two-run third inning.

All of a sudden, what was a quality start in the making for the right-hander blew up. Elijah Dukes put a two-run homer onto the picnic deck. Daryle Ward found the screen in right center for his sixth homer against Lancaster on the season, and Carl Everett chased Simontacchi with another homer up onto the tents, cutting the lead to 9-7.

There was more tension in store for the Barnstormers faithful. Austin Hinkle was summoned in relief and gave up a single up the middle to Manny Mejia. James Cooper drew a walk and a single to left by Isaiah Kaaihue loaded the bags. Randy Gress hit a sinking liner to right, and Perry raced in to make a belly flop catch for the final out, preserving the lead.

Pat Overholt pitched a perfect eighth, and Tim Hamulack retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save.

The two clubs wrap up the series on Thursday night as the Barnstormers seek their second sweep at home in the second half. Rick Bauer (0-1, 3-10) will start for the Barnstormers against Bob Zimmerman (0-1, 7-2). Game time is 7:00. Lancaster's zany on field host, I.M. Fun, will be honored prior to the game.

NOTES: Witter has hit safely in 10 straight games as a Barnstormer...The three straight homers were a first in Barnstormers history, for or against...Lancaster has taken seven straight from Newark and leads the season series, 10-3...Gutierrez is batting .373 in the second half...Lancaster slugged four homers in the game, tying a season high...Michael Woods connected in the first inning for the only homer to left in the game...Hamulack has not allowed a run in 17 innings...In that time, he has surrendered only six baserunners and has struck out 28...Hinkle kept his scoreless inning streak alive at 11.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 28, 2010


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