AtL Lancaster Stormers

LeCroy belts two in Barnstormers win

Published on September 5, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


In a sense, this was a night the Barnstormers had been waiting for all season.

Matt LeCroy had his first multi-homer game as a Barnstormer, slugging a pair and driving in four runs as Lancaster bumped off the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 7-4, Friday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The former Minnesota Twin took lefty Keith Ramsey (5-5) over the center field wall for a three-run homer in the first inning, then yanked another blast out of the yard to left center with the bases empty in the fifth.

Not that the Lancaster DH had been slacking. In his last 60 games, LeCroy has hit .364 with 13 homers and 57 RBI. It's just that Friday night was the serious display of raw, brute power that everyone had expected to see at some point.

That first homer came following a leadoff double by Mike Woods and a perfect bunt single by Lloyd Turner. For Woods, it marked a milestone, crossing the plate for the 100th time this season.

Lancaster was not done in the first inning, either. One out after the LeCroy blow, David Castillo ripped a double to left and scored on a single to center by Gary Harris for a 4-1 lead.

Southern Maryland dug into the lead in the top of the second. Ben Fritz (2-0) walked Eric Crozier, who was thrown out stealing by Castillo. However, John Ramistella drew another walk, reigniting the inning. Kevin Sullivan followed with a single to center that chased Ramistella to third, and Jeremy Owens lofted a fly ball to center to score the run.

Fritz settled down and went virtually untouched for the next four innings as Lancaster stretched out the lead.

Turner reached on an error by second sacker Chris Maples in the fourth and advanced on a grounder by Ian Bladergroen. The Lancaster second baseman stole third as LeCroy struck out and crossed the plate on a ground single to right by Bryan Ramistella.

Woods extended the lead to 6-2 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and LeCroy's second blast capped Lancaster's scoring in the fifth.

Southern Maryland took adavantage of a bobble by shortstop Mike Caruso in the seventh to build a two-out unearned run that crossed the plate on a single flared to right center by James Shanks.

Fritz finished the night, allowing seven hits and three runs in the seven-inning stint. He walked three and struck out three in his fourth consecutive quality start. Lancaster is 6-0 in games the 27-year old Californian has started.

Bullpen help came in the form of Ricardo Gomez, who fanned the side in the eighth ining, and Ryan Cullen who earned his 13th save after Gomez walked two batters in the ninth.

"We just win when Fritz is on the hill," said manager Von Hayes.

There was other play to impress Hayes on the evening as well. The club was 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position. His catcher, David Castillo, threw one man out stealing and made a fine sliding catch on a bunt popped up by Travis Garcia in the fifth. Cullen made an excellent stop of a smash headed for center off the bat of Patrick Osborn to end the game.

The manager was well pleased.

"We keep improving every day, trying to make a strong showing down the stretch," said Hayes.

NOTES: Fritz' ERA in those last four starts is 1.38...With the three strikeouts, Gomez is within four of the club record...Woods extended his hitting streak to ten games with his double in the first inning...He also stole his league-leading 31st base of the season...Sabatella extended his hitting streak to seven games...Castillo is 9-for-24 throwing out opposing base stealers...Lancaster will send LHP Shane Youman (4-3) to the hill on Saturday evening against right-hander Ryan Bicondoa (11-6)...Fireworks will follow the game.

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