Magic Number down to five
Published on June 30, 2006 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Reggie Taylor slammed a pair of solo homers, and Lance Burkhart added a two-run shot as the Lancaster Barnstormers gained a doubleheader split with an 8-1 victory over the Newark Bears in the nightcap.
The Bears captured the opener, 5-4, in eight innings.
With the split, the Barnstormers increased their division lead to five games over Atlantic City and six games over Somerset in the Southern Division race, reducing the magic number for clinching the first half title to five. Lancaster has eight games to play in the half while the Surf and Patriots each have ten remaining.
Jeremy Todd doubled home Quincy Foster with a grounder down the right field line for a 1-0 lead in the nightcap. Burkhart extended the lead to 3-0 in the second with his blast into the screen above the left field wall. Taylor hit the first of his pair off Carlos Mirabal (0-2) for a 4-0 lead in the third.
Joe Dooley (1-0) worked five strong innings for the Barnstormers in his second consecutive spot start. The right-hander allowed four hits and a run while walking two and striking out five. He only allowed a run on a ground out by Jose Herrera in the third.
With Lancaster leading, 5-1, in the bottom of the sixth, Newark built a threat. Reliever Cam Smith walked two, putting runners at first and second. Michael Moore greeted Matt Knox with a single to left, loading the bases. Knox then struck out Jeremy Booth and got Jack Santora to ground into a force play ending the inning en route to his sixth save.
Taylor demolished a pitch off Samuel Martinez to right center opening the seventh. Subsequent runs scored on an RBI single by Jutt Hileman and a bases loaded walk to Quincy Foster.
Nick Steppe singled with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the eighth in the opener. Will Pennyfeather started the inning with an infield single on the left side of the diamond. Alexis Hernandez drilled a double into the left field corner off Denny Harriger (7-2), and the Barnstormers walked Dario Delgado to load the bases before Steppe ripped a liner over the head of first baseman Manny Santana.
Lancaster had grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Foster led off with a bunt single and took second when Delgado?s throw sailed down the right field line. Travis Hake tied the game with a triple to right center, and Taylor put the Barnstormers ahead with a double to left center. However, Taylor was thrown out stealing and the rally died.
Newark scored two in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Pennyfeather scorched a single up the middle then went to third on a double by Hernandez. Delgado singled home one, and, following an intentional walk to Steppe, Moore put the Bears on top with a ground single to left. Jonathan Thomas lined into a double play to end the inning.
The Bears then tried to hand the game back to the Barnstormers, committing back-to-back errors on grounders by Steve Van Note and Foster to start the seventh. Joey Cole (2-1) came on and allowed the tying run to score on a sacrifice fly by Taylor but got Hileman to line back to the mound with two runners on to keep the game tied into the bottom of the seventh.
Atlantic League Stories from June 30, 2006
- Magic Number down to five - Lancaster Stormers
- Bears lose 2nd game of doubleheader, 8-1 - Newark Bears
- Ducks outlast Patriots - Somerset Patriots
- Steppe extra special in game one - Newark Bears
- Ambrosini signed by Marlins - Long Island Ducks
- Third annual patriotic Ducks jersey auction - Long Island Ducks
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