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AtL Lancaster Stormers

Nelson Paces Barnstormers To Split

September 9, 2010 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Bryant Nelson delivered a pair of bases loaded singles, leading the Lancaster Barnstormers to a 5-3 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday evening at Harbor Yard, giving the Barnstormers a split of the twinbill.

Bridgeport surged back from an early 3-0 deficit for an 11-3 win in the opener, clinching at least a wild card berth in the Atlantic League playoffs.

Meanwhile, with the split, the Barnstormers now trail the Somerset Patriots by 4 ½ games in the Freedom Division race.

With Lancaster trailing, 1-0, left-hander Mike Porzio, who was signed by Bridgeport for the day, grew wild in the third. He dealt consecutive one-out walks to Josh Johnson, Vic Gutierrez and Michael Woods, loading the bases for Nelson. The Lancaster shortstop ripped a ground ball through the left side with Johnson and Gutierrez scoring easily. Porzio continued to struggle finding the plate, walking Aaron Herr to reload the bases. Reggie Taylor drove in the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left. Ryan Mulhern picked up the fifth walk of the inning, giving the Barnstormers yet another opportunity with the sacks full, but Brett Flowers flied to right to end the inning.

Josh Hall held the lead into the sixth, retiring 10 in a row at one point. Tom Pennino reached him for a leadoff double to right center field on the first pitch, and Hall hit Tim Johnson with the next. Adam Greenberg laid a bunt down the third base line. The play was charged by Herr, who wheeled and fed Nelson with a quick throw to pick up a force play. Nelson's relay back to Gutierrez covering first missed doubling up Greenberg by a step.

Lancaster summoned Tim Hamulack, who got Tike Redman on a liner to center for the second out. Steve Moss launched a drive to left center that bounced loose from Woods' glove for a triple as the left fielder tried to catch up to the windblown fly. Both runs scored to tie the game. Hamulack was able to induce a dribbler up the first base line by Josh Phelps to end the inning.

The Barnstormers got a leadoff single by Joe Gaetti off Luis Arroyo (3-4) in the top of the seventh. Johnson moved him up on a bunt, and Gutierrez walked to fill in first. Woods dropped a fly ball into shallow center for a bloop single to load the bases, and Nelson scorched a single into right for the 5-3 margin. Hamulack survived a tough ninth to secure the win.

In the opener, Aaron Herr's RBI double to left center and a two-run blast to right by Reggie Taylor gave the Barnstormers a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. However, Bridgeport surged right back against Jason Simontacchi (5-7) in the bottom of the frame. Phelps brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to left. Luis Lopez knocked a second home with a double beyond Taylor's reach in right center. Victor Mercedes singled through the right side to score Lopez, tying the game, and took second on the throw home. Hiram Bocachica capped the inning with a single into left center for a 4-3 lead.

Matt Pike (12-5) kept the Barnstormers from reaching the scoreboard again, limiting the visitors to three singles and one walk over the next five innings. Bridgeport broke the game open with two more two-out RBI hits in the fourth. Brandon Chaves chased Simontacchi with a lined single to right. Two batters later, Redman singled in two more off Wayne Franklin for a 7-3 lead.

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