Stormers Shut Down Blue Crabs
September 9, 2009 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers certainly are not going quietly. If they're going at all.
Neal Musser allowed only three hits in seven innings, and Matt Watson was 3-for-4 with a home run as the Barnstormers completed a three-game sweep of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 7-0, in front of a rain-soaked crowd of 2,713 Wednesday afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Lancaster has now won 11 of its last 14 games and has climbed to within two games of .500 in the second half. The Barnstormers will gain a game on either Newark or Long Island in the playoff chase with those clubs playing later on Wednesday.
Southern Maryland only had four baserunners in the entire game and never moved a man to third base. Patrick Osborn presented the biggest problem for Musser, picking up a double off the left field fence in the fourth and drilling a leadoff single in the seventh. Michael Tucker, the only lefty in the lineup, singled in the second inning for the only other runner against Musser (1-2). Mike Just reached base in the eighth inning when his pop up in front of home plate was allowed to drop in after catcher Jed Morris became entangled with the batter.
Musser walked none and struck out six in the effort.
For the second straight game, Lancaster took charge in the first inning. Lloyd Turner was walked by Joe Gannon (9-15) and stole second. One out later, Michael Woods also walked. Aaron Herr followed with a ground rule double to left center for a 1-0 lead, and L.J. Biernbaum produced Woods with the second run on a sacrifice fly to center.
Turner opened the third with a double inside the third base bag and scored on a single to right by Jason Cooper. Woods grounded to third and Herr lined to short for two outs, but Biernbaum scored Cooper with a ground single up the middle. Matt Watson followed with a long homer to right for a 6-0 lead.
Watson drove in his third run of the game with a two-out single to right off Matt Righter in the seventh, capping the scoring.
The Barnstormers are off on Thursday before embarking on a six-day road trip starting Friday in York. Lancaster will again host the Blue Crabs for five games to wrap up the regular season in a series that begins on Thursday, September 17. Tickets for those games are available at www.lancasterbarnstormers.com or by calling 717-509-HITS.
NOTES: Watson has hit safely in eight straight, going 14-for-31 with two homers and eight RBI...Herr has 27 RBI in his last 23 games...Turner was retired in his final three plate appearances on Wednesday afternoon after reaching safely 12 of his first 13 trips in the series...He tied a franchise record with his 87th walk...The shutout was the third thrown by the Lancaster staff this season...Lancaster's team ERA on the 4-2 homestand was 2.13.
Atlantic League Stories from September 9, 2009
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- Bluefish Top Patriots 5-1 To Avoid Sweep - Somerset Patriots
- Stormers Shut Down Blue Crabs - Lancaster Stormers
- Help The Patriots Pay Tribute To Darrin Winston Tonight - Somerset Patriots
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