AtL Lancaster Stormers

Stormers start fast out of the break

Published on July 18, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Four days off seemed to do the Lancaster Barnstormers a world of good.

Josh Hall yielded only three hits in 6 2/3 innings, and Mike Woods scored three runs as the Barnstormers dumped the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 9-6, Friday evening in the opener of a three-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With the win, the Barnstormers climbed back into a first place tie with Somerset in the second half in the Freedom Division.

Hall (6-2) fell behind early. After Curtis Pride reached base on a two-out error by Ian Bladergroen in the opening frame, the right-hander walked back-to-back hitters to load the bases. Jeremy Owens beat out a grounder along the third base line, and the Crabs snuck a second run across in front of Bladergroen's throw to the plate.

The former Reds hurler allowed a leadoff single to Chris Maples in the second, then retired 17 of the next 18 batters. He fanned the side in the fourth and allowed only one ball out of the infield in that entire stretch. Hall left after yielding a two-out walk to Brandon Ketron and a double to right center by George Sandel in the seventh.

Danny Gonzalez singled home Woods in the bottom of the first as Lancaster sliced the lead to 2-1, and the Barnstormers took command in the third. Juan Francia started the inning with a single to center and moved to second on a sacrifice by Lloyd Turner. Woods walked, and Gonzalez singled to load the bases. Matt LeCroy extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI single to left, tying the game at 2-2. After Bladergroen flied to left, Manny Mejia banged a two-run double to right center to put Lancaster on top, 4-2.

Two additional runs scored in the fourth inning on a double by Luis Perez, two walks and three wild pitches by Joe Gannon (6-2). Woods chased Gannon with an RBI single to left in the sixth for a 7-2 lead, and Perez added a two-run homer off reliever Adam Johnson in the seventh for insurance runs.

James Shanks and John Ramistella each homered in the ninth off reliever Ricardo Gomez.

NOTES: In addition to LeCroy's streak, Danny Gonzalez has hit safely in seven in a row...Woods stole his league leading 22nd base of the season...Francia stole both second and third in the sixth inning and now has 17 on the year...Lancaster is 10-2 in games started by Hall, who lowered his ERA to 4.01...The Barnstormers have won six of the last seven meetings against Southern Maryland...Eric Ackerman (3-6) will pitch for the Barnstormers on Saturday evening against lefty Keith Ramsey (2-3)...Game time is 7:05 with fireworks to follow...Lancaster will try to win two in a row for the first time in the second half.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 18, 2008


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