AtL Lancaster Stormers

Sugar Land earns 5-2 victory over Barnstormers

Published on May 25, 2013 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Just when Matt Wright started to lose command of the game in the seventh inning, Sugar Land manager Gary Gaetti had his nearly invincible bullpen ready to go.

That Skeeters bullpen once again proved to be airtight as Sugar Land held on for a 5-2 victory in front of 6,556 on a chilly Saturday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Wright (5-0) controlled the game for the first six innings, checking the Barnstormers on only three singles while walking none and striking out three.

"Wright commanded both sides of the plate with his fastball," said acting manager Lance Burkhart. "He threw a great game."

The Barnstormers, however, got their chance in the seventh, down, 3-0, when the inning began. Jerry Owens began the rally with a single to right center. Olmo Rosario lined right to shortstop Anthony Granato for the first out before Daryle Ward rocked a two-run homer well beyond the tents in right field, bringing Lancaster within one.

Enter the bullpen. The Barnstormers encountered a trio of relievers that entered the night with a combined 0.71 ERA on the season, a big reason why the Skeeters are off to a 29-6 start.

Ryan Harvey managed a two-out single off Roy Corcoran in the seventh to put the tying run on base. The right-hander came back to strike out Kevin Howard to end the inning. Corcoran also walked Kody Kirkland with one out in the eighth. That brought sidewheeling lefty Jay Marshall into the game. He coaxed a double play out of Blake Gailen on his first pitch.

Jason Bergmann, who has not been scratched his season, took over in the ninth and retired the Barnstormers in order for his ninth save of the year.

Sugar Land picked up its first run in the second. Aaron Bates beat the relay throw on a double play when second baseman Travis Denker had difficulty getting rid of the ball. Travis Scott followed with a double to right center to plate the run.

Will Savage (3-3) suddenly lost control in the fourth. Following a leadoff single by Chase Lambin, the right-hander, who had not walked anyone previously on the night, put both Josh Pressley and Steve Moss aboard on walks to fill the bases. He then hit Bates with a 1-2 pitch to force home a run. One more scored on a force play grounder, and the Skeeters were up, 3-0.

After Savage yielded a single and another walk to open the fifth, Burkhart went to his bullpen. Nate Reed picked up three outs on two batters to get out of that inning and followed with a hitless sixth. Alan Johnson was perfect in the seventh to keep Lancaster in the game.

"Reed and Johnson both threw the ball well tonight," said Burkhart.

If the Sugar Land bullpen trio needed a bigger cushion, they got it in the eighth. Lambin greeted Ross Peeples with a single to right and moved up when Pressley's one-hopper back to the mound momentarily squirted free from Peeples grasp. Moss picked up a walk, and Bates capitalized on the opportunity with a double to the gap in right center.

"We got close there in the seventh," Burkhart added. "But they (Sugar Land) came back with a couple in the eighth."

The two teams meet again on Saturday evening at 6:00. Lancaster will send Horacio Ramirez (0-0) to the hill against right-hander Scott Elarton (3-2). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app starting at 5:45.

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Atlantic League Stories from May 25, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central