AtL Lancaster Stormers

Woods connects in ninth for 'Stormer win

Published on August 17, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Lancaster let a lead slip away in the top of the ninth. This time it led to heroics.

Michael Woods launched a home run onto the picnic deck in right field leading off the bottom of the ninth, sending the Barnstormers to a 4-3 victory in front of 3,805 Monday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Woods' homer, his 10th of the season, took away the pain of Joe Burke's game-tying homer to the same stretch of canopy in the top of the inning. He left the park off a 2-2 offering from Casey Cahill (6-2).

Each club scored twice in the third inning. Burke led off with a broken bat double down the right field line and scored on a single to right center by Sean Smith for a 1-0 lead. Smith was thrown out trying to steal second, but the Patriots picked up back-to-back two-out doubles by Anthony Granato and Josh Pressley to go up, 2-0, on starter Trey Hodges.

Jason Standridge hit Jed Morris with a pitch to start the bottom of the third. Cesar Suarez followed with a line drive down the first base line that was initially ruled foul by first base umpire Jose Colls. Lancaster argued, and the call was overturned, giving the Barnstormers runners at second and third. Standridge retired Woods on a grounder to third and struck out Anderson Machado to freeze the runners. Lloyd Turner then lifted a bloop to right center. Burke came streaking across, but his diving effort fell just short with the ball skipping through to the wall for a two-run triple.

Lancaster climbed on top for the first time in the game in the fifth. Woods drew a one-out walk and moved to second on an infield single by Machado on a hit-and-run. Turner forced Machado at second, but Matt Watson singled off Standridge's leg for a 3-2 lead.

It looked like the lead would slip through Lancaster's hands in the eighth. Anthony Granato walked against Jim Heuser and stole second on Heuser's move to first. Josh Pressley singled to left sending Granato to third.

Manager Tom Herr went to the bullpen and brought Nick Abel into the game. Pinch runner Elliott Ayala was picked off first, got into a rundown and was tagged out without Granato making a dash for the plate. Matt Hagen popped to third for the second out. Abel walked Jeff Nettles but got Teuris Olivares on a foul pop up to the catcher getting out of the inning with the lead intact.

Neal Musser entered the game in the ninth inning and retired Jason Belcher on a liner to third. Burke reached him for the game-tying homer, wasting a quality start for Hodges. Sean Smith singled and stole second but was thrown out by Morris trying to swipe third as Mike Rodriguez walked. Antonio Alfonseca (3-4) was summoned and, after Rodriguez stole second, got Granato on a grounder to first to keep the game tied.

The Barnstormers square off against Somerset again on Tuesday evening at 7:05. Eric Ackerman (4-10) will take the hill for Lancaster against Chris Buglovsky (3-1). The free Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest will open to the public outside the stadium at 4:00.

NOTES: The squandered quality start was the 30th for the Lancaster staff this season...Lancaster's starters have allowed only three earned runs in 29 innings on the homestand...Turner's triple was his 21st in two seasons with the Barnstormers...The home run was Woods' 44th as a Barnstormer, fourth all-time...Suarez has hit safely in six straight.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2009


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