vs BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH
Matt Beech (3-1, 4.60 ERA) vs.
Brett Evert (1-2, 7.71 ERA)
The quest for back-to-back victories begins anew tonight. The Barnstormers try to win two in a row for the first time since May 9 and 10. Evert is making his fourth start. He has 16 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Beech defeated the Barnstormers on May 15. The lefty is 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA lifetime against Lancaster.
Pre-game notes:
*Clyde Williams has been released by Potros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. It doesn’t sound like the Barnstormers are interested in bringing Williams back, which is surprising.
*Dominick Ambrosini is the Q&A for next week. The No. 1 reason he wanted to play for the Barnstormers was the fan support here. Ambrosini is also trying hard to pronounce Lancaster correctly. I thought the County natives would appreciate that.
Ambrosini thinks Tuesday’s win will get the Barnstormers going …
“Last night’s game was a huge win for us and I think that’s going to be the one to boost us,” Ambrosini said. “If you win a game 12- or 13-0 it’s great to win by a lot of runs. But if you win a closer game and you pull it out, I think that’s bigger.”
– Bridgeport’s Junior Spivey has reached base safely in 16 consecutive plate appearances. His on-base percentage is .470.
Lineups …
Bridgeport (16-8) ……………………Lancaster (8-16)
Quinton McCracken, RF …………….Quincy Foster, LF
Angel Espada, 2B …………………….Danny Gonzalez, SS
Junior Spivey, CF ……………………Jeremy Todd, 1B
Tommy Rojas, 1B ……………………Jutt Hileman, CF
Bobby Darula, DH ……………………Steve Van Note, 3B
Nick Ortiz, SS ………………………….Lance Burkhart, C
Bobby Malek, LF ……………………..Chris Van Rossum, RF
Jay Caligiuri, 3B ………………………Jeremy Deitrick, DH
John Nathans, C ……………………..Bo Hart, 2B
FINAL: Barnstormers 8, Bluefish 6
Scoring summary:
Stormers 1st: Gonzalez scores on Espada’s throwing error.
Bluefish 2nd: Caligiuri’s single scores Malek.
Stormers 2nd: Burkhart hits solo home run.
Bluefish 5th: Darula’s sacrifice fly scores Espada. Ortiz’s double scores Spivey.
Stormers 5th: Gonzalez’s single scores Hart. Hileman’s single scores Foster. Van Note’s sacrifice fly scores Gonzalez. Burkhart’s sacrifice fly scores Todd.
Stormers 6th: Hileman’s single scores Hart and Foster.
Bluefish 7th: Caligiuri’s walk scores Darula. McCracken’s fielder’s choice scores Ortiz and Malek.
In-game notes:
– Spivey’s on-base streak ends with a groundout to pitcher in 1st. He’s 2-for-3 with two singles.
– Burkhart’s having a great season. He leads the team in both slugging and on-base percentage. His homer was a line drive to left — his third of the season.
– Evert escapes bases-loaded jam in third. He hit two batters in the inning and has six HBPs this season.
– Evert walked bases loaded to start the sixth. He left the game with an apparent injury to his side. Scott Sobkowiak retired Espada, Spivey and Rojas to get out of the jam.
RECORD: 9-16
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Eric Ackerman (2 scoreless innings, second save in as many nights).
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Ackerman brought some sanity to the proceedings. He retired six of the seven batters he faced to preserve Lancaster’s 8-6 lead. The versatile lefty has a 3.66 ERA despite logging 19 2/3 innings of relief.
“This offseason I prepared more than any other offseason,” Ackerman said. “Coaching out at Pitt I was throwing with the guys every single day. That’s way more than I’ve ever thrown. I feel my arm was more ready than any other year.”
*The Barnstormers finally got some timely hits. Danny Gonzalez and Jutt Hileman delivered RBI singles in the fifth. Hileman had a two-run single in the sixth that proved to be the difference in the game. It’s amazing how much better a team looks when it hits in the clutch.
“Pitching and defense usually wins you games,” manager Frank Klebe said. “But we got the key hits that we’ve been looking for. Hopefully, we can keep building on that.”
*Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
*Hileman drove in three runs.
*Lance Burkhart reached base three times and belted his third home run of the season.
*The Barnstormers won back-to-back games for the first time since May 9 and 10. I’ll stop talking about it now.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Brett Evert left after walking the bases loaded to start the sixth with a muscle spasm in his back. He pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs, and improved to 2-2. Evert said he doesn’t expect to miss a start.
“It was just a cramp,” the righthander said. “There was no pain involved. I just wasn’t able to finish pitches and I wasn’t throwing strikes. It didn’t hurt. It was more restricting.”
*Closer James Lira wasn’t used with the Barnstormers leading by two runs in the ninth. Klebe went with Ackerman instead.
“Lira’s still the closer,” Klebe said. “There’s no question about that. He’s going to get the opportunity to do it again. I looked at how many pitches he threw two nights in a row. I liked the way Ackerman threw the eighth inning and I thought he was fresh. I let Lira have a day to rest up a little bit.”
*Although he drew two walks, Jeremy Todd went hitless in three at-bats and is in an 0-for-14 slump.
*Jeremy Deitrick went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as the DH. This team sure could use another power bat. (He writes for the 1,000th time).
looks like a decent turnout tonight. I say we get two in a row.
hey, ya know what this place needs even more than a slugger? A competent audio tech!
What they really need is run support.
Get hime out of there
Can’t be there tonight so I am looking forward to reading the comments and reading Jason’s updates.
Any word on Williams?
whoa…Evert flirted with big trouble there..2 hit batters…bases loaded Jam.
Sorry Jason. I was typing and not reading the beginning. I am very, very, very, surprised about Williams. He is the big lefty we need behind Todd.
Tell Ambrosini I have been up here for 18 years and I still cannot pronounce Lancaster properly.
From what I can gather, Williams’ four-game stay in Lancaster didn’t go well. He wanted to play everyday and the Barnstormers didn’t want to use him in that role.
Why on Earth would Clyde Williams not play every day?
Well, Williams is not a good defensive outfielder. Why couldn’t he DH everyday? It’s a mystery to me. My guess is the Barnstormers believe they have replaced Williams with Ambrosini and are looking for a right-handed bat.
here we go…6-3!
Bottom of the 6th already?! We’re cruising right along here at the Clip.
They can’t make anything easy these days. They are going to start having to sell Rolaids at the Corner Store.
If Lancaster does not want Clyde back, do they trade him or does the BASA do one of those “pocket shuffle”.
It’s too soon to tell. I’m not even sure Williams wants to return to the Atlantic League. He hasn’t talked to anyone in the organization as far as I know.
Jason, who is coming in to close?
Ackerman closed it out. No Lira.
Thanks. We win! We win! See everyone tomorrow night “at the ballpark”.
It’s good to hear the Barnstormers are looking. I still think Williams will strike out too often.
Can we do this in 2:31 tomorrow night?
two real wins in a row! are we on our way?
That’s a streak.
Dave – what sign in centerfield were you talking about tonight (they had to turn off the lights?)
The Clipper Magazine sign above center field. Apparently one of the three lights that lit it up was dim or something. I heard it second hand but those were the lights that were turned off.
That was some great pitching by Sobkowiak in the 6th. I couldn’t believe that inning ending without any runs for Bridgeport. And it was GREAT to see some sac flies and shots through the infield. Maybe there has been an overall change of strategy and it’s working? Bridgeport’s 3 errors didn’t hurt but I still consider this an earned win and a good effort by all.
Good to hear Evert is ok. He was doing ok until the 6th. Why’d he wait until the bases were loaded with no outs before saying anything?
Dare we hope for three?
Just to let everyone know. They have the steel frame up for the “Arch” green giant wall at the York stadium. Still no grass, just sand.
They have three more sections of seating to go in. It is going to be close.
The Barnstormers have another bullpen issue besides Lira. Klebe is reluctant to use Norderum, who has pitched one inning since May 19 and Vazquez-Santiago, who hasn’t pitched since he got off the DL Sunday.
That means Ackerman and Peeples have ridiculously heavy workloads to this point. They can’t keep logging this many innings all season. It’s not fair to them.
Frank Should have released Norderum and Kept Todd Pennington.
Just My Thoughts
I was wondering the same about Norderum and Vazquez-Santiago last night. I realize V-S is coming off the injury but I really don’t understand keeping Norderum being as his era is so high. I thought for certain that Norderum would have been released first before Pennington. I agree with the workloads of Ackerman and Peeples…especially Ackerman whos been in every bullpen role known to managing. One night he’s pitching in long relief and then the next 2 he’s closing. But fortunately he’s always done well no matter what situation he’s put into. He’s certainly the most versitile pitcher we have but I think sooner or later its going to come back and hurt us somewhere.
That’s a good point. Have you asked Frank his view or is he not talking to you about those issues?
He needs to get them in a game one more time (on a short leash if need be) and see what both of them can do. If they don’t produce, it is time to go shopping.
I thought that Griffith would have worked out if not as a starter, maybe the bullpen. He had a great pick off move.
They kept Norderum because he has good stuff and he’s left-handed. The problem, of course, is control. Pitching once in 11 days isn’t going to help his control.
Here’s the other thing: The team is 9-16. It’s going to take a miracle to win the first half. Now is a good time for evaluation.
Yeah those lefthanders get all the breaks..haha. But these guys need to get game action as well. His control wont improve if he doesnt pitch..as you said Jason!
Instead of bring Ackerman or Peeples in right away, you are right, bring these guys in for one inning, see what they can do, knowing you have Eric and Ross as a backup. This is the only way to evaluate them. Live pitching.
BTW, we are only 4 games back now!
You’re right. Four games back. The South Division is a forgiving place this season.
Well I can tell you that their are going to be a few more roster moves coming up, maybe by this weekend. I can’t tell you who and how I know.
Jay–Who and how do you know?
Mr. Barnstormer I said I can’t tell you that information. I wish I could but I can’t. Lets just a big move may happen along with some smaller moves.
Welcome to the board, Jay. Mr. B was just yanking your chain, I think.
Thanks Jason, I know he was yanking my chain. I like to play along or joke around by giving people a hard time.
Jay, Mr. B’s bark is worse than his bite. After you comment more than 10 times, you move into our inner blog circle. Then you are fair game for heckling.
and fair game for all night LOVE sessions!
GO STORMERS!
Hey how about those wins! Lets make it three!
I feel a win tonight. My wife and I are wearing the white home jerseys.
I feel another win tonight too. It’ll be the last game I can make for a couple weeks…what better way kick off vacation than three in a row?!
Sure hope it cools down a little…90 F in May isn’t my idea of a good time.