VS ROAD WARRIORS
Cody Harkcom (0-5, 7.07 ERA) vs.
Clayton Andrews (1-3, 8.34 ERA)
The Barnstormers will try to stretch their winning streak to a season-best five games. Andrews has struggled since joining the team late last month. The lefty has allowed 50 baserunners in 22 2/3 innings. Although Harkcom’s ERA is awful, opponents are hitting .279 against him — which isn’t bad.
Pre-game notes:
– The Clipper Effect: There have been 86 homers in 34 games at the Clip (an average of 2.5) compared to 26 in 15 road games (an average of 1.7). The Barnstormers are hitting .279 with a .479 slugging percentage at home and .256 with a .385 slugging percentage on the road.
– The Road Warriors’ three starters in this series — Damien Myers, Cody Harkcom and Darwin Soto — are a combined 0-13 with a 6.04 ERA.
– Vince Blue is in the leadoff spot as the DH tonight. So, apparently, “I have no idea” can be translated into yes.
– Blue’s NOT related to Vida. I asked him how many times he’s been asked that question … he said “About a million” with a smile.
– Lance Burkhart took batting practice today for the first time since he was placed on the inactive list two weeks ago. Burkhart said he hopes to return within a week.
Road Warriors ……………. Lancaster
Travis Ezi, CF ………………………. Vince Blue, DH
David Housel, 3B …………………… Danny Gonzalez, SS
Vito Chiaravalloti, 1B ………………. Jeremy Todd, 1B
Manny Mejia, C …………………….. Jutt Hileman, CF
Omar Garcia, DH ……………………. Dominick Ambrosini, LF
Jason Bryan, RF ……………………. Steve Van Note, 3B
Steven Doetsch, LF ……………….. Chris Van Rossum, RF
Josh Arteaga, 2B …………………… Russ Cleveland, C
Gabe Suarez ………………………… Mike Woods, 2B
Scoring summary:
FINAL: Road Warriors 7, Barnstormers 5
Road Warriors 4th: Garcia’s double scores Chiaravalloti. Bryan’s groundout scores Mejia. Road Warriors lead 2-0.
Stormers 4th: Van Note’s double scores Steve Booker. Road Warriors lead 2-1.
Road Warriors 5th: Garcia’s single scores Ezi. Road Warriors lead 3-1.
Road Warriors 6th: Ezi’s double scores Doetsch and Arteaga. Road Warriors lead 5-1.
Stormers 6th: Todd hits solo home run. Road Warriors lead 5-2.
Road Warriors 7th: Ezi’s single scores Garcia. Road Warriors lead 6-2.
Road Warriors 9th: Doetsch’s single scores Bryan. Road Warriors lead 7-2.
Barnstormers 9th: Van Rossum scores on Housel’s throwing error. Blue’s single scores Cleveland. Hileman’s single scores Woods. Road Warriors win 7-5.
RECORD: 23-27
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Travis Ezi (3-for-6 with a double and three RBIs). Ezi started the season with York before being transferred to the Road Warriors.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Jeremy Todd smashed his team-leading 12th home run. It was a towering fly ball that landed on the picnic tent.
*Vince Blue made his debut. The outfielder, serving as the DH, went 1-for-5 with an RBI single in the ninth.
*Barry Armitage made his first appearance at home. The reliever allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings. He throws hard and down, like manager Frank Klebe said, and looks like he’ll be an asset in the bullpen.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The Barnstormers’ rally fell short. Trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Lancaster scored three times and had the tying runs on base. That’s when Jeremy Deitrick, pinch-hitting for Steve Booker, struck out swinging to end the game. Deitrick actually started the inning as the third-base coach and wasn’t expecting to bat.
“I really wasn’t thinking about it down by five runs,” Deitrick said. “As we were creeping closer, I thought … possibly. Then when I was called in from coaching I knew why. It was to get ready for the at-bat.”
*Once he stepped into the box, Deitrick said he was ready.
“It was 2-2 and I just swung at his pitch,” Deitrick said. “I fouled off the only fastball I saw. He gave me three back-to-back breaking balls. The last one was sharp. I thought it was going to stay up a little bit. It was a little bit lower than I thought.”
*Booker was in the game because Dominick Ambrosini was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the fourth inning. So, with the go-ahead run at the plate in the ninth, Klebe had three options: Booker, Deitrick or newcomer Roberto Mejia. This was the manager’s thinking …
“Deitrick has a chance to maybe hit something out of the ballpark,” Klebe said. “If he gets something fat, he can get hold of one, maybe hit a double in the gap. Mejia is just starting to get his feet wet. I didn’t want to put him in that situation right now. I haven’t seen him hit in a game.”
“Booker can slap the ball around,” Klebe said. “He can get a base hit and all. But we had a chance with Deitrick. If he gets a fastball up and over the plate and he drills one into the short porch in right, we win the ballgame. So that is what I was shooting for in that situation.”
*Clayton Andrews retired. He was a hard worker and always gracious in granting interviews. I wish him the best of luck.
*James Lira will replace Andrews in the rotation. Lira has sparkled in two starts, but putting him in the rotation leaves the bullpen shorthanded from the right side. The Barnstormers have six relievers and four of them are lefties. Still, Lira is a good choice to start.
“That might be the right fit,” Klebe said. “We stretched Lira out twice. He looks like he’s real comfortable starting. He got us two wins, so that’s probably the direction we’re headed.”
*The Barnstormers allowed 17 hits to the Road Warriors as they saw their four-game winning streak snapped. Lancaster trails first-place Camden — which lost to Somerset Monday — by 5½ games with 13 to play.
So Frank IS playing Vince Blue tonight. Maybe BASA picks the line up and Frank is just a prop? Kind of like our president? (ps. I voted for Bush, but that doesn’t effect my conspiratorial thoughts).
Let’s go Stormers. Five in a row. Yes. I can smell it.
Hey Radical, you are missing James milking a cow. One of those days where his wishes he was the starting pitcher. So far Cow 1, James 0.
Why isn’t Jason and Burt doing the milking?
Somebody has to cover it.
is the broadcast going over the internet, it’s not working via sportsjuice.com at the moment, anyone else having a problem?
I’ve got it, loud and clear.
it’s working now, must have been local in Calif, you never know! Thanks
Glad to hear that it’s working. I hate technical difficulties.
Well I guess i have to depend on radio and the blog tonight. Was at the game but had to come home due to illness….as anyone will tell you..if I have to miss a game…well… you klnow i dont feel well.
Frank seems to be arguing more calls lately.
Think that helps him in the clubhouse at all?
No, I don’t think it really matters in the clubhouse. That call had to be argued because Cleveland was going nuts and the manager has to protect his player.
Awww wittle Amy sicky sick??
Just got on. Vince do anything yet?
Jason, does the Barnstormer Weekly get posted online?
Was that a strike to Dominick?
That ball the Cleveland hit was as foul as I am dumb. This crew stinks. They did in York and they do here.
AS,
It’s only in the paper. I can email you the story if you want.
Mr. B,
Blue is 0-for-2 with a strikeout and flyout.
That would be great if you could email it to me, do you need my email or can you see it on this site?
I have it. I’ll send it in the morning.
Thanks J,
sorry to be a pain, I wouldn’t mind reading it too if you could email it too me? Don’t sweat it if you don’t get around to it!! I still ow you a York Sucks shirt. What size?
Amy–I hope you’re feeling better soon! I was just teasin ya
Should be interesting to see how South Africa does!
Amy–Your boy told me he was going to smack one out tonight for you because he heard you were sick!
No problem, Mr. B. I’ll send one copy to each of your aliases. Do you have Leaping Lenny Poffo’s email address handy?
We found our new Bunt man! Any word on Foster since the triple yesterday?
Anyone heard from the Innkeeper? Looks like he only stayed for a night.
Foster is 5-for-14 in three games.
Since your sending one to dad, hw about me too.
I think we’re going to win this game.
Hey Little B!
Great practice today bud.
You know, we are really counting on that scholarship! so remember… don’t let us down!
PS. Mom and I are splitting up as soon as you move out.
I’m just enjoying the win streak and hoping the ‘Stormers come back tonight. Let’s be honest, if they can finish strong at the Woeful Warriors, and stay hot against Camden, things will be very interesting.
I am with you too dad. Just like Uncle Stormin’ says, always think positive.
Oh dad, that’s my 7th mom.
Jason – can you add one more :cc on the email?
It’s hazy, hot & humid. What do you expect Tom. Can you or Dave turn up the AC?
Rally Time.
B Jr.,
I don’t know how to tell you this but… Uncle Stormin is really your dad. Your Mom and I were separated for a while after we first got married and one night your Uncle was trying to “council” her and they had a little too much and well… I know this probably wasn’t the best place to break the news.
I’m Sorry
GO STORMERS!!
I’m back just in time.
There are other websites that provide ‘private’ chat rooms for your odd conversations. Can’t we keep these posts related to baseball? GO Barnstormers!
BOOOOOOOO!!!!
GO ‘thanks mr b’ STORMERS
Innkeeper–Sorry, i get carried away.
Real quick though: Are your parents still together?
GO STORMERS!!
GO ‘it’s not your fault B Jr.’ STORMERS!
Now back to the game. I think Murray needs to get tossed for the teams sake.
Jason, with Clayton struggling, should they start Lira and move Clayton to the pen?
I’m going to ask about Andrews after the game. He hasn’t pitched well, but it’s only six starts coming off no spring training.
Just for the record, I bought the paper tonight for your articles Jason. They were great as usual.
Charge them 50 cents each to read your article. You can start a slush fund.
Thanks, Jason,
Should I send you 50 cents? Actually maybe you can collect from my relative that is there, it’s the least he can do since it will cost me almost as much to send you the 50 cents! Didn’t mean to start anything with the email thing…..
I was just joking
Just for the record. I live in York and I have the paper in my hands. I keep the sports and throw out the rest.
Look Jason. I fixed it. No more little black box.