Game 11: Stormers 9-7

	Tim McClaskey 1-0, 6.17 ERA		Vince Perkins 0-0, 1.93 ERA

On his way back to the clubhouse after the seven-game losing streak was officially history, Rick Wise fired off one of his favorite baseball lines: “It’s easy to win when the other team doesn’t score.”

The Barnstormers hope Zack Parker’s two-hit gem is the spark that gets them out of their early-season funk. While Monday’s performance doesn’t cure all of the team’s ills, including a thin rotation and a shorthanded bullpen, it reminded you of the premium talent here. Parker is at the top of the list. He has allowed 11 hits in 21 innings. In his 13 Atlantic League appearances, he’s 7-1 with a 2.01 ERA. That’s a half-season worth of starts that would make Denny Harriger envious.

Tim McClaskey looks to keep the positive mojo going. The righthander is the only other Barnstormers starter with a win to this point and his ERA is a little misleading because two runners scored after he left the game in his previous outing. Vince Perkins makes his first start after two relief apperances for Camden. He spent last season in High-A and Double-A with the Brewers.

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LeCroy out: Lost in the enjoyment of Parker’s performance was the fact that DH Matt LeCroy was placed on the DL because of a sore left shoulder. The injury affects his lead arm on his swing and is the reason he wasn’t able to produce through the first eight games. This is no minor loss for the Barnstormers. LeCroy’s addition was one of the factors that had everyone buzzing about this team’s offensive potential.

Manager Von Hayes said he will not make a corresponding roster move for now. He wants to wait and see the severity of the injury.

“We’ll probably try to grind it out and go with two extra guys until he gets healthy,” Hayes said. “We’ll re-evaluate in about two or three days to see how his progress is going and make a decision from there. If if looks like he’s making great progress, we’ll just grind it out.”

The Barnstormers have gradually transformed themselves since the start of spring training. They’re no longer a plodding, slugging team. By adding SS Danny Gonzalez and OF Jarred Ball and giving 2B Lloyd Turner a lot of playing time, they’ve become more athletic and versatile. It’s somewhat reminiscent of the lineup the Barnstormers had in 2005 — when Quincy Foster and Travis Hake were at the top of the batting order.

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Starter search:

The Barnstormers need to find a starting pitcher prior to Thursday’s game at Newark. They plan to audition two guys today and could sign one — or both — depending on their performance. If the Barnstormers don’t add a pitcher by Thursday, they’ll have to endure another bullpen game.

“We’re going to try to avoid that,” Hayes said.

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Links:

*Game 10 box score

*Column about Parker’s shutout

*The fan blog’s take on Monday’s win

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Lineups …

(8-3)	(3-7)
Chris Walker, CF	Mike Woods, LF
Gary Cates, 2B	Lloyd Turner, 2B
Brett Bonvechio, 1B	Brian Stavisky, DH
Josh Rabe, DH	Vasili Spanos, 3B
L.J. Biernbaum, RF	Ian Bladergroen, 1B
Richard Lewis, 3B	Lance Burkhart, C
Randy McGarvey, C	Danny Gonzalez, SS
Ron Davenport, LF	Jutt Hileman, CF
Gabe Suarez, SS	Jarred Ball, RF

Scoring summary …

Riversharks	000	004	003	7	13	1
Barnstormers	400	000	05x	9	10	2

FINAL: Barnstormers 9, Riversharks 7

Stormers 1st: Stavisky’s fielder’s choice scores Woods. Bladergroen’s double scores Stavisky and Spanos. Gonzalez’s single scores Bladergroen.
Lancaster leads 4-0.

Sharks 6th: Biernbaum’s double scores Cates. Lewis’s single scores Bonvechio. Davenport’s triple scores Biernbaum and Lewis.
Game tied at 4.

Stormers 8th: Woods’ grand slam scores Juan Francia, Gonzalez and Ball. Stavisky hits solo home run.
Lancaster leads 9-4.

Sharks 9th: Rabe’s double scores Cates. Biernbaum’s groundout scores Bonvechio. Lewis’ single scores Rabe.
Lancaster leads 9-7.

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RECORD: 4-7

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mike Woods (2-for-4 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and the go-ahead grand slam in eighth inning)

Easy POG choice. Woods extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the first inning. He turned a good night into a great one when he lined a grand slam over the right-center wall in the eighth. His on-base is now .489. He’s 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. How is that for a lead-off hitter?

The grand slam was the big moment …

“Mike is comfortable,” manager Von Hayes said. “He’s putting together some great at-bats. He did what he’s supposed to do in that situation. I don’t think he tried to hit a home run. He was trying to hit a fly ball to center field. He got a pitch he could handle over the plate and smoked it.”

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The pitchers:

*Tim McClaskey took the baton from Zack Parker and kept the shutout streak going until the sixth inning. His line …

5.1 IP

6 H

2 R

2 ER

1 BB

0 K

*McClaskey was again victimized by having two inherited runners score, which took some of the luster off an otherwise excellent outing. The righthander was handed an early 4-0 advantage and did his job. He threw strikes and kept his team in front.

*Pat Cassa didn’t fare as well. The lefty surrendered hits to three of the four batters he faced. He allowed Ron Davenport’s two-out, two-run triple that tied the game at 4 in the sixth inning. The ball was nearly caught by RF Jarred Ball, but hit off the wall. It’s an out most places. Not at the Clip.

*Rob Averette stranded the go-ahead run at third base in the sixth inning and fired one scoreless frame.

*Ryan Cullen pitched two innings and surrendered three unearned runs in the ninth. He still earned his second win, which leads the team, and was probably left out there too long in a non-save situation.

*Ricardo Gomez got the final out for his first save.

*The Barnstormers acquired P Jeff Muessig from the Joliet Jackhammers of the Northern League for future considerations. That’s Wally Backman’s team. Lancaster also worked out P Yamel Guevara, a Cuban defector, prior to Tuesday night’s game and is expected to work out another pitcher Wednesday.

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The hitters:

*Woods is emerging into a star. As Dawes pointed out, the OF showed all facets of his game, his power, his speed, his ability to get on base. Stolen bases are a big part of the Barnstormers’ offense for the first time since 2006.

“Von and Boots have us running,” Woods said. “Last year I really didn’t have the green light per se. I was limited in what I could really do. This year they give us the steal and I’m gone.”

Remember when Bo Hart started at 2B and Woods was a utility guy? Hard to believe in retrospect.

*Brian Stavisky launched homer No. 3. Hayes said Stavisky is the kind of a hitter who will produce even when he’s not totally locked in at the plate. We saw that tonight. He had three rough at-bats before hitting his solo homer. He’s always a threat.

*Ian Bladergroen belted a two-run double in the first inning as he continued his RBI surge. He leads the team with 11.

*Jutt Hileman made a diving catch in the second inning, robbing L.J. Biernbaum of at least a double. It was probably the best defensive play at home this season.

*Juan Francia made his debut as a pinch runner and scored in the eighth.

*This one wasn’t a masterpiece. Two errors. 13 hits allowed. But it was a win. Hayes wasn’t exactly thrilled with how his team earned it.

“We won a game and I almost feel like we lost,” Hayes said. “I won’t say I’d rather take a loss, but it’s a much better feeling when you play a solid, good game and maybe lose 2-1 rather than play a game like that. That’s unacceptable.”

*The Barnstomers are 4-1 at home and 0-6 on the road.