Game 17: Stormers 4-1

	Ricardo Gomez 0-1, 3.38 ERA		Steve Kelly 1-1, 4.80 ERA

When the Riversharks rolled into town last week, minus half their starting lineup because of injuries and departures, we talked about how quickly fortunes can change in the Atlantic League. The Barnstormers have also made that discovery. They’re only 16 games into the season and they’re without their ace, their cleanup man and their top left-handed power hitter. Two were lost to affiliated ball. One to injury.

As hard as Von Hayes and Keith Lupton will work to upgrade the roster, some guys can’t be replaced. Zack Parker is one of them. Where are you going to find another lefthander capable of posting a 2.08 ERA in 14 starts in this league? He was a rarity for indy ball — a pitcher whose career arc seemed to be rising.

Today the Barnstormers are expected to learn more about the future of DH Matt LeCroy, who hasn’t played since May 3 because of a sore shoulder. If it’s determined that LeCroy needs a continued stay on the disabled list, the team is going to have to start looking for another hitter. Finding one projected to mash 20+ homers, as LeCroy and Jason Perry were, is extremely difficult.

This is the beginning of a pivotal stretch for the Barnstormers. They play the next 10 games against division rivals Somerset and York. If Lancaster doesn’t at least tread water, its first-half hopes will dim considerably. The Barnstormers will give the ball to Ricardo Gomez tonight. Gomez allowed one run in four innings in his first start against Newark Thursday.

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Links:

*Game 15 box … Game 16 box

*Stormers stats … Patriots stats

*The Intell examines Parker’s departure.

*ALB.com talked to Parker before he was signed by the Rangers.

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Roster move: The Barnstormers have signed P Mark Alexander. The righthander is a 20th-round draft choice who spent four seasons in the Dodgers system. He split time between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Career stats here.

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Lineups …

(9-8 )	(5-11)
David Housel, 2B	Mike Woods, LF
Gera Alvarez, RF	Juan Francia, 2B
Brandon Larson, 3B	Brian Stavisky, RF
Josh Pressley, DH	Vasili Spanos, 3B
Vito Chiaravalloti, 1B	Ian Bladergroen, 1B
Jason Belcher, C	Lance Burkhart, DH
Teuris Olivares, SS	Manny Mejia, C
Matt Hagen, LF	Jarred Ball, CF
Elliott Ayala, CF	Danny Gonzalez, SS

Scoring summary …

Patriots	010	000	000	1	6	0
Barnstormers	012	010	00x	4	7	1

WP: Ricardo Gomez (1-1)
LP: Steve Kelly (1-2)
SV: Jeff Muessig (1)

FINAL: Barnstormers 4, Patriots 1

Patriots 2nd: Hagen’s double scores Olivares.
Somerset leads 1-0.

Stormers 2nd: Bladergroen hits solo home run.
Game tied at 1.

Stormers 3rd: Spanos’ sacrifice fly scores Gonzalez. Bladergroen’s double scores Woods.
Lancaster leads 3-1.

Stormers 5th: Stavisky’s double scores Francia.
Lancaster leads 4-1.

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RECORD: 6-11

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ian Bladergroen (2-for-3 with a double and a home run).

Bladergroen is definitely comfortable at the Clip. He’s 11-for-24 with three homers and 12 RBIs in seven home games. Even his outs at home seem to be hit hard. Something happens to Bladergroen when he hits the road. He’s 6-for-34 in 10 road games.

“I really enjoy hitting here,” the first baseman said. “I see the ball really well. You wouldn’t even know I played on the Road Warriors last year with the batting average I have on the road. It helps that I feel really comfortable here and am getting into a groove.”

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The pitchers:

*Ricardo Gomez turned in another solid start …

5 IP

3 H

1 R

1 ER

1 BB

5 K

The Barnstormers may have found a long-term solution for their rotation in Gomez. The righthander has allowed two earned runs in nine innings in his two starts. His strikeouts are up and his control is better in this role rather than out of the bullpen.

“Ricardo is going to get better every time he goes out there,” manager Von Hayes said. “He’s got a better-than-average fastball and he has enough of an offspeed pitch to keep the hitters off-balance. He just has to really get confident with his fastball and throw it more. When he gets an idea how to do that, he’s going to be a darn good pitcher.”

*Yamel Guevara was effective in relief …

3 IP

2 H

0 R

0 ER

3 BB

3 K

The walks are a blemish, but understandable considering how long it has been since Guevara pitched regularly. The bottom line is Guevara has thrown 4 2/3 innings out of the bullpen since joining the team and hasn’t allowed a run. That’s a nice change for the relief corps.

*Jeff Muessig worked a scoreless ninth for his first save.

*This was a night to feel better about the staff. It was the best the pitchers have looked in a non-Zack Parker outing this season.

“Now all of a sudden we’ve become a team that if we put some runs on the board we have a decent chance of holding on to them,” Hayes said.

*Nate Hoelscher and Rob Averette have been released.

*Sendy Rleal and Nick Renault arrived during the game and will be activated for Wednesday. Rleal will likely pitch Wednesday. Renault is tentatively scheduled to start Thursday.

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The hitters:

*Mike Woods extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a double in the third inning. He’s three short of the franchise record shared by Norm Hutchins and Jeremy Todd.

*Danny Gonzalez was dropped to ninth in the order. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored and sacrifice bunt.

*Jarred Ball returned after missing five games with a sore quad. He played CF in place of Jutt Hileman and went 0-for-3 with a walk.

*It really wasn’t a great night for the offense. It didn’t matter because the team pitched so well. The Barnstormers are 5-2 at the Clip and 1-9 on the road. This was a nice win because it moved Lancaster within 2½ games of Somerset. You don’t want to fall too far back, even though it’s early.