Game 20: Stormers 12-2

	Mike Nannini 0-2, 5.79 ERA		Aaron Myette 1-2, 6.00 ERA

Now that Barnstormin’ has boldly predicted the season won’t fall into the infinite abyss – a commentary that could live in infamy depending on how the rest of the season goes – we turn our attention to the Route 30 rivalry (weather permitting). The Barnstormers venture into the land of Breadsticks for a three-game series.

If you want take your attention away from the local team’s struggles, you can look at York’s journey so far and engage in a little schadenfreude. Things haven’t been going so well over there, either. York is 7-12, which is the second-worst record in the league, and has lost nine of its 10 road games.

Why aren’t the Revs winning? They can’t hit. They’ve scored just 72 runs in 19 games and are batting around .220 as a team. That’s poor in any league, but is especially bad in a league that belongs to the offenses. York has been outscored by 13 runs, so it’s actually faring worse than the Barnstormers. Wonder if they have any panic buttons over there.

The Barnstormers will take their fourth look at Mike Nannini, who hasn’t pitched well since his first outing against Long Island. He has allowed eight runs in 8 2/3 innings his last two times out. York counters with Aaron Myette, a former big leaguer who is trying to make a comeback after not pitching in 2006 or 2007. There’s a good story about Myette here.

---

An interesting quote from Von Hayes after Thursday’s loss:

At least we have the comfort of knowing, and I do say knowing, that our toughest days are behind us,” he said. “We will get better.”

This is something I should have noted in the panic button entry:

Many managers in the Atlantic League are on auto pilot. They don’t work especially hard beyond the typical daily routine. That’s not Hayes. He and the Barnstormers have spent more time focusing on fielding drills and fundamentals this season than the team has in its first three seasons combined. Hayes wants to win badly and he’s willing to put in the work to turn the team’s fortunes around. That’s another reason to expect things to improve.

---

Links:

*Revolution Rumblings previews the Lancaster-York series.

*Former Somerset and Camden P Mark DiFelice, who started three games at the Clip in 2005 and 2006, is in the big leagues with the Brewers. This is his first promotion to the majors in his 11th professional season.

*Glenn Murray’s comeback is over after two games. He’s back to being a hitting coach.

---

Lineups …

(6-13)	(7-12)
Mike Woods, RF	Keoni De Renne, 2B
Danny Gonzalez, SS	Kenny Perez, SS
Brian Stavisky, LF	Matt Padgett, 3B
Manny Mejia, C	Tyler Von Schell, 1B
Ian Bladergroen, 1B	Matt Dryer, DH
Vasili Spanos, 3B	Matt Esquivel, LF
Lance Burkhart, DH	Jason Aspito, RF
Jutt Hileman, CF	Sandy Aracena, C
Juan Francia, 2B	Travis Ezi, CF

Scoring summary …

Barnstormers	006	132	000	12	11	1
Revolution	010	010	000	2	4	1

FINAL: Barnstormers 12, Revolution 2

Revolution 2nd: Aspito’s fielder’s choice scores Dryer.
York leads 1-0.

Stormers 3rd: Gonzalez’s single scores Burkhart and Hileman. Bladergroen’s grand slam scores Woods, Gonzalez and Mejia.
Lancaster leads 6-1.

Stormers 4th: Hileman hits solo home run.
Lancaster leads 7-1.

Stormers 5th: Gonzalez hits solo home run. Bladergroen’s groundout scores Stavisky. Spanos’ groundout scores Mejia.
Lancaster leads 10-1.

Revs 5th: De Renne’s single scores Aspito.
Lancaster leads 10-2.

Stormers 6th: Gonzalez’s single scores Hileman. Stavisky’s sacrifice fly scores Woods.
Lancaster leads 12-2.

---

RECORD: 7-13

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Danny Gonzalez (4-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs).

The shortstop raised his batting average 46 points and nearly matched his RBI total for the season. If Gonzalez gets going, the top of this order is really dangerous. York picked the wrong K man tonight. Revs fans will have to purchase their own carbohydrates.

---

The pitchers:

*Mike Nannini earned his first Atlantic League win …

7 IP

4 H

2 R

2 ER

5 BB

2 K

This was Nannini’s best outing of the season. The righthander overcame some control issues by getting three double play grounders. His ERA looks a little better at 4.71. That’s four good starts in a row for Lancaster’s rotation.

*Pat Cassa pitched a scoreless inning and recorded two strikeouts.

*Mark Alexander worked the ninth. Although he walked his first batter on four pitches, he recovered from his wildness to pitch a scoreless frame.

*York’s Aaron Myette posted a line you might see in high school ball …

4 IP

3 H

7 R

7 ER

5 BB

7 K

In alumni news …

*Zack Parker made his debut for the Frisco Roughriders against the San Antonio Missions and received a no decision. He threw 91 pitches, 54 strikes …

5 IP

6 H

4 R

4 ER

3 BB

4 K

The hitters:

*Powerball …

Ian Bladergroen’s grand slam capped a six-run third inning. The first baseman is among the league leaders with five homers and 21 RBIs. In fact, he could be alone at the top depending on what happened elsewhere Friday. He also snapped out of his road funk with a big game away from the Clip.

Gonzalez’s solo shot in the fifth ended a lengthy power drought. He hadn’t homered since Aug. 22, 2007 – a span of 159 at-bats.

Jutt Hileman homered for the second consecutive game. He went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

*Manny Mejia, making his first appearance in the cleanup spot, went 1-for-4 with two runs scored as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

*Amazingly, Mike Woods’ 17-game hitting streak ended on a night the Barnstormers scored 12 runs. He went 0-for-3 with two walks and two runs. Somewhere Norm Hutchins is popping champagne.

*Matt LeCroy was activated from the DL as expected. He did not play.

*The Barnstormers broke their pattern of going 6-14 to start halves. They won for the second time in 11 road games. They have now scored 102 runs and allowed 97. This isn’t a bad team. Stay away from the red button.