 |
Ricardo Gomez 1-1, 2.77 ERA |
 |
Dave Gassner 1-1, 1.35 ERA |
|---|
Despite all the problems the Barnstormers have faced with their pitching staff, the overall numbers aren’t bad. The team ranks fourth in ERA at 4.39 and has allowed the fewest hits in the league. Even better, there are signs this group has turned a corner with its recent additions.
The Barnstormers have allowed 15 runs in their last five games and the much-maligned bullpen has a 3.95 ERA during that stretch — despite that meltdown against Somerset Thursday. Sure, it has helped that Lancaster is facing the banjo-hitting Revolution, but there are undeniable signs of progress.
Ricardo Gomez looks to keep it going. Since being inserted into the rotation, Gomez has excelled:
| 9 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 3 BB | 9 K |
Those numbers only encompass two starts, so the small sample size warnings apply. Gomez is sporting a .185 batting average against, which follows his .198 BAA in the South Coast League last season. Clearly, this guy is difficult to hit. If he throws strikes, he’ll succeed in this league. Gomez will try to give the Barnstormers their first three-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, in York, the situation is a little more dire. Even though these teams own nearly identical records, the Revs have been getting knocked around with greater frequency. They’ve lost four games by seven runs or more. Adam Gladstone is contemplating changes. If you’re reading this Felix Jose or Lance Odom, your phone might be ringing soon. Dave Gassner has been great for York since his arrival on May 3. The Barnstormers will have their hands full today, assuming the sky cooperates.
Lineups …
(8-13) |
(7-14) |
|---|---|
| Juan Francia, 2B | Keoni De Renne, 2B |
| Danny Gonzalez, SS | Kenny Perez, SS |
| Brian Stavisky, LF | Matt Padgett, 3B |
| Manny Mejia, DH | Tyler Von Schell, 1B |
| Ian Bladergroen, 1B | Jason Aspito, RF |
| Vasili Spanos, 3B | Matt Dryer, DH |
| Lance Burkhart, C | Matt Esquivel, CF |
| Jarred Ball, CF | Luis Taveras, C |
| Lloyd Turner, RF | Kaz Tanaka, LF |
Scoring summary …
| Barnstormers | 020 | 000 | 101 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| Revolution | 030 | 000 | 002 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
-
WP: Jason Olson (1-1)
LP: Sendy Rleal (0-2)
FINAL: Revolution 5, Barnstormers 4
Stormers 2nd: Bladergroen hits solo home run. Spanos hits solo home run.
Lancaster leads 2-0.
Revs 2nd: Taveras’ home run scores Dryer and Esquivel.
York leads 3-2.
Stormers 7th: Stavisky’s sacrifice fly scores Francia.
Game tied at 3.
Stormers 9th: Bladergroen’s single scores Gonzalez.
Lancaster leads 4-3.
Revs 9th: Perez’s double scores Esquivel and Travis Ezi.
York wins 5-4.
Box score:
RECORD: 8-14
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kenny Perez (game-winning two-run double with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth).
Perez nearly struck out in his final at-bat. He went half-way on a breaking ball in the dirt and the umpire, who wasn’t in position to see it, ruled no swing. Perez nearly popped out, but the foul pop landed a few rows into the seats. In the end, the shortstop – who’s batting around .180 – came through in the clutch. His line drive hit the wall in right field. It was about five feet from being a walk-off grand slam.
Rleality check:
*The story starts with the closer who isn’t closing.
Sendy Rleal blew his second consecutive save chance. He allowed a triple and issued two walks to load the bases with two outs before Perez delivered. Rleal isn’t the overpowering fireman everyone was expecting. He has faced 16 batters in three games. Nine have reached safely. Only two have struck out. Is Rleal’s stuff lacking?
“I don’t know what I’m looking at, to tell you the truth,” manager Von Hayes said. “I know his fastball doesn’t appear to be as hard as it should be. He’s got good breaking stuff and he’s got a pretty good split-finger there. He just needs to get his confidence with those pitches.”
After waiting three weeks for Rleal to solve their closer dilemma, the Barnstormers must consider the possibility that he’s not the answer.
“Obviously we can’t have a closer that walks people,” said Hayes, referring to Rleal’s four walks in 2 1/3 innings. “What choice do we have at this point? In the future, we may have to look to someone else.”
In his defense, Rleal could have worked a 1-2-3 ninth. Matt Esquivel’s triple was a routine fly ball that was lost in the sun by CF Jarred Ball. So it goes this season.
Other pitchers:
*Ricardo Gomez turned in another quality start.
| 6 IP | 4 H | 3 R | 3 ER | 2 BB | 4 K |
The performance was actually better than those numbers suggest. Only two of the four hits left the infield. One of them was costly: Luis Taveras’ three-run homer. Gomez’s ERA is 3.32 in 19 innings. The Barnstormers gambled on some unknowns over the winter. This one paid off.
*Jeff Muessig pitched a scoreless seventh and bounced back after allowing a game-tying homer against Somerset Thursday.
*Ryan Cullen worked a noisy eighth. He allowed two deep fly balls that turned into outs.
The hitters:
* Ian Bladergroen continued his early-season tear. He went 4-for-5 with a home run and a double. The first baseman has six homers and 23 RBIs in 22 games. Two of those homers, including the one today, have come off lefties. Blade went 7-for-14 with seven RBIs in this series and has eight multi-hit games this season. Things are going OK for the former Road Warrior.
“It was a good series here,” Bladergroen said. “I’m seeing the ball really well this year. My swing feels really good and I’m healthy now. That’s the bottom line. The past couple of years I’ve been battling some injuries. I’m just trying to keep it simple. Every day I have a routine in the cage with Boots and I’m putting good swings on the ball right now.”
*Juan Francia was the leadoff man for the first time. He went 2-for-5 with a double and run scored. He came within a foot of his first Atlantic League homer. The line drive hit the top of the Green Monster.
*Vasili Spanos left the game after being hit by a pitch while trying to sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning. It was ruled a strike when the umps determined that Spanos offered at the pitch. Mike Woods replaced Spanos with a 1-2 count and struck out looking.
*Manny Mejia went 0-for-5 and saw his 11-game hitting streak snapped.
*Lloyd Turner made his first start in the outfield.
The big picture:
*The Barnstormers are 0-6 in day games and failed to complete a three-game sweep for the third time. This one hurt. It took away the momentum from the previous two wins and brought back the ghosts of bullpen woes past. Does this kind of loss linger with a team?
“It does to a point,” Bladergroen said. “But in the same sense, it feels like every game we’ve lost we could have won. So that’s looking at the glass half-full. Today was a heartbreaker. We battled from the beginning. We just had some unfortunate luck late. It’s going to happen.”
Good luck today guys!!!
I will be listening and cheering!!!
Looks like a lot of rain. Bring rain gear. I am looking forward to another great game.
“If you’re reading this Felix Jose or Lance Odom, your phone might be ringing soon.” Great line Jason. Still raining in York.
New game guys.
And Rleal manages to grab defeat from the jaws of victory!
Not again…
We need Charlie, Scott, or Derrek. Please.
Ever see the scene in Full Metal Jacket where a couple guys hold down the soon-to-be-dead guy (who’s now a detective on Law & Order) while everyone else in the platoon beat him with socks that have soap in them?
I’d think Stormer opponents are by now just trying to get within 2-3 runs towards the end of the game. If they can do that they’ve got a great chance of the ‘W’.
that was so dipsappointing!
Yes, it was disappointing. Will it happen again this year? YES!! It’s 1 GAME!!! We aren’t going to win every Game the rest of the Season. 2 out of 3 I’ll take right now.
Is it frustrating to lose so many games in last 2 Innings?? Darn right but if we take 2 of 3 in every series rest of the way we’ll be in the Playoffs.
Ok, now the next 92 irrelevant Posts can rip Rleal…tell us how Ross should be brought back and Rleal should be cut….sigh….So predictable it’s getting old.
I think maybe I’ll start counting how many “Bring Back Ross” posts we get.
Booby, you sound more than disappointed.
Comment #7 was more out fustration. I know it was one game and we will win more. We did when the series. It is just tought when you loose 2 games in the 9th within a week. Good luck guys in Somerset.
Mark wins the statement of the year award for his post on # 5.
Sendy started strong.. I really thought the game ws in the bag.
In my own non professional opinion I think if Brian was in right and Jutt in Center the game would have been over before the bases got loaded .
It was only one game. But with all of the other losses attributed to the bullpen not being able to hold a lead, the frustration toward the bullpen adds up. Especially tough after the last two games, when it looked like things have changed. Now they seem like they havent changed that much.
“In my own non professional opinion I think if Brian was in right and Jutt in Center the game would have been over before the bases got loaded .”
Nice observation.
Defense does win games. It is not all just offense.
Is that sort of a compliment???
Guess I should change my aviator now .. boo hoo
Yes, it was a compliment.
I added the recap. The Barnstormers may be looking for a new opiton at closer.
Radical,
I meant it really was a nice observation. I had not been able to listen to the game. I only got to listen to the recap. I didnt realize Jutt was not playing. That might have made a difference,
Ball botched another play in the OF??? Now THAT is getting to be a problem. He’s now “Misplayed” at least 5 that I can remember. The BP has been a problem but we can’t keep giving Teams more than 3 outs an Inning.
Ball hasn’t hit much…OBP isn’t good so his speed hasn’t been a factor and he is playing a shakey OF. If the Pitchers make the Pitches but the Fielders don’t do their job and make the plays…who is at fault??? Hmmmmmm
I know Sendy will either find his stuff or someone else will step up to the closer plate. Last year Derrek was to be the setup man and James was the closer. After some tough outings for James, the roles were reversed. Things will come together.
Yeah, I don’t know if I’d be ready to cut Rleal loose yet, just in case he gets it together and starts pitching like he did today against that first batter. For five minutes, he was pretty good. But I might be thinking of having him set up for Alexander after his eventual good showing last night.
That triple was unfortunate but it didn’t lose the game. Ball and the lack of Hileman had a lot less to do with today’s loss than did Rleal’s walks. Again.
Could be worse. Could be the Yankees.
Is anyone surprised by how much Von actually says in his postgame comments? A lot of managers talk alot but don’t say anything… but Von’s comments are a little tough. The players read the paper and read this site. Von needs to remember that they aren’t tested pros. They are rejected pros who often lack confidence.
Now theres a statement.. the Yanks really need some pitchin help. Kennedy and Igawa do GREAT in triple A then BAM… get hit in MLB.
Wonder how Steinbrenner will justify those ridiculously high ticket prices next year.
Wonder what Weatherby is up to ????
Eh, I’m a lot less concerned about what Hayes says this year than I was about what Todd was saying last year. I’d also assume that he’s addressing fans who aren’t in the mood for some meaningless feel-good rubbish.
I’ve been watching the Yanks thrash against the Mets tonight and it’s kind of painful. The best Yankees play of the game, so far, was Damon conning the 3rd base ump that a 3 run home run by Delgado was actually a foul.
Hey Patterson, pick up the phone. It’s the Yankees. I think they need you.
Is there anyplace to see box scores on the same day as the game?
That’s something that would be nice for those of us that can’t listen or be there….hint hint hint
Tomorrow is a new day guys…keep walking tall!
League website has the box scores but they usually don’t show up until the day after that game…hope that helps basemom!
It’s not like MiLB where you can either watch the box live or pay $30.00 to actually watch the game on your computer.
It would be a nice addition though
I’m just basing this on what I see in one photo (see above) but does anyone else think Cassa’s hands look rather dainty?
Not that there’s anything wrong w/ that…just making an observation.
I can post a box score the night of the game by using a screen capture. The problem is the out-of-town teams don’t always send me one. On the nights they email the boxes in a timely manner, I’ll put them on here above the post-game recap. See above for a sample.
dj, you leave Cassa alone !
He keeps his fans well supplied with Double Bubble.
Is Sendy’s ERA really a 19.29 ????
hey rad, like I said before, I’m not sayin’ there’s anything wrong w/ dainty hands.
…I’m just sayin’
That’s right.. it’s not the size of the hand.. it’s how well the whole arm can throw a ball.
Pat is doin good
You know what they say about a man with small hands ……..
He wears small gloves in the winter
yes, I’ve heard the same thing, DaB