Commerce Bank Ballpark
 |
Jason Scobie 1-0, 2.45 ERA |
| Brian Adams 7-5, 5.50 ERA |
|---|
As you might expect in the Atlantic League, winning streaks are usually built on offense. The Barnstormers’ five-gamer is the product of a torrid hitting stretch. The team is batting .351 and has scored 40 runs on 61 hits during its sweep of Newark and win over Somerset Tuesday night.
The most promising aspect of this hot stretch is almost everyone is involved. The only players not hitting over .300 over the last five games are Jutt Hileman and Lloyd Turner — and Turner has a team-best eight RBIs.
This success seems to revolve around the man in the cleanup spot: Matt LeCroy, who is finishing off a tremendous month. The DH is batting .439 over his last 23 games and is in the midst of a team-record 20-game hitting streak. LeCroy is hitting .406 with runners in scoring position. When one player is constantly putting runs on the board — even without big power — it makes things easier on everyone else.
LeCroy’s excellence, Ivanon Coffie’s emergence and Ian Bladergroen’s return have made the lineup much more formidable. The Barnstormers have five hitters sporting an on-base percentage above .385. They used to have two. Having runners on base equates to RBI chances, which equates to runs.
The Barnstormers have done their damage against some pretty good pitching. They’ve beaten Pat Stanley, the possible pitcher of the year, Benito Baez, an All-Star, and Josh Brey, who was undefeated in 10 starts entering Tuesday night. Everything is clicking at the plate for the home team right now. That’s why it resides in first place.
Atlantic League to Richmond?
An article was forwarded to me about the possibility of the Atlantic League having a team replace the Triple-A Richmond Braves, who are departing the city following this season. The story is here.
Lineups …
10-7 |
7-9 |
|---|---|
| Mike Woods, LF | Sean Smith, CF |
| Lloyd Turner, 2B | Elliott Ayala, RF |
| Ian Bladergroen, 1B | Brandon Larson, DH |
| Matt LeCroy, DH | Josh Pressley, 1B |
| Danny Gonzalez, SS | Matt Hagen, LF |
| Manny Mejia, C | Jason Belcher, C |
| Ivanon Coffie, 3B | Teuris Olivares, SS |
| Jordan Herr, RF | Gera Alvarez, 3B |
| Jutt Hileman, CF | David Housel, 2B |
Scoring summary …
| Barnstormers | 000 | 000 | 010 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Patriots | 001 | 003 | 10x | 5 | 9 | 0 |
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WP: Brian Adams (8-5)
LP: Jason Scobie (1-1)
SV: Brian Reith (6)
FINAL: Patriots 5, Barnstormers 1
Patriots 3rd: Hagen’s double scores Pressley.
Somerset leads 1-0.
Patriots 6th: Belcher hits solo home run. Ayala’s single scores Alvarez. Housel scores on Hileman’s fielding error.
Somerset leads 4-0.
Patriots 7th: Belcher’s single scores Pressley.
Somerset leads 5-0.
Stormers 8th: Hileman hits solo home run.
Somerset leads 5-1.
Pitchers:
Barnstormers: Jason Scobie, Sendy Rleal (6), Pat Cassa (8).
Patriots: Brian Adams, Jason Richardson (8), Brian Reith (8).
RECORD: 10-8 (40-48 )
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brian Adams
| 7.2 IP | 5 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 3 BB | 9 K |
Last season’s Atlantic League pitcher of the year regained that form this afternoon. Adams has struggled this season with a 5.50 ERA. This was the lefty’s best outing so far. He allowed just five baserunners in the first seven innings.
NOTES:
*Jason Scobie didn’t have his command:
| 5 IP | 6 H | 4 R | 3 ER | 7 BB | 2 K |
Scobie danced through raindrops until he reached the sixth. He couldn’t find the strike zone consistently. The seven walks were out of character for the rigthhander, who averages 2.8 walks per nine innings for his career. He still managed to keep the Barnstormers close, but the offense never came to life.
*Matt LeCroy’s hitting streak ended at 20 games. He struck out, flied out to center, grounded out to shortstop and walked.
*Jutt Hileman was the lone bright spot for the offense. He went 2-for-4 with his ninth home run. It was his second homer since June 5 – a span of 180 at-bats. Maybe this will send him on one of his hot streaks.
*The Barnstormers had a chance in the eighth. After Hileman’s home run made it 5-1, the team loaded the bases with two outs. Manny Mejia grounded out against Somerset closer Brian Reith to end the threat.
BOTTOM LINE:
The Barnstormers need to petition the league to cancel camp days for upcoming seasons. The bats almost never arrive on time. They had one run on four hits against Camden last week. They managed one run on five hits in this one. The winning streak is over at five. York has a chance to move into a first-place tie tonight.
Thought your tag of “Ichiro” for LeCroy in yesterdays post was pretty appropriate. Couple of games ago, I was thinking Carew. But Ichiro puts it in the present tense. So has he changed his swing? stance? to compensate for the shoulder. Or is he just concentrating on making contact, thinking the HRs will come, given the dimensions of some of these ball parks. Whatever it is, it sure is working. Keep it going Matt/
Jason,
Do you know who is predicted to pitch this weekend?
I’m not sure if they are on a four or five day starting rotation. Thanks.
Play Ball!
Right now it would be …
Friday: Shane Youman
Saturday: Yamel Guevara
Sunday: Eric Ackerman
Subject to change if the team makes any roster moves.
I’m not sure why LeCroy isn’t hitting for power. The shoulder is the obvious guess, but every once in a while he cranks one that makes you realize he can still hit it a mile. Whatever the case, hitting .430 for a month is a pretty amazing feat.
Here’s a fact for you, maize: Stan Musial went 398-for-1,000 during one stretch in his career. That means he nearly hit .400 for what amounts to nearly two full seasons.
Thanks Jason!
Way to go Stormers!!! Keep storming the yard and bring it home.
Eric great pitching last night and way to go team.
Was at the games last Friday and Saturday and loved all the offense. Especially the Jordan two run single in the ninth.
Lots of family down in Richmond, I would love to go take in a Stormer game while visiting.
Jason,
I asked on the last page, right before this was posted. Besides Lecroy, who else is in a hitting streak? I think Michael and Lloyd are on a streak but I am not sure.
Woods is at nine games. Besides LeCroy, that’s the only streak greater than six.
Ahh yes, the all knowing Jason.. oops, I should have called that!
Doesn’t the online feed work from Somerset?
I am listening on my old office radio . The volume is up all the way, even then I can hardly hear Dave
sportsjuice feed is workin’ fine for me, Rad.
I still don’t get why they have a day game in the middle of a series…in the middle of the week.
Sportsjuice ok for me also. Let’s get some runs!
Hopefully Rleal will be able to shut them down.
Jason – That’s an amazing fact about Musial. By the way, did you see Manny R dog it in the 8th inning fo the Red Sox last night? He had a gronder in the hole that if he ran hard he may have beaten out to break up the no hitter. But Manny R just jogged down the line. They actually booed him in Fenway which I hear is a first.
Come on Sparky, we all saw he was out by a mile!
I want to know what those colorful words were.
Oh CRAP, 4 – zippo. come on Stormers, we’re here for you.. get your butts in gear!!..
That is a tremendous stretch of hitting by Musial. And LeCroy is hitting .430 for the month. Awesome. JoeD only hit .409 during his streak. Yeh. LOL only .409.
Yippeee Jutt !!!!!
Yes, no shut out for Bryan Adams !!!!
Sorry, guess I shoiuld be so giddy.. yeah, right
Anyone see Desmond. Must be headed to Ann Arbor. Practice starts Monday. Its that time of year again.
Go Big Red.
Way to go, Jutt! Come on guys, let’s get some more runs!
Nice job Gumby..
Bad brake today guys but you can not win them all. You have come around this second half and we can do this. GO back rest have a few beers and tommorow night will be a win. Look forward you this next long home stand.
Ultimate
Your sister came over and said hi. We were sitting in the same section just a few rows apart. Rang my cowbell for jutt. It was hot and the guys looked beat.
Nice try good luck on Thur. game.
Did Somerset get to go home early last nite so that they weren’t tired today?? Crappy excuse for Professional Athletes.
I’ve worked many days in my life until 9-10 pm and had to go to work the next day at 6am. Sorry, no sympathy from me on that one.
It was a klunker, plain and simple. ok, I’ll give ya that one.
Let’s win us another Series tommorrow.
The Tigers traded Ivan Rodriquez to the Yankees today for Kyle Farnsworth. Since Farnsworth is a RH reliever, maybe there’s a spot in the Bronx for Patterson.
Good luck tomorrow guys!!!
Pattie gets off the DL tomorrow (Thursday). We’re planning to drop by Alliance Bank Park to see how he’s doing.
The Stormers just can’t do day games so next year there will be NO day games ….PERIOD !!!
Hi Texas Road House.. 3.77.. cooking with fire now
who or what is Texas road House?
My lips are sealed.. He knows who he is
I did not mean that it was ok for them to play bad. The other team played better ball. They just really looked tired and worn out. I hope it was due to the heat. The other team did not look so worn out.
I hope today goes better for them.
Good luck guys..
Number 32, I know who it is Rad.
I hear Derrick De Priest is out for the season..anyone know what happened and why?
Derrrick broke his foot, and is done for the season. Not sure what happened but I heard he kicked a door.
Pure Genious
I heard it was from Brownie withdrawal
Booby – Agree 100% with#27. Next game they all wear sunglasses and change the time in the clubhouse and watches. If the game is at home, make a big promotion out of it to break the spell.
243shooter – I learned this from reading Sherlock Holmes books. Follow clue #30 (era = 3.77). After you check out the team stats and nobody has a 3.77 era then check out the alumni and you will find Zack Parker with a 3.77 era.
LOL! Wow, thanks, De Priest! Helping pave the way for Lancaster to claw it’s way out of an 18 month slump.
Didn’t De Priest used to be a punter in college. Maybe he was doing a little practicing.
Great job Texas Roadhouse…..keep it goin
Stormin.. 32???? #15