Bumstead Leads Bears over Barnstormers, 8-3

By Mark Krulish on June 2, 2008

NEWARK, NJ – If the Newark Bears keep getting performances like this from their starters, they will go a long way this year. Mike Bumstead followed up Patrick Stanley’s record-breaking night with seven dominating innings of his own, leading the charge past Lancaster by the score of 8-3.

Bumstead shut out the Barnstormers while yielding just two hits and two walks, ringing up nine strikeouts as well. He improved to 4-4 on the season, though he has been excellent in his last few outings, he’s been victimized by some bad luck, but none of that on this day.

“I felt pretty good today, I just went out there trying to throw strikes,” said Bumstead. “I made a couple of bad plays in the field myself, but we played good defense out there afterwards and I was able to battle back and I was fortunate enough to come away with a good performance.”

Bumstead carried a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings, having it broken up by Michael Woods, who it a double to left-center.

“I’d like to say I didn’t notice, but, when you pitch, you know what you’re doing,” said Bumstead. “I’d have loved to get the no-hitter, but they’re rare, I’d rather just go out there and get a strong performance and come away with a win.”

Once again, the Newark Bears hitters provided some offensive fireworks of their own, paving the way for their starting pitcher.

Val Majewski continued his torrid streak by going 4-for-5, including a solo home run in the first inning to kick-start the offense.

Randall Simon’s resurgence continued with RBI-singles in the third and fifth inning. Simon went 3-for-4 and has raised his batting average nearly fifty points since returning from a shoulder injury.

Designated Hitter Gerard Haran blew the game wide-open in the bottom of the fifth with an impressive three-run homer that cleared the center field wall with plenty of room to spare. The young utility player has been a pleasant surprise playing in spot-situations for the Bears.

Cory Aldridge also picked up two more RBIs to extend his Atlantic League-leading total to 34 and raised his batting average to .397.

However, for the second straight day, this poweful offense to a back seat to another fantastic pitching peformance.

“It’s been real big for us,” said manager Wayne Krenchicki. “To follow up Stanley like that and he had nine punchouts himself, it was huge, especially after the extra innings two nights ago and being a little short in the pen right now.”

Next up for the Newark Bears are the Bridgeport Bluefish, who come to Riverfront Stadium for a three-game set starting Monday. Game one will pit Bridgeport’s Rafael Bergstom against Newark’s David Pellegrine.

Notes: In the three game series with Lancaster, a Bears pitcher recorded a strike out in each of the final 20 innings, dating back to the eighth inning of game one on Friday night. Bumstead is the only pitcher in the Atlantic League to receive a decision in all of his starts (minimum four starts).

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