Bears Take ‘Stormers For First Win of Season

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on April 25, 2009

So, the 2009 Barnstormers are human after all.

After an unbeaten spring training camp and a stellar Opening Night performance, Lancaster’s pitching staff issued eight walks and hit two batters as the Newark came from behind and dumped the host Barnstormers, 9-3, Friday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Every Bears run-producing inning began with a leadoff walk.

Up, 2-0, heading into the sixth, Zack Parker (0-1) walked Michael Tucker. Carl Everett followed with a pop fly into left that found a small space between the retreating Amadeo Zazueta and the charging Bryan Sabatella. Tucker and Everett pulled off a double steal, and Ramon Nivar walked to load the bases.

Tom Cochran, acquired from the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League just before the season, came on in relief and hit Daryle Ward with a pitch to force home a run. He fanned Charlton Jimerson for the first out and almost escaped the inning with just one run on the board. Abraham Nunez scalded a grounder to the left of third baseman Aaron Herr, but Herr made a diving stop. He fed Lloyd Turner for a force play, but the relay throw to first was a shade late, and Everett scored the tying run on the fielder’s choice.

Nunez broke for second. Catcher Adam Shorsher saw a better opening to throw behind Nivar at third, but sailed the throw into left field as Nivar scored. Alberto Castillo then poked a double into the right field corner for a 4-2 lead.

Lancaster climbed within a run with its second unearned tally of the night in the bottom of the sixth and stayed close thanks to a great throw from Michael Campbell that nailed Tucker at third in the top of the seventh.

However, Jon Huber walked Ward to start the eighth. He almost got out of danger with a strikeout of Tim Raines, Jr. for the second out, but Bobby Hill was able to drop a fly ball into left center for a two-run single and a 6-3 lead. Nunez and Castillo followed a pair of walks in the ninth with a pair of RBI singles to produce the final margin.

A sacrifice fly by Zazueta and an RBI double by Campbell had given the Barnstormers their early lead against Bobby Brownlie (1-0). Former big league closer Keith Foulke came on in the eighth for a two-inning save.

NOTES: The Barnstormers and Bears go at it again on Saturday evening at 6:30…Trey Hodges will get the start for Lancaster against Shane Komine.

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