Barnstormers Come Up Short

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on April 26, 2009

Had there been any kind of wind blowing toward right field on Saturday evening, the result might have been entirely different.

Lancaster had four fly balls caught within a few feet of the right field wall and lost, 5-3, to the Newark Bears in the third game of a four-game series.

Two did make it over the wall for the Barnstormers, both with the bases empty on what turned out to be a futile night for the offense.

Newark bolted out to a quick 2-0 lead off Trey Hodges (0-1). Tim Raines, Jr. opened the night with a triple past Jason Perry in left field, and Bobby Hill joined him on the bases with a walk. Carl Everett gave the Bears a lead with a ground single by the diving Bryan Sabatella at first. One out later, Hill scampered home on a fly ball to center by Charlton Jimerson.

Lancaster had a similar opportunity in the bottom of the inning. Lloyd Turner picked up a walk, and Michael Campbell singled him to third with no one out. Campbell swiped second, and the Barnstormers appeared to be in business, but the club mustered only one run, on a Perry grounder, against 22-year old right-hander Francisco Castillo (1-0).

Newark struck twice more against Hodges in the second. Enohel Polanco started the inning with a single and moved up on a walk to Gerard Haran. Polanco stole third and scored when Dustin Smith, son of Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, grounded into a force play. The fleetfooted Smith stole second and third, then scored when Jed Morris’ throw sailed into left field.

Lancaster again countered with a run, when Morris snuck his first homer of the season inside the right field foul pole.

Thanks to a four-inning stretch where reliever Eric Ackerman kept the Bears off the scoreboard, the Barnstormers stayed within reach despite two drives by Sabatella and one by Aaron Herr being hauled in on the track in right.

Then came the eighth. Campbell belted a one-out solo homer off reliever Danny Santiesteban to cut the Newark lead to one. With two outs, Newark skipper Tim Raines, Sr. went to Oneli Perez to face Jason Perry, an interesting move, considering that Perez allowed a tie-breaking homer to Perry on Thursday.

Perry barely mishit the first offering from Perez with a fly ball caught in front of the scoreboard by Ramon Nivar, who had taken over in right for Smith two innings earlier.

After Newark tacked on a run in the ninth, Keith Foulke came on to record his second save in two nights.

NOTES: Campbell and Amadeo Zazueta have each hit safely in all three games…The Barnstormers five homers in the season-opening series have all been solo shots…Lancaster is only 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the series…Edgar Martinez, a converted catcher, will start for Newark on Sunday afternoon against Jason Scobie…Game time is 1:30.

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