Barnstormers Blast Bridgeport, 10-2

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on May 24, 2009

Lancaster, PA – Move over Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray. Here comes David Housel.

Housel became the first Barnstormer in club history to homer from each side of the plate in the same game, leading Lancaster to a 10-2 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish Saturday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The win was Lancaster’s eighth in the last nine games at home and gives the Barnstormers the opportunity for a series sweep on Sunday afternoon.

Housel’s two home runs were part of a five-homer splurge for the Barnstormers. All were hit to the short porch in right field.

The first indication that a wind blowing toward right field could make the night interesting came without ultimate effect on the game. Lloyd Turner hit a foul pop up near the first base dugout, and first baseman Jay Caligiuri overran the play and dropped it. Corey Lee (1-3) struck out Turner, but fly balls to the right side would continue to be the theme of the first inning.

Housel lofted the next one. Right fielder Todd Davison danced back toward the big green wall, only to have the fly ball hit up on the front of the deck as Lancaster grabbed a 1-0 lead. Michael Woods chipped a fly ball to right which was dropped by Davison, and Aaron Herr followed with an RBI double on a fly ball that landed on the warning track. Danny Bravo singled to left, and Ryan Mulhern skied a three-run homer to right for a 5-0 lead.

Lee allowed three more runs in the fifth, again deserving better. Michael Woods reached on a bloop hit, again to right field. He broke for second on Lee’s first move. It appeared that the Bluefish had Woods, but Caligiuri’s throw to second base wound up in left field, allowing the runner to escape. Herr drilled an RBI single to left for a 6-1 lead, and Jed Morris hit a two-run homer later in the inning.

Housel and Woods hit back-to-back long balls in the sixth inning off reliever Andy Weimer, the first pair of consecutive homers for Lancaster this season.

Tom Cochran (3-2) went eight strong innings for the Barnstormers, allowing six hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out five. Twice, the 26-year old lefty allowed back-to-back singles to start an inning. Both times, the next batter grounded into a double play. Only Wilson Batista, with a double to left center in the second, drove in a run.

The Barnstormers and Bridgeport wrap up the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:30. Kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free kids meal (hot dog, chips, soft drink)…Families can play catch on the field before the game, and the kids will run the bases after the game ends…In a late switch, Jason Scobie (0-1) will make a spot start on Sunday afternoon. Esteban Yan (2-1) will counter for Bridgeport.

NOTES: Herr is 8-for-11 in the last three games…Woods has hit safely in five straight…Morris had his eighth multi-hit game…After committing 16 errors in nine games, the Barnstormers have played three straight without a defensive miscue.

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