Barnstormers Walk Off With Series

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on May 25, 2009

Lancaster, PA – Ryan Mulhern does not have as many hits as expected this season, but he certainly has some memorable ones.

The Barnstormers first baseman singled to center with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon as Lancaster completed a sweep of a three-game series with a 4-3 win over Bridgeport at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Mulhern’s second walkoff hit of the season gave Lancaster its ninth win in the last 10 games on Prince St.

Former Barnstormers lefty Shane Youman (0-1) struggled in his return to Lancaster. He walked L.J. Biernbaum leading off the bottom of the ninth, then allowed a ringing single to center by Aaron Herr. Jed Morris walked while attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt, loading the bags.

Bridgeport manager Tommy John brought on right-hander Casey Hoorelbeke to work to Mulhern, who drilled the one strike pitch beyond shortstop Ed Rogers for the game winner.

The teams exchanged home runs in the first. Jay Caligiuri took Jason Scobie out of the park for his second homer of the season, staking Bridgeport to an early 1-0 advantage. Biernbaum made sure that the lead did not last long, slugging his seventh of the year off Esteban Yan with Danny Bravo aboard in the bottom of the inning.

Scobie and Yan took over the game. Scobie, making a spot start, lasted through five innings allowing only three hits and a run while walking two and striking out two. Yan allowed another run on singles by Michael Woods, Biernbaum and Mulhern in the fourth. After Amadeo Zazueta reached on an infield single to start the fifth, the 33-year old right-hander with nearly 500 Major League appearances under his belt, retired the final 12 batters he faced in the game.

Bridgeport tied the game in the seventh. Luis Rodriguez lined a homer barely fair down the right field line, cutting the Lancaster edge to 3-2. Adam Greenberg singled with one out and advanced to second on a balk charged to Ross Peeples. One out later, Luis Lopez singled to left off Joe D’Alessandro, tying the score.

Ryan Cullen (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth to earn the win.

The Barnstormers remain home to open a three-game series against the Newark Bears on Memorial Day afternoon. It’s an All-American afternoon, and economical to boot. Hot dogs are just $1.00 all afternoon. Kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free kids meal. Game time is 1:30.

NOTES: Biernbaum was 2-for-3 with a walk in his first game back in action after being sidelined for two days with a neck injury…At least temporarily, Biernbaum tied Southern Maryland’s Jeremy Owens for the league home run lead…Woods hit safely for the sixth straight game…Herr has hit in five in a row and nine of ten (16-for-37, .432)…Barnstormers starters posted a composite 1.86 ERA in the series…Eric Ackerman (2-1) will start on Monday against Edgar Martinez (1-1).

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