Lancaster Mauls Bears, 9-5

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on May 27, 2009

Lancaster, PA – In literal terms, the skies over Clipper Magazine Stadium were rather gloomy on Tuesday morning.

In figurative terms, the skies became even brighter for the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Aaron Herr doubled twice and drove in three runs, and L.J. Biernbaum added three RBI of his own as the Barnstormers won their fifth straight game, 9-5, over the Newark Bears early Tuesday in Lancaster.

With the victory, the Barnstormers stand only 3 ½ games out of first place in the Freedom Division, pending the outcome of Tuesday evening’s Somerset at Bridgeport game.

Lancaster caught a break in the first inning when third baseman Mike Sandoval misplayed a potential double play ground ball from Biernbaum as Lloyd Turner scored, and Herr followed with a two-run double into the gap in right center, giving the Barnstormers a 3-0 lead.

Newark bounced back with a two-run single by Michael Hernandez in the second and Carl Everett’s two-run homer into the Home Run Harbor screen in right center for a 4-3 lead through three innings, but the Barnstormers were able to attack a tiring Ryan Bukvich in the fourth.

Bukvich smoked Turner in the back with one out in the inning and walked Danny Bravo. He struck out Michael Woods for the second out, but Biernbaum got to him for a long double into the gap in left center, scoring both runners. Herr doubled off the glove of third baseman Andres Perez for a 6-4 lead, and Jed Morris continued the assault with a double ripped down the right field line, greeting reliever Tim Bittner.

Given a second lead, starter Ben Fritz (1-1) became stingy before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Ross Peeples got Fritz out of a two-out jam in the sixth, but Peeples was touched for a run in the seventh. Everett doubled down the third base line to start the inning and one out later scored from second as Woods crashed into the fence in right center.

Jon Huber held the lead through the eighth inning, striking out Ramon Nivar and Jay Gibbons looking after walks to Alberto Castillo and Perez. Bryan Sabatella salted the game away with a two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth.

Lancaster will try to complete a perfect homestand Wednesday evening at 7:00 as Zack Parker (0-1) takes the hill against Bobby Brownlie (2-2).

NOTES: Twelve of Biernbaum’s 22 RBI have either tied the game or given the Barnstormers a lead…Herr has 12 RBI in the last 12 games…Lancaster’s relievers have allowed only four runs in 23 innings in the last week…The Barnstormers committed their first error in 50 2/3 innings when Michael Campbell was guilty of a bobble in left on the Hernandez single to left in the second inning…Danny Bravo tied a club record by walking four times in the game…He scored three runs.

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