 |
Josh Hall 5-1, 4.52 ERA |
|
Clint Nageotte 0-3, 5.29 ERA |
|---|
Although you never want to get too wrapped up in one game during the 140-game grind, this one carries a little significance for the Barnstormers. They have a shot to enter the All-Star break at 4-2 and at least tied for first place. For a franchise that hasn’t been more than two games over .500 in a half since September of 2006, it’s a good opportunity.
Despite its considerable position player talent, Long Island’s pitching has been a constant work in progress. The Ducks rank behind the Barnstormers in ERA and are next-to-last in hits allowed. Two of their starters in this series — Vic Darensbourg and Clint Nageotte, are converted relievers. Lancaster has a slight edge in pitching. It was on display Saturday and should be again today.
The All-Star break will benefit the Barnstormers as much as any other club. They have a lineup filled with guys who haven’t had a rest over the last two months because of the team‘s rash of injuries. These four days off will also give the bullpen, which has some weary arms, a well-timed vacation.
This is where the scheduling quirk benefits the Barnstormers. Josh Hall, the team leader in wins and the rotation leader in ERA, should be able to start Lancaster‘s next two games. First he’ll try to help capture a series win against Long Island, then he should return to the mound against Southern Maryland, which is 4-1 and has handed York back-to-back defeats.
When the post All-Star break schedule resumes Friday, the Barnstormers are expected to get 1B Ian Bladergroen back, which will improve the defense and deepen the lineup. Bladergroen hasn’t played since May 22.
There are some rays of hope for today. It was important for the Barnstormers not to fall into a hole this week. They haven’t. They’ve excelled under difficult circumstances and they should be commended for it. Now they can actually focus on moving upward as they continue to search for upgrades to the roster.
Lineups …
3-2 |
3-2 |
|---|---|
| Ray Navarrete, 2B | Juan Francia, 2B |
| Nook Logan, CF | Mike Woods, LF |
| Jay Gibbons, LF | Danny Gonzalez, SS |
| Carl Everett, DH | Matt LeCroy, 1B |
| Richard Hidalgo, RF | Manny Mejia, DH |
| Edgardo Alfonzo, 1B | Luis Perez, RF |
| Damian Rolls, 3B | Jutt Hileman, CF |
| Dennis Donovan, SS | Lloyd Turner, 3B |
| Robert Sandora, C | Kevin Kotch, C |
Game delayed 2 hours, 8 minutes because of rain.
Scoring summary …
| Ducks | 002 | 011 | 000 | 4 | 12 | 1 |
| Barnstormers | 010 | 000 | 000 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
-
WP: Clint Nageotte (1-3)
LP: Josh Hall (5-2)
SV: Joe Valentine (10)
FINAL: Ducks 4, Barnstormers 1
Stormers 2nd: Turner scores on Gibbons’ fielding error.
Lancaster leads 1-0.
Ducks 3rd: Navarrete’s home run scores Sandora.
Long Island leads 2-1.
Ducks 5th: Navarrete’s single scores Donovan.
Long Island leads 3-1.
Ducks 6th: Alfonzo scores on Hileman’s fielding error.
Long Island leads 4-1.
Box score:
RECORD: 3-3 (33-43)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ray Navarrete
Long Island’s leadoff man would likely win an MVP vote if it were held today. He had three hits, including a two-run homer in the third inning that put the Ducks ahead to stay. Navarrete is batting .340 with 16 homers and 60 RBIs.
NOTES:
*Josh Hall suffered his second loss.
| 8 IP | 9 H | 4 R | 2 ER | 2 BB | 2 K |
It wasn’t a bad outing. The only earned runs Hall allowed came on Navarrete’s homer. Errors contributed to the other two runs. The Barnstormers fell to 9-2 with Hall on the mound.
“That’s a good lineup,” Hall said of Long Island. “There’s no denying it. Those guys have played in the big leagues and they were in the big leagues for a reason. They’re pretty good. It makes me try to step it up. This team can hit and I’m going to have to make my pitches against them. I’m going to give them all I got.”
*Four errors. Lloyd Turner committed two. Jutt Hileman had one. Kevin Kotch had one. Turner’s miscue in the fifth inning came on a would-be double play. Hileman bobbled a single to center that allowed a run to score.
*Five hits. Not much to highlight from the offense. The Barnstormers’ only run scored when CF Nook Logan lost a fly ball in the rain and LF Jay Gibbons failed to track it down in left center.
*This game showed why Danny Gonzalez is the best defensive shortstop in the league. Not by a little. By a mile. He made three plays that no other SS would have made and he should be starting the All-Star Game.
The bottom line:
It was a missed opportunity and a sloppy performance in pretty lousy conditions. The Barnstormers had a shot to head into the All-Star break two games over .500 and riding a little momentum. Instead, they’re 3-3 and looking up at Somerset. Again.
