Barnstormin’

	Nick Renault 3-5, 6.16 ERA		Kevin Mannix 0-6, 8.35 ERA

The Barnstormers just completed a six-game homestand with the four-day All-Star break sandwiched in the middle. They went 2-4. For a team building its hopes for contending in the second half on winning at home, this wasn’t a good sign.

One reason the results haven’t changed is the roster hasn’t changed much. The offense hasn’t received the premium upgrade it desperately needs. So the peaks and valleys continue. The Barnstormers scored 19 runs in their two wins during this homestand. They scored 10 runs in their four losses – which included two extra-inning affairs.

Over their last 18 games, the Barnstormers have scored four runs or fewer 11 times. They have just three homers since the second half started. They are dead last in runs, batting average and on-base percentage and are starting to lag significantly behind the seventh-place teams in those categories.

Some positive steps have been taken. OF Luis Perez looks like a modest upgrade with an .845 OPS through nine games and has the potential to perform better. 1B Ian Bladergroen was activated from the disabled list. Although it’s going to take him a while to shake off the rust, he should have an impact in the long term.

It’s obviously not enough.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, having a subpar offense while playing at Clipper Magazine Stadium is a losing formula. It has been for two years. The Barnstormers are 23 games under .500 since 2006, which was the last time they had an elite lineup for an extended period of time.

Manager Von Hayes bristles at the suggestion he should sacrifice defense for offense. He wants his best gloves at their best positions. He wants to try to scratch out low-scoring wins by making all the plays in the field.

While that’s understandable in some respects, especially since the options on the bench are not overwhelming, it’s also a tough way to consistently succeed in the Atlantic League. The Barnstormers haven’t won back-to-back games since July 4 — despite getting some really good pitching lately. They have one winning streak greater than two games all season.

As the frustration with the lack of offense mounts, it’s important to recognize: If you keep doing things the same way with the same players in the same spots, you’re going to get the same results.

Changes to Camden:

The Riversharks have made their fair share of changes since the last time the Barnstormers saw them. They signed P Jose Lima, who hasn’t fared well and won’t appear in this series. They signed OF Shaun Boyd and are playing him at 2B. They signed C Alberto Castillo , who hasn’t hit much.

Camden has been torn apart by defections to affiliated ball and retirements. Although head of baseball operations David Keller has been aggressive when it comes to player procurement, he hasn’t been able to adequately replace the key players lost. The Riversharks are 5-11 this month and are another example of how the difficult market is pinching everyone — including the Barnstormers.

The situation is so dire that Camden is forced to have Kevin Mannix in the rotation. The rigthhander has been clobbered in his nine appearances. The Barnstormers have a chance for one of their peaks tonight.

Lineups …

4-5	2-7
Lloyd Turner, 2B	Nic Jackson, CF
Mike Woods, LF	Shaun Boyd, CF
Danny Gonzalez, SS	L.J. Biernbaum, RF
Matt LeCroy, DH	Ron Davenport, 1B
Ian Bladergroen, 1B	Tyler Von Schell, DH
Luis Perez, RF	Sheldon Fulse, LF
Ivanon Coffie, 3B	Alberto Castillo, C
Jutt Hileman, CF	Rob Gandolfo, 3B
Kevin Kotch, C	Gabe Suarez, SS

Scoring summary …

WP: Kevin Mannix (1-6)
LP: Nick Renault (3-6)
SV: Alec Zumwalt (17)

FINAL: Riversharks 7, Barnstormers 4

Riversharks 1st: Davenport’s double scores Boyd and Biernbaum. Fulse’s triple scores Davenport and Von Schell. Castillo’s groundout scores Fulse.
Camden leads 5-0.

Riversharks 2nd: Davenport’s triple scores Suarez and Biernbaum.
Camden leads 7-0.

Stormers 5th: Turner’s double scores Hileman. Woods’ sacrifice fly scores Kotch. Gonzalez’s groundout scores Turner.
Camden leads 7-3.

Stormers 7th: Perez’s single scores Gonzalez.
Camden leads 7-4.

RECORD: 4-6 (34-46)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ron Davenport

Camden’s first baseman delivered a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run triple in the second as the Riversharks built a 7-0 lead. Back in spring training, Davenport was a man without a job. Camden gave him a shot and the former Blue Jays farmhand has become an elite hitter in this league.

NOTES:

*Nick Renault was roughed up again:

Renault was removed one batter into the second inning with an apparent injury. That may explain his struggles of late. The righthander has been tagged for 25 earned runs in his last 14 innings. It looks like the fifth spot in the rotation is open again. Yamel Guevara is the obvious solution if the team doesn’t sign a starter.

*Pat Cassa was great out of the bullpen and gave his team a chance at a miracle rally.

Every time you start to think Cassa might be overmatched in this league, he turns in a strong performance. This has to rank among his best of the season.

*Hitting streaks alive: Matt LeCroy is at 13 games. Danny Gonzalez is at 10.

*Lancaster had a chance to complete its comeback in the seventh. With the team trailing 7-4, Jutt Hileman flied out with the bases loaded. That was the team’s final serious threat.

*The Barnstormers left 11 men on base. They left 12 on base Sunday. This is one of the by-products of not having lineup depth. Even when the team gets chances, there are few hitters capable of taking advantage of them. LeCroy and Hileman are the only batters hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position.

BOTTOM LINE:

The Barnstormers have lost three in a row and are two games under .500 for the first time in the second half. They made a game of it even after being put in a 7-0 hole. Ultimately, they lost to a pitcher who was 0-6 with an 8.35 ERA.