BRIDGEPORT, CT - It was Lancaster’s night from a bouncer off the first base bag to a pair of three-run jolts as the Barnstormers took down Bridgeport, 13-4, in the opening game of the best-of-five championship series Friday night at Harbor Yard.

All 13 runs came while starter Brian Whitaker, a 12-game winner during the regular season, was on the hill for the first six innings. Whitaker kept the Bluefish in check on four hits and one run while walking four and striking out three in becoming the third Lancaster pitcher to deal a quality start in the post-season.

The offensive salvo started mildly against ex-big leaguer Brian Boehringer in the first. Reggie Taylor drew a walk and was forced at second by Jason Bowers. Bowers stole second in the midst of a strikeout of Jeremy Todd. Jose Ortiz produced the run with a flare to right center that fell in front of a charging Norm Hutchins.

Lancaster produced another marker in the second. Danny Gonzalez slapped a one-out single into left, and Lance Burkhart followed with a double into the left field corner. Taylor brought in the run with a sacrifice fly.

Boehringer was chased before he got an out in the third inning. Todd led off with a walk and moved to second on a single to left center by Ortiz. Eric Crozier cranked a ground rule double into the right field corner for a 3-0 lead, and Jutt Hileman drilled a two-run single to right center before Bluefish skipper Dave LaPoint was able to rescue his starter.

Eddy Ramos retired all nine batters he faced in a three-inning stint, but the Barnstormers unloaded again on Matt Beech and Matt Anderson in the sixth.

It all started when Chris Van Rossum’s chopper along the line caught the corner of the first base bag and deflected away from P.J. Rose for a leadoff single. Gonzalez advanced the runner with a sacrifice, and Lance Burkhart was given the fourth ball intentionally after working the count to 3-1. The runners moved up on a passed ball, and Taylor ruined the ploy completely with a line drive single into right to drive Van Rossum home.

Jason Bowers walked to load the bases, and Burkhart scored on a wild pitch before Todd lofted a towering fly ball to right. It appeared to get a boost from the breeze and carried over the right field wall for his third homer of the playoffs. The inning continued on singles by Crozier, his third hit of the game, and Hileman. Van Rossum capped it off in convincing fashion with a three-run shot over the railroad tracks as the Barnstormers built a 13-1 lead and cruised to the opening game win.

NOTES: The win was Lancaster’s sixth straight dating back to the final three games of the regular season…Barnstormers pitching walked 10 batters in the game after not issuing one in the Atlantic City series…Todd is 6-for-13 with three homers and eight RBI in the post-season…Jason Bowers has scored six runs…Every player in the starting lineup had at least one of the Barnstormers’ 15 hits…Scott Sobkowiak (9-7) will start against lefty Mike Porzio (8-6) in the second game of the series Saturday evening at 6:05.