Bound Brook, NJ - The Somerset Clippers, behind Mike Lombardo's 6-hit, 20K performance on the mound, defeated the Amboy Spartans 4-0 in their home opener on Sunday morning in scenic Bound Brook NJ.

The Clippers struck early in the bottom of the first. After two quick outs, Lombardo worked a walk. Jose Pinto and Abel Perez reached on consecutive errors, scoring Lombardo giving the Clippers a 1-0 lead.

In the 2nd inning, George Tomasello started the rally, hitting a ground ball to second base and hustling down the line after the second baseman bobbled the ball, reaching on an error. He promptly stole second base ( yes, you are reading this correctly ). Gabe Vasquez and Mike McCrea followed with walks and with one out Pete Trentacosta sliced a single down the first base line, driving in two giving the Clippers a 3-0 lead. Terrell Foster stepped up and hit a bomb to the deepest part of the field, just short of a home run. His double knocked in Trentacosta, giving the Clippers a 4-0 lead.

The four runs were more then enough for Lombardo, who had been basically untouched until the 7th. The leadoff hitter reached on an error and the next batter promptly singled to center field, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out. The next batter bunted and after the ball was bobbled, he beat it out. The Spartans had the bases loaded and no one out. The next batter hit a smash down the 3rd base line, which was snagged by Dave Cascone, who threw to home for one out and catcher Jose Pinto fired to first base for a 5-2-3 double play. With two outs, Lombardo struck out the next batter on 3 straight pitches, getting out of the inning without giving up a run.

The Somerset Clippers improved to 4-0 on the season and will be facing the Dunellen Pirates at Columbia Park in Dunellen on Sunday May 4 in a double header. Game 1 starts at 10, with Game 2 starting at 12:30. Please come out and support your Somerset Clippers.

Game Notes:

- The Clippers made their first appearance at their unofficial sponsor, South Side Grill in South Bound Brook, taking pitcures and signing autographs for fans for hours. 

- Tomasello's stolen base was not without controversy. He clearly had second base stolen, when the second baseman himself stepped in front of him without the ball, prompting the umpire to call obstruction. After confirming with the umpire that he would have reached safely if the second baseman did not step in front of him, Tomasello scoured the MLB rule book and confirmed that under those circumstances, he should be awarded the stolen base. 

- Abel Perez and Matt Mitchell had a double and single respectively for the Clippers and Terrell Foster has two hits to lead the way offensively. Kevin Farrell also chipped in with a single.

- Zack Markle was forced out of the game with a leg injury, prompting Luis Rivera to get out of bed and take a cab to the game to replace him in the 6th inning.

- Jared Fowler has requested his personal catcher for Game 2 on Sunday. After a couple of calls and agreeing to hire a car service to pick him up, Fowler will be reuniting with SH, who vows to catch at least three of Fowlers pitches in his expected 7 innings of work.