Harrington Strikes Back at Lancaster

Think Matt Harrington had something to prove?

The man on the mound was a man on a mission, atoning for one of the lowest points of his rapidly rising baseball career at Palmdale High.

You could say Harrington was on his game, striking out 10 batters during a 4-2 victory over Lancaster in a Golden League baseball game Wednesday at Lancaster.

Harrington hit two doubles and a single in four at-bats for Palmdale (9-5, 3-1 in league play), which avenged a 12-1 loss to Lancaster last month. In that defeat, which was halted after five innings because of the 10-run rule, Harrington allowed nine runs, six of them earned.

“I think we were pumped up after what happened last game [against Lancaster],” said Harrington (5-1), who allowed six hits, walked two and, despite his overpowering fastball, fooled several Lancaster batters with his changeup.

“I didn’t come out just for the win, but for myself a little. I didn’t want what happened last time to happen again.”

Lancaster (10-4, 5-1) was hurt by poor defense, specifically three errors in the fourth inning that gave Palmdale two unearned runs and a 3-0 lead.

“If we don’t make those errors, we’re still playing,” said Coach Doug Martin of Lancaster.