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Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Outdistance Bluefish

July 26, 2014 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Lancaster Barnstormers' bats stirred to life Friday night, overcoming an early 7-0 deficit to take down the Bridgeport Bluefish, 10-9, in a wild, 11-inning contest Friday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With the win, the Barnstormers remained in a tie with York for first place in the second half, 1 1/2 games ahead of both Sugar Land and Southern Maryland.

Gabe Jacobo and Andrew Clark each walked against Kyle McMillen (0-4) to open the winning 11th. Ben Francisco followed with his fourth hit of the night, a smash inside the third base bag. Left fielder Fred Lewis had no shot at getting Jacobo, and the Barnstormers pulled off their seventh walkoff win of the season.

Things looked grim for the Barnstormers early. Bridgeport reached Cory Wade for three home runs in the right-hander's 1 1/3 innings to produce the huge early lead. Luis Lopez cracked his fifth long ball of the season onto the picnic deck with two mates aboard in the first for a 3-0 jump. Manheim Township product Austin Gallagher belted a two-run shot to the back ad wall before the first out in the second, and James Simmons whacked his 12th to Home Run Harbor to give the Bluefish a 6-0 gap. Prentice Redman clubbed a double to deep left, and Ramon Castro singled him home with the seventh run. Following a walk to Fred Lewis, interim manager Stan Cliburn went to the bullpen.

Brandon Mann held the fort, and the Barnstormers began their rally.

Doubles by Brett Carroll, Jacobo and Francisco, along with a stolen base and a wild pitch brought the Barnstormers three runs closer in the bottom of the second.

Juan Apodaca crunched his first home run of the season onto the hillside in left with a man aboard in the fourth to cut the lead to 7-5. After the Bluefish finally put a run on the board against Mann in the fifth on singles by Juan Martinez and Gallagher and a force play grounder by Mike Richard, Lancaster fought back again. Cole Garner drilled a single to left opening the home fifth and scored when Carroll found the front of the picnic deck with a two-run homer, his third, to bring Lancaster within one.

The Barnstormers finally tied the game in the seventh. Jacobo doubled to left center, rode to third on Andrew Clark's pinch single to right and crossed with the tying tally on Francisco's fly out to deep center.

Lancaster became endangered in the ninth. Castro greeted Ross Peeples with a triple to the gap in left center. The Barnstormers lefty struck out Lewis, and walked Lopez intentionally, setting up a meeting with catcher Luis Rodriguez. The 40-year old Rodriguez won the battle, riding an 0-2 pitch from Peeples to right for a go-ahead single. Peeples bounced back to get Martinez to rap into a 6-4-3 double play to send the game to the bottom of the inning with Lancaster down by one.

Jacobo delivered his fourth hit, a one-out single to left center and went to second on a wild pitch. Clark walked. Closer Winston Abreu fanned Francisco and had Apodaca on the ropes at 1-2. The next pitch was both close to the inside corner and a check swing. Apodaca was given the benefit of the doubt on both and looped a soft single into left center on the next pitch to score Apodaca and send the game to extra innings.

Jason Urquidez (3-0) picked up the win after recording the final out in the top of the 11th.

Lancaster sends Joe Gardner (1-1) to the hill on Saturday evening against former big leaguer Tomo Okha (5-6). Fans will also be entertained by the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo and fireworks following the game. The game will be available on 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com and the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.

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