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Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Move To Verge Of Playoffs

September 16, 2014 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Lancaster Barnstormers cleared one playoff obstacle out of the way on Tuesday night and only have one more small hurdle to overcome to reach the Atlantic League post-season.

Blake Gailen singled home two runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie and send Lancaster to a 5-3 victory over the Long Island Ducks in the opener of a three-game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

With the victory, the Barnstormers simultaneously clinched a wild card lead over the Ducks and kept the Ducks from any hope of winning the second half title in the Liberty Division. Lancaster also moved back into a first place tie with Sugar Land in the Freedom Division.

The Barnstormers can clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday if Southern Maryland loses a second straight to the Somerset Patriots. Otherwise, the Barnstormers need two more wins to advance to the post season.

Lance Zawadzki doubled down the third base line to ignite the Barnstormers' winning rally in the ninth. Juan Apodaca was hit by a pitch while trying to bunt, and Yusuke Kajimoto successfully sacrificed the runners ahead with two strikes in the count. David Kopp (1-3) retired Olmo Rosario on a dribbler out in front of the plate for the second out. Gailen followed with a seeing eye hit through the right side getting Zawadzki and pinch runner Keith Castillo home with the tiebreaking runs.

The Barnstormers had grabbed a 3-0 lead over the first 5 1/2 innings. Apodaca doubled home Brett Carroll with a drive to right center in the second. Zawadzki brought home Gabe Jacobo with another shot into the right center gap in the fourth. Two innings later, Jacobo took his turn, whacking a double into left center, scoring Carroll, who had walked.

Dan Osterbrock carried the shutout into the sixth, but former Barnstormer Fehlandt Lentini doubled and came around on outs to cut the lead to 3-1. Adam Bailey took Osterbrock's first pitch of the seventh over the boards in right to pull the Ducks to within one. C.J. Retherford followed with a single to center, and Cody Puckett beat out a slow roller up the third base line. Cody Eppley took over and picked up two outs before Lentini tied the game with a ground single through the right side.

Ross Peeples (5-2) replaced Eppley with one out and a runner at first in the eighth. On his third pitch, Peeples got Bailey to line into a double play and moved himself in position to earn the win. Jason Urquidez nailed the game down with a perfect ninth, saving his 27th of the year.

Shunsuke Watanabe (8-2) will get the start on Wednesday against right-hander Jared Lansford (8-5). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES: Urquidez tied Tim Hamulack's career saves record with his 51st in a Lancaster uniform...Peeples moved to within one of Dwayne Pollok's career wins record of 32...Gailen reached base for his 31st consecutive game, leaving him two shy of his own club mark...Cole Garner had two singles in the game...He has set a new club record with 36 hits against a single opponent in one season and moved to within four of Michael Woods' franchise total base mark.

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