AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Deep-"Sixed"

Published on June 6, 2013 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


One night after the Barnstormers took the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs with a huge fifth inning, the visitors turned the tables with a seven-run sixth in a 7-4 victory over Lancaster at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Both teams have identical 23-23 records.

Horacio Ramirez (2-1) cruised through five innings on a three-hit shutout, only having thrown 50 pitches. His sixth inning turned out to be a disaster, and it happened so quickly, that the Barnstormers had little time to get anyway ready to jump into the game in relief.

Sean Smith started the inning with a single to left. Wladimir Sutil chopped a bunt along the first base line and was retired when Daryle Ward made a great stretch into foul territory to handle Ramirez' throw. Brian Barton lined a double that skipped to the right field wall to drive in the first run and scored when Mike Richard's bouncer up the middle just slipped under the outstretched glove of Olmo Rosario. Jose Julio-Ruiz ripped a triple past Ward and down the line to cut the lead to 4-3. Ryan Mulhern tied the game when he launched the first pitch of the at bat deep to left center for a double.

Lancaster intentionally walked Cyle Hankerd, but Cesar Nicolas kept the rally going with a single flared into center that loaded the bases. Jose Salas' liner to left landed barely fair for a two-run double and a 6-4 lead, and Nicolas was chased home when Smith, batting for the second time in the inning, blooped a single down the left side.

Nate Reed entered and cooled off the Blue Crabs, who never again threatened.

Lancaster had grabbed a quick 1-0 on an RBI double to deep left center by Rosario in the second and tacked on three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Blake Gailen lined a two-out solo blast to Home Run Harbor. Rosario walked, stole second and rode home on Travis Denker's lined single to left. A wild pitch sent Denker to second, and Ward plated him with a single to left center.

Beau Vaughan (1-0) entered and struck out Ryan Harvey to end the inning.

The Barnstormers had opportunities in each of the final two innings. In the eighth, Denker drew a walk, and Ward followed with a single against Eduardo Morlan. The right-hander battled back to strike out Harvey and get Kevin Howard to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

Lancaster got the tying run to the plate again in the ninth. Gustavo Molina yanked a one-out single into left off sidewheeler Jim Ed Warden. He was forced at second when Julio-Ruiz, playing off the bag in the ninth, handled Austin Gallagher's grounder toward the hole. Gailen doubled to right, bringing Rosario to the plate as the tying run, but Warden struck him out to gain his 12th save.

The two clubs will play the rubber game of the series Thursday evening at 7:00. Lancaster will send right-hander Dwayne Pollok (5-2) to the hill. He will be matched up against right-hander Daryl Thompson (4-3). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.

NOTES: Gailen has six extra base hits in the last three games (4 2B, 2 HR)...Denker has hit safely in five straight...Nate Reed fired his 11th consecutive scoreless appearance, covering 14 1/3 innings...The Barnstormers reached 10 hits for the third consecutive night, the first time they have done it the entire season.

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Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2013


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