AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers On Brink

Published on September 15, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Jerry Owens had a magical night, going 5-for-5 to lead the Lancaster Barnstormers to a seven-run first and a 9-5 victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Combined with a 5-2 York loss to the Long Island Ducks, Tuesday's win dropped Lancaster's magic number to clinch the second half title down to one. Lancaster has five games remaining while York is slated to play six.

Faced with an early 2-0 deficit on a two-run double by Zach Wilson in the top of the first, the Barnstormers came roaring back.

Owens grounded a single up the middle and took second on a Tyler Bortnick sacrifice bunt. Zach Collier roped a triple to left center to knock home the first Lancaster run. He scored when Kent Matthes singled into right center. Mike McDade picked up a walk, pushing Matthes ahead to second. Lance Zawadzki lined a base hit to left center, staking the Barnstormers to their first lead. A bloop hit to right by Brian Cavazos-Galvez loaded the bases, and Charlie Cutler brought home another run with a single off the first base bag. Yusuke Kajimoto brought home a fifth run with a ground out to second.

That brought Owens back around for a second meeting with right-hander Shaun Garceau (4-6). The Lancaster center fielder drove a double down the left field line, knocking home two more as the Barnstormers jumped ahead, 7-2.

Owens would triple and score in the fourth and single twice after that. Bortnick drove in Owens in the fourth inning and followed Owens' single in the fifth inning with another base hit to plate Zawadzki with Lancaster's final run.

Joe Gardner (9-6) settled down after the shaky start, holding a 9-3 lead through the seventh. The Lancaster right-hander faded in the eighth as Southern Maryland jumped back into the fray in the eighth with a leadoff homer by Reggie Abercrombie, a double to right center by Jovan Rosa and a single by Craig Maddox.

Scott Patterson entered in relief and allowed Rosa to score on a force play grounder. Following a ground single through the right side by Keith Castillo, Patterson struck out both Grant Zawadzki and Fred Lewis with the tying run on deck. Al Yevoli nailed the game down with a perfect ninth.

The Barnstormers will send lefty Nate Reed (8-7) to the hill on Wednesday night with the chance to clinch. He will be opposed by Jon Leicester (3-1). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.

NOTES: Owens had the second five-hit game by a Barnstormer this season...Cavazos-Galvez had the other on July 17 against York...Every Barnstormer either scored or drove in a run in the game...Collier's triple extended his hitting streak to nine...Not only would the Barnstormers clinch the second half Freedom Division title with a win on Wednesday, they would also lock up the third best overall record in the league and give manager Butch Hobson the 1,800th win of his managerial career.

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Atlantic League Stories from September 15, 2015


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