Barnstormers Routed By Ducks
Published on July 4, 2023 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
An extra-long Fourth of July fireworks show entertained a crowd of 6,410 at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Tuesday.
Before thousands of shells exploded beyond the left field wall, the game itself was a dud for the home crowd.
Alex Dickerson launched a pair of home runs, and the Long Island Ducks took advantage of ten walks and two errors, routing the Barnstormers, 14-3, in the opener of a three-game series.
It was the most one-sided loss of the season for the Barnstormers, topping a 9-1 Memorial Day defeat in the first game of a doubleheader at Gastonia. With the win, Long Island remained within one-half game of York in a two-way North Division chase.
Dickerson followed a pair of walks with a three-run homer to right off Brandyn Sittinger (3-6) to stake the Ducks to an early 3-0 lead.
An RBI infield single by Ariel Sandoval in the first and Melvin Mercedes' leadoff homer in the third off Robert Stock (4-0) brought the Barnstormers to within one. However, Dickerson swung the momentum back to the Long Island side with a leadoff liner onto the right field deck in the fourth.
It was still a contest, though, until the top of the fifth when the roof caved in for a seven-run inning. Sittinger walked two and yielded two singles before leaving a 5-2 game with the bases loaded and nobody out. A passed ball during a third strike to Wilson Ramos let a sixth run in, and Joe DeCarlo's sacrifice fly gave the Ducks a 7-2 edge.
The inning appeared over when Tzu-Wei Lin grounded a Bret Clarke pitch to second, but Mercedes' throw, with the setting sun directly behind, handcuffed a blinded Andretty Cordero as another run scored. Brian Goodwin added a two-run single, and Alejandro de Aza knocked home another as the game was out of control at 11-2.
Mercedes had three hits, and Trace Loehr collected two in the loss.
Lancaster will send right-hander Spencer Johnston (1-0) to the hill on Wednesday evening at 6:30. Fans may tune in on FloBaseball, beginning at 6:25.
NOTES: The game marked Shawon Dunston, Jr.'s return to the lineup...He was 0-for-4 with a walk, flying out to the warning track to end the game...Loehr is 9-for-12 against the Ducks on the year...All four of Mercedes' homers have been hit in Lancaster...Dickerson became the fifth opposing player with a multi-HR game this season.
Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2023
- Dickerson Powers Ducks to Win Over Barnstormers - Long Island Ducks
- Happy Fourth Revs Blow Out Birds, Lowering Magic Number to Four with Four to Play in First Half - York Revolution
- Barnstormers Routed By Ducks - Lancaster Stormers
- Rockers Lose, 4-1, to Blue Crabs - High Point Rockers
- Abreu's Homer Provides Fireworks in Independence Day Win - Spire City Ghost Hounds
- FerryHawk Bats Explode, Crush Ducks, 14-3; Real Fireworks Will Happen After Tonight's Home Game - Staten Island FerryHawks
- ALPB Bullpen - AtL
- 29th Ducks Alumnus Promoted to Major Leagues - Long Island Ducks
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