AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Split With Ducks

July 5, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Long Island Ducks struck for four runs in the first inning of the nightcap, setting the stage for a doubleheader split against the Lancaster Barnstormers on what turned out to be opening night for the second half for both clubs.

Earlier, Kevin Ahrens smash on the right side kicked away from second baseman Cody Puckett's sliding try as the Barnstormers grabbed the opener in the bottom of the seventh, 4-3.

Anthony Vega opened the second game with a ground ball that eluded Jeff Kobernus to his right. Fehlandt Lentini ripped a double into the left field corner, scoring Vega. A wild pitch from spot starter Ryan Dennick (3-3) moved Lentini to third, and he scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Delta Cleary, Jr. With two outs, Dan Lyons lined a single into center. Mark Minicozzi, in his first day of action for the Ducks, slugged a two-run homer for the 4-0 lead.

Josh Bell bounced a single up the middle in the bottom of the inning to score Kobernus. Three singles loaded the bases off Jack Snodgrass (6-6) in the Lancaster half of the second. Charlie Cutler, however, ripped a line drive straight into Minicozzi's glove, and the first baseman beat Blake Gailen back to the bag for a quick double play. Kobernus picked up one run with a single to left, but Kevin Ahrens flied to deep right, ending the threat.

Snodgrass was never again in danger. Lyons keyed a two-run third with a double to the alley in right center. Mike Blanke produced the final run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

In the opener, Lancaster trailed, 3-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh. Todd Coffey (1-3) hit Sean Halton with his first pitch, and Lance Zawadzki followed with a single scalded into right center. Mike McDade knotted the score with a sacrifice fly with Zawadzki taking second on the throw home. After K.C. Hobson flied out to right center sending Zawadzki to third, Gailen picked up a two-out walk. Ahrens hit his sharp grounder on the right side, which eluded Puckett's grasp for the game winning single.

Vega's third inning sacrifice fly gave the Ducks the initial lead in the opener, but the Barnstormers rallied for two in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Ahrens and a sacrifice fly by Caleb Gindl. Lyons drove in the tying run in the fourth with the first of his four straight hits in the doubleheader. Minicozzi reached on an error, and the Ducks took the lead as the Barnstormers failed to turn a double play on an ensuing ground ball by Mike Dowd.

Kelvin De La Cruz allowed seven hits and three runs, two earned, in his six-inning stint, but it was Pete Andrelczyk (4-0) who picked up the win with a hitless top of the seventh.

Lancaster is off on Wednesday and will open a four-game weekend series at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday. Tanner Peters (3-3) will make the start for the Barnstormers against lefty Rudy Owens (1-1).

NOTES: Halton had a lone hit in each end of the doubleheader to extend a hitting streak to eight games...Zawadzki has hit safely in six straight as has Kobernus...De La Cruz tossed his third quality start in four tries for the Barnstormers...Andrelczyk has struck out 27 in his last 20 1/3 innings...He picked up his 18th career win in a Barnstormers' uniform...The first game win was Lancaster's second of the season when trailing going into the final inning.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 5, 2016


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