Sports stats



AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Sweep, Clinch Community Cup

August 30, 2009 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


They only needed one win to bring the Community Cup back to Lancaster, but the Barnstormers have set their sights on bigger prizes.

Lancaster clinched the War of the Roses series with a 7-4 victory over the York Revolution in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader at Clipper Magazine Stadium, then extended their winning streak to four with a 6-4 victory behind a complete game effort by Ben Fritz in the nightcap.

The doubleheader sweep, in front of 4,547, moved the Barnstormers ahead of Camden in the wild card standings. Lancaster still trails Bridgeport by 3 ½, Newark by six and Long Island by 6 ½. The Barnstormers will need to pass two of those three teams to advance to the post-season.

In the opener, Cesar Suarez gave the Barnstormers a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run homer down the right field line, his first in the Atlantic League.

Lancaster appeared to put the game away in the bottom of the fifth. Dan Foli (5-12) walked the bases loaded, and Gerard Haran followed with a single lined off the glove of third baseman Matt Padgett to drive in two more. Ryan Mulhern singled to left off reliever Jason Kershner to reload the bases, and Jed Morris brought home another run with a ground single through the right side.

The offense was stopped dead in its tracks, and York fought back with three singles off Eddie Camacho in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-2. Camacho walked Matt Rogelstad to start the ninth, and Tom Collaro followed with a double to left. Padgett's infield single scored a run to make it 7-3. Matt Esquivel singled to left off Nick Abel, slicing one more run off the Lancaster edge, briging Jason Aspito to the plate as the tying run with nobody out.

Eric Ackerman was summoned from the bullpen and promptly got Aspito, who had homered earlier in the game, to rap into a double play. Kennard Jones walked, but Ackerman struck out Luis Taveras looking to end the game for his first save of the year.

Jim Heuser (1-1) worked the fifth inning in relief of Neal Musser to earn the win.

Vic Gutierrez lifted his first home run of the season to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning of the nightcap sending Lancaster to the win. Lloyd Turner followed with a bunt single down the third base line, moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Suarez and scored on a booming triple to left center by Michael Woods. Aaron Herr drove home the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left.

The Barnstormers had taken a 3-0 lead in the third. Gutierrez reached on a one-out throwing error by Padgett. Daryl Harang (7-12) got Turner to fly to center for the second out. Gutierrez was put into motion and Suarez hit a sharp line drive to where Keoni DeRenne had been playing before heading to cover second. The ball rolled into the gap, and Gutierrez flew around to score. Woods followed with a homer to right center, his second of the series and 12th of the season.

York fought back against Fritz (5-6) in the fourth. DeRenne led off with a double to right center and scored on a ringing single to right by P.J. Rose. Tom Collaro struck out, but Fritz walked Padgett and gave up a single to right by Esquivel to load the bases. Aspito narrowed the lead to 3-2 with a grounder on the right side. Kennard Jones tied the game with a single to left, leading runners at the corners with two outs.

Fritz made a bluff toward third, then threw to first, catching Jones off the bag. He was tagged out in a rundown before Esquivel crossed the plate. York manager Andy Etchebarren charged out of the dugout claiming that Fritz had balked. A heated argument led to Etchebarren's ejection from the ballgame. Home plate was covered in dirt by the time Etchebarren left the field.

Matt Rogelstad capped the scoring with a one-out solo homer in the seventh. Fritz never faced the tying run as Turner made a diving catch on DeRenne's sinking liner to left to end the game.

Lancaster will open a four-game series in Bridgeport on Monday evening with Zack Parker (3-5) taking the mound against Matt Pike (6-7). Gametime is 7:05. The Barnstormers return home on Friday to face the Long Island Ducks for a three-game holiday weekend series. Fireworks will follow the games on Friday and Saturday. Fans wishing to purchase tickets may do so by calling 717-509-HITS or by going online to www.lancasterbarnstormers.com.

NOTES: The series sweep was Lancaster's first since May when the club won seven straight...Woods scored five runs and drove in seven in the series...The Lancaster center fielder has scored 28 times in his last 27 games, hitting .336 with six homers and 23 RBI...Suarez is batting .323 with eight extra-base hits in his last 18 games...Fritz' complete game was his first as a Barnstormer and the club's fifth this season...Suarez' homer in the first game was the club's 100th on the season.

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics



Atlantic League Stories from August 30, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Lancaster Stormers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central