AtL Lancaster Stormers

Bullpen Stays Strong, Stops Bridgeport Cold

June 21, 2013 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


In a year where other aspects of the game have run hot and cold for the Lancaster Barnstormers, the back end of the bullpen has remained rock solid.

Jason Richardson and Jason Urquidez struck out four of the final five Bridgeport Bluefish batters on the evening to nail down a 6-4 Lancaster win at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

Horacio Ramirez (5-1) took a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth. Up until then, the former Major League lefty had allowed five scattered singles, one walk and one unearned run. It quickly deteriorated as Ramirez cleared 100 pitches for the first time on the season.

Stantrel Smith drilled a 2-2 pitch from Ramirez into left center and legged out a double. Prentice Redman followed with a high bounder toward third that was mishandled by Kevin Howard charging toward the plate for an error. Both runners scored on a Luis Lopez double to the left center field alley, and Ramirez walked Victor Diaz to bring the tying run to the plate.

Richardson entered, and the first batter he faced, James Simmons, sacrificed his teammates to second and third. Luis Rodriguez singled into center scoring one to cut the lead to 6-4. Richardson then stopped the Bluefish in their tracks, striking out both Iggy Suarez and Brandon Chaves.

Urquidez was summoned for the ninth and struck out Daniel Mayora and Prentice Redman. Between those two, he retired pinch hitter Alexis Gomez on a foul pop up to third base. The right-hander saved his 13th in 13 tries and has now retired 20 of the last 21 batters he had faced.

The Barnstormers and Bluefish exchanged runs in the first inning, but Lancaster took command in the second. Gustavo Molina singled to left and advanced to second on a slow ground ball by Austin Gallagher. Matt Spencer added a single to right, and Jerry Owens broke the 1-1 tie with a single under the glove of starter Kelvin Villa. Olmo Rosario moved the runners up with a ground out, but Blake Gailen chased one more home with a ground single to left. The Bluefish walked Travis Denker on four pitches to bring up Daryle Ward with the bases loaded. The Barnstormers' DH lined a single that sank in front of Simmons to drive in two for the 5-1 lead.

The Barnstormers managed only two singles by Gallagher against Villa over the next five innings before Molina launched his fourth homer of the season to left with one out in the eighth inning. As it turned out, the long ball was crucial insurance.

Lenny DiNardo (3-4) will make the start for the Barnstormers on Saturday at 6:05 against right-hander Josh Butler (3-4). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app to catch the action.

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics



Atlantic League Stories from June 21, 2013


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