Defense, Castillo Lead Barnstormers To Third Straight Win
May 1, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Southern Maryland appeared ready to put Friday night's game away.
Lance Zawadzki had other plans.
The Barnstormers shortstop made a diving stab of a Cyle Hankerd smash in the top of the third inning to begin a double play, switching the momentum of the game and enabling the host Lancaster Barnstormers to pull out a 4-2 victory over the Blue Crabs at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
With the win, the Barnstormers climbed into second place in the Freedom Division and stand only one game behind the division leading Sugar Land Skeeters.
Already leading, 2-0, Southern Maryland had runners at first and second with nobody out in the third. Hankerd yanked a Matt Packer pitch toward the hole at short. Zawadzki went headlong, made the stop and threw from his knees to second baseman Yusuke Kajimoto who relayed to first to turn the DP.
Packer (2-0) never allowed another baserunner in his six-inning stint.
The Barnstormers followed up on Zawadzki's effort by tying the game in the bottom of the third. Kajimoto led off with a walk, and Tyler Bortnick bounced a double past third baseman Renny Osuna and down the line to score the run. Blake Gailen roped a double to the right field wall on one hop to plate the tying run.
Gaby Hernandez (1-1) settled back down to keep the game tied until the sixth. David Cooper led off with a bloop hit to left to get the Barnstormers underway. Keith Castillo got the pitch he wanted at 3-2 and slammed a homer onto the picnic tents in right for the decisive blow.
For the second straight night, the Barnstormers were able to turn the ball over to the bullpen. Zach Jackson ran into some friction in the eighth as a walk and a single put runners at the corners with two outs. Lefty swinging Daryle Ward tried to go the other way against the southpaw, but again, Zawadzki got in the way with a leaping snare of the line drive.
Jason Urquidez got the side in order in the ninth for his second save in the last two nights.
Antone DeJesus opened the game with his first Atlantic League home run. Zach Wilson scored the other Blue Crabs run on a single, two wild pitches and a bad throw by Castillo.
Right-hander Chuckie Fick will make his Clipper Magazine Stadium debut for the Barnstormers on Saturday evening against right-hander Brian Baker. Fireworks will follow the game. Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cellphone app, beginning at 6:45.
NOTES: Cooper extended his hitting streak to nine...Castillo's homer was the first by a Barnstormer at home this season...Urquidez has pitched three perfect innings so far this season...He ranks sixth in Atlantic League history with 54 career saves...Packer has not allowed a hit after the third inning in either of his two starts...Masato Fukae in center and Bortnick at third also made diving catches in the game...Pete Andrelczyk appeared for the fifth time this season...He has been in every other game.
Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2015
- Defense, Castillo Lead Barnstormers To Third Straight Win - Lancaster Stormers
- Blue Crabs Fall in Their First Road Game of the Year to the Barnstormers - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Revs Drop Second Straight As Guest In Opponentâ??s Home Opener - York Revolution
- Ducks Swat Skeeters on Opening Night - Long Island Ducks
- Patriots Win Home Opener 3-1 against Revolution - Somerset Patriots
- Skeeters Fall to Ducks in First Road Game of Season, 5-0 - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Ramirez Comes to Bridgeport in Trade - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Bortnick, Bullpen Lead Lancaster To Opening Night Win - Lancaster Stormers
- Stormers Win Seesaw Battle Against Revs In Home Opener - York Revolution
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