AtL Lancaster Stormers

Denker Blow Upends Somerset

Published on June 17, 2013 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


For four weeks, Barnstormers games have been decided in the first six innings.

Last night, that trend was changed.

Travis Denker lined a two-run shot to Home Run Harbor in the bottom of the eighth, overturning a Somerset lead and guiding Lancaster to a 4-3 victory over the Patriots in the opener of a four-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Denker's two-out homer off David Harden (7-2) followed a walk to Blake Gailen. It marked the first lead change in a Barnstormers game since May 21 when Lancaster struck for a pair in the ninth in a 7-6 win over the same Patriots ballclub.

Cory Aldridge singlehandedly put the first run of the night on the board with a blast to dead center in the second inning. Lancaster erased that lead on a leadoff single by Austin Gallagher and double to center by newcomer Matt Spencer in the bottom of the third.

The Patriots took advantage of Barnstormers misplay over the next two innings. In the fourth, with a runner at first and two outs, Eddy Martinez-Esteve stroked a grounder at Denker. His throw to Gallagher came out of the setting sun, and the first baseman dropped it for an error. Adam Donachie jumped on the opportunity, singling to right to score the run.

Gallagher committed a second error in the fifth on a leadoff grounder by Aharon Eggleston. Lenny DiNardo's wild pitch advanced Eggleston to second, and he scored on a one-out single by Corey Smith for a 3-1 lead.

DiNardo, who was pitching for the first time since May 29, was lifted at that point, and the Barnstormers' bullpen kept the team in the game.

The bottom of the fifth brought redemption for Gallagher, who clocked his first Atlantic League home run off the back wall of advertising signs in right center, cutting the lead to 3-2. Harden worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the sixth and retired seven in a row before the walk to Gailen.

Ross Peeples walked Aldridge to start the ninth, but Jason Urquidez got a quick double play. Donachie kept the Patriots alive with a single to right center, but Urquidez nailed down his 12th save in 12 tries on a Jonny Tucker grounder to second.

The two clubs meet again Tuesday evening. Lancaster will send Dwayne Pollok (6-3) to the hill against right-hander Paul Phillips (4-2). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app beginning at 6:45.

NOTES: Donachie's single ended a streak of 16 consecutive batters retired by Urquidez...Urquidez has earned saves in three straight games...Gallagher has three straight multi-hit games and has lifted his average to .213...Jerry Owens led off the game with a single, stretching his hitting streak to 10 games, tying the club's longest of the season...Lancaster leads the season series against the Patriots, 4-3...Reliever Brian Tallet, who picked up two outs in the seventh, announced his retirement following the game.

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Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2013


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