Lancaster Whitewashes Bridgeport, 10-0
May 30, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers finished off an impressive four-game sweep of the Bridgeport Bluefish on Saturday evening and hope to continue their home hot streak with Camden headed to town on Sunday afternoon.
Shunsuke Watanabe threw eight shutout innings, and Tyler Bortnick went 4-for-4 on Saturday evening as the Barnstormers skewered Bridgeport, 10-0 in the finale of a four-game series witnessed by 6,557 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
It marked the Barnstormers' first four-game sweep of the season. Lancaster has now won eight of its last 10 home games and has climbed to within one-half game of second place in the Freedom Division.
Watanabe (2-2) yielded seven hits, all singles, while walking one and striking out six. Bridgeport's biggest threat came in the third when Lancaster was unable to find the handle on three straight ground balls. Rodney Polonia snuck a roller between Watanabe's legs for an infield single to start the inning. Luis Rodriguez hit a bouncer to the hill, but the submarine-throwing right-hander fumbled the hop and lost the chance for a double play. Sean Burroughs then whacked a hot grounder to the backhanded side of shortstop Lance Zawadzki, who was screened by Polonia. The ball took a last second tricky hop, and Zawadzki could not control the baseball. Welington Dotel hit into a 5-4 force play, and Chris Garcia struck out to end the threat.
Meanwhile, Lancaster pounced on Scott Maine (1-3) early. The lefty walked Yusuke Kajimoto to open his night. Bortnick followed with a hit-and-run single to the hole at short, and Blake Gailen walked to load the bases. Brian Cavazos-Galvez got two runs home and Gailen to third with a flare punched through the right side. Cavazos-Galvez stole second, and Gailen came home when Jobduan Morales' throw ended up in center field.
Kevin Rivers blasted a two-run homer to right center in the second for a 5-0 lead. Juan Apodaca, who snapped an 0-for-23 skid with a single in front of Rivers' shot, added a homer of his own to start the fourth, and Bortnick made it 7-0 with a sacrifice fly later that inning.
The Barnstormers added six singles to score three runs in the seventh with runs knocked home by Cavazos-Galvez, Dan Coury and Apodaca.
Camden will send former Barnstormers' lefty Fu-Te Ni (1-1) to the hill on Sunday afternoon against southpaw Nate Reed (0-1), who will make a spot start for the Barnstormers. It is Bark in the Park Day as fans are invited to bring their four-legged friends (the ones that bark). Fans may tune into the broadcast on 1390-AM, WLAN, rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 12:45.
Atlantic League Stories from May 30, 2015
- Revs Win Third Straight With Another Extra Inning Triumph - York Revolution
- Lancaster Whitewashes Bridgeport, 10-0 - Lancaster Stormers
- Burroughs, Alonso, and Simmons Pick Up Two Hits Each In Defeat - Bridgeport Bluefish
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