AtL Lancaster Stormers

Local Products Hits Game Winner in Clipper Debut

Published on July 17, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The first game in front of a hometown crowd could not have gone much better for Lancaster's Matt Watson.

With a crowd of 7,012 on hand, Watson crushed a solo home run to right field, his third hit of the night, in the bottom of the seventh, breaking a 4-4 tie and sending the Barnstormers to a 5-4 victory in the opener of a four-game series against the York Revolution.

With the win, the Barnstormers pulled to within one game of the division leading Somerset Patriots.

The game did not have the makings of a nailbiter early.

Lancaster was virtually handed three runs by the crossriver rivals in the bottom of the first. Lloyd Turner reached on a throwing error by York shortstop Matt Rogelstad and was balked to second. Michael Woods singled Turner to third, and the Lancaster left fielder strode across the plate when a pickoff throw from Dave Gassner (4-8) bounced past P.J. Rose.

Watson singled Woods to third, and that other Lancastrian, Aaron Herr, grounded a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead. Gassner (4-8) settled down to get two outs, but a third scored when Rogelstad threw away Jed Morris' ground ball.

Lancaster took advantage of Rogelstad's third error as he fumbled Vic Gutierrez' grounder to open the second. Turner followed with a single, and one out later, Watson singled off the scoreboard in right field as Lancaster went up, 4-0.

York fought back. The Revolution's first run came without a base hit in the third as Jason Aspito walked, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a couple of groundouts.

In the fourth, Keoni DeRenne reached Ben Fritz for a single to left, York's first hit of the game. P.J. Rose followed with an RBI double into the left field corner, cutting Lancaster's lead to two. Again, the Revolution moved the runner around on ground balls to forge a one-run game.

Fritz held the fort until the seventh when he gave up a one-out walk to Aspito. Josh Johnson forced him at second for the second out. At that point, the Barnstormers went to lefty Ross Peeples, and York skipper Chris Hoiles countered with Matt Esquivel as a pinch hitter. Esquivel ripped a 1-2 pitch inside the third base bag for a double, sending Johnson to third. Carl Loadenthal rolled a grounder to Gutierrez at short, which would have ended the inning except Ryan Mulhern missed first base with his foot as the tying run scored.

Watson slammed an 0-2 delivery from Gassner over the picnic tents in right field for his first homer as a Barnstormer. The bullpen took it from there, with Nick Abel (2-0) pitching a perfect eighth, with the help of a leaping grab by Mulhern and diving catch by Turner. Antonio Alfonseca retired the side in order in the ninth for his fourth save.

The Barnstormers and York continue their series on Saturday with the Route 30 Showdown. A noon start awaits the two teams at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The scene shifts back to Clipper Magazine Stadium for a 6:30 start Saturday evening with fireworks to follow. Both games will be nine innings.

NOTES: Lancaster has played three one-run games in a row...The Barnstormers lead the War of the Roses, 7-4...Abel has allowed one run on nine hits in 15 innings...York managed only three hits in the game...Byron Batson and Shane Youman will pitch the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday...Eric Ackerman will square off against Daryl Harang in the nightcap.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 17, 2009


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