AtL Lancaster Stormers

Matthes Walks Lancaster Off To Sweep Of Bridgeport

Published on July 30, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Lancaster Barnstormers swept the Bridgeport Bluefish with a 4-3 victory on a Kent Matthes walk off single at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Thursday.

The win was Lancaster's seventh straight and gave them a two-game lead in the Freedom Division's second half race with a record of 13-7.

Immediately after Bridgeport tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, the Barnstormers would answer back in the bottom half of the inning. Zach Collier led off the inning with a ground single up the middle and advanced to second on a Brian Cavazos-Galvez sacrifice bunt. Bridgeport pitcher Steven Ames (1-1) intentionally walked to Kevin Rivers. Matthes then scorched a single to center, and Collier slid home easily on a wide throw from Ethan Chapman.

Matthes ended the day 3 for 4 with two RBI.

Leading, 3-2, Lancaster sent Pete Andrelczyk (4-2) to the mound in the ninth for the save. Andrelczyk gave up a one out double to Bryant Nelson, who then advanced to third on a ground out. John Alonso drove him in with a single to left, tying the game.

The Barnstormer scoring began in the first. Collier started it off with a walk and Brian Cavazos-Galvez made it to first on a bobble by third baseman Sean Burroughs. Matthes then drove Collier in from second with a one-out ground single to left to give the Barnstormers a 1-0 lead.

The Barnstormers struck again in the fourth. With one out, Lance Zawadzki launched a solo home run off Bridgeport starter D.J. Mitchell. The shot over the right field wall was his eleventh home run on the year, giving Lancaster a 2-0 edge.

After Alonso's chip shot into center produced Bridgeport's first run of the night, the Barnstormers retook a two-run lead in the bottom of the inning when shortstop Josh Prince skipped his relay throw on a potential double play grounder past Alonso, allowing Kevin Rivers to score from second.

Consecutive singles by Sean Burroughs, Wilson Batista and Brandon Jones starting the top of the sixth brought Bridgeport to within one, but Watanabe protected with lead, striking out Prince and retiring Nelson on a fly ball to right.

Watanabe went six innings allowing two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Bridgeport's starter Mitchell allowed three runs, but only one earned, on seven hits.

The Barnstormers start a four game set against the Somerset Patriots on Friday. Righty Ray Hanson (2-0) will go to the mound for Lancaster to face Somerset lefty Matt Zielinski (6-1). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.

NOTES: The Barnstormers have defeated Bridgeport 16 meetings in a row, dating back to last July...Matthes has hit safely in six straight...The Barnstormers have not allowed a home run in 73 2/3 innings of work...Watanabe has thrown 10 quality starts in his last 12 openings...Blake Hassebrock threw a perfect seventh inning, becoming the 52nd Barnstormer to appear in a game this season...Zawadzki's homer was his sixth in 18 games since coming off the disabled list...The 11 homers ties his total from last season.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 30, 2015


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