AtL Lancaster Stormers

McDade Homer Leads Lancaster to Win

Published on August 13, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


One swing made all the difference on Thursday night.

Mike McDade launched a three-run homer down the right field line, giving the Lancaster Barnstormers a lead they never squandered in a 6-3 series opening victory over the Sugar Land Skeeters.

The win kept Lancaster four games ahead of the York Revolution in the second half chase in the Freedom Division.

All of Thursday's runs scored in a span of two innings. Johan Limonta led off the fifth with a triple to center against Joe Gardner (7-3) and broke the scoreless tie on Patrick Palmeiro's ground single into left. Following a grounder to third by Renny Osuna, Kent Matthes made a long run to his left to haul in a fly ball by Amadeo Zazueta, and Palmeiro was doubled off second for the final out.

The Barnstormers came out swinging against Josh Geer (4-5) in the bottom of the inning, which got off to a false start. Luke Hughes belted a long fly ball to left center. Initially, Jeff Dominguez was unable to track the ball against the twilight sky, but he recovered to make a fabulous diving catch, denying Hughes at least a double. Yusuke Kajimoto was able to start the uprising with a single into right. Zach Collier grounded a base hit through the hole on the right side. Kajimoto wheeled to take third, and he was able to score and Collier could reach third when Delwyn Young's throw skipped past Palmeiro. Anderson Feliz lined to second for the second out. Kent Matthes picked up a walk, and McDade belted a towering fly ball over the tents and down the line for a 4-1 advantage.

Dominguez opened the Sugar Land sixth with a single to right and stole second. Travis Scott brought him home with a single up the middle, and the Skeeter first baseman grabbed second on Collier's throw home. Sugar Land worked Scott around to score on ground outs, trimming Lancaster's lead back to one.

The Barnstormers regained their two-run cushion in the bottom of the inning. Singles by Brian-Cavazos-Galvez and Lance Zawadzki got the surge started, and Hughes came through with a ground rule double to left center for a 5-3 lead. Collier capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right.

Sugar Land put two runners on base in the seventh, but Daniel Moskos struck out Scott looking. Moskos worked a 1-2-3 eighth, and Scott Patterson nailed down the game with a perfect ninth, earning his third save.

The two clubs meet up again on Friday evening. One of baseball's premier attractions of the era, the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo, will be entertaining the crowd, and there will be fireworks after the game. Lancaster will send left-hander Nate Reed (3-6) to the hill against right-hander Sean Gallagher (1-9). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.

NOTES: Feliz singled in the first to extend a streak to eight games...Cavazos-Galvez had three hits on the night and now has 18 in the last nine games...Hughes has hit safely in six straight and 12 of 13...Gardner notched his fourth straight win...The Barnstormers lead Sugar Land, 5-3, in second half contests and need one more win in the series to clinch the tiebreaker...Lancaster has won 16 of its last 20 games.

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Atlantic League Stories from August 13, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central