AtL Lancaster Stormers

Metcalf Blast Wins Cup

Published on August 18, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


In the usual heartstopping fashion, the Lancaster Barnstormers claimed their second prize in 2011.

On the same field, Sovereign Bank Stadium, where the Barnstormers wrapped up the first half crown with a three-hour, 52-minute thriller on July 9, Lancaster clinched the War of the Roses with a manic, 11-9, win over the host York Revolution on Thursday evening.

The Barnstormers hero was a guy who wasn't even in the Atlantic League for the first half. Travis Metcalf crushed the first pitch of the ninth inning from R.J. Rodriguez over the "Arch Nemesis", York's 37-foot high left field wall to snap a 9-9 tie.

For good measure, Matt Tupman singled with two outs and scored on Gilberto Mejia's second triple of the night, just to give Jonah Bayliss some breathing room.

And Bayliss, despite needing 29 pitches and giving up a leadoff walk, did something the Barnstormers could not do otherwise on the evening - hold a lead.

Three others got away.

Lancaster reached starter Matt DeSalvo for a four-spot in the first. Mejia tripled over Bryant Nelson's head and scored on a double to left center by Wayne Lydon. Tommy Everidge singled home a second run. Later, with two outs and the bases loaded, Iggy Suarez drilled a double into right center for a 4-0 lead.

It took York exactly six batters to erase it. Ramon Castro tagged his 11th homer of the season to the left center playground with two men aboard. Chris Nowak torched a solo shot deeper to left center to tie the game.

An RBI double to center by Everidge in the second and a two-run single by Fernando Seguignol, playing his first game since being reactivated, lifted Lancaster to a 7-4 lead entering the bottom of the fourth.

Again, six batters later, the lead had vanished. York loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk around a sacrifice bunt. Former Banrstormer Bryant Nelson singled home two with a liner to left center. Castro knotted the score once again with a base hit to center.

Jose Herrera grounded into a double play, and the tie held.

Everidge gave the Barnstormers their third advantage, ripping a two-run single into left off lefty Ricardo Morales to score Suarez and Mejia.

York's first three batters - James Shanks, Nowak, and Vince Harrison - singled off Tim McNab to open the bottom of the fifth. T.J. Beam came on with a 9-8 lead and got two quick outs before a passed ball allowed Nowak to score the tying run.

Barnstormers pitchers had to survive two huge threats over the next three innings. Beam walked Castro and allowed an infield single by Herrera to start the bottom of the sixth. The right-hander cut loose and struck out the side. Game still tied at 9-9.

In the bottom of the eighth, Jon Huber (2-0) issued consecutive walks to Nelson and Castro. Herrera hit a grounder up the middle that Mejia snagged a long way to his right and turned into a force at second. Shanks popped to short, and Nowak skied to deep left to end the threat.

Then, three hours and 48 minutes after the game began, Scott Grimes grounded out on a 3-2 pitch from Bayliss, and Lancaster's fans were able to celebrate.

The Barnstormers head to Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland on Friday evening to open a three-game series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Yunior Novoa (4-3) will get the nod for Lancaster while Eddie Rodriguez (5-4) takes the hill for Southern Maryland. The 7:05 game can be heard on Fox Sports Radio, 1490, WLPA and on sportsjuice.com.

NOTES: Mejia became the third Barnstormer this season to triple twice in a game...It had not happened in the first six years...Everidge had his first four-RBI game of the season...He has 69 RBI on the year, 25 in the last 19 games...Lydon has scored 21 runs in his last 14 starts...Bayliss is 15-for-15 in save chances...Tupman extended his hitting streak to seven games.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 18, 2011


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