AtL Lancaster Stormers

Nattles, Hagen Down 'Stormers

Published on July 20, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


At least for one night, the Somerset Patriots looked like the teams of years gone by.

Jeff Nettles went 4-for-4, Josh Pressley added two hits, and Matt Hagen belted a three-run homer as the Patriots avoided a sweep at the hands of the visiting Barnstormers, 7-4, Wednesday evening at TD Bank Ballpark.

Lancaster remains one-half game behind York in the Freedom Division's second half race.

Matt Watson gave the Barnstormers an early jump with a two-run homer, his fourth blast in six games, in the top of the first.

However, the Patriots' "Big Three" brought Somerset back in the second. Nettles laced a single into right center off John Halama (2-3) and moved up as Pressley ripped a single into right. Hagen followed with a three-run homer to right for the 3-2 lead.

Nettles followed a pair of walks with an RBI single in the third for a 4-2 lead. The Patriots pulled away in the fifth. Norris Hopper beat out an infield single up the middle and advanced to second as Halama was charged with a balk on a throw to first. Fernando Cortez lined a single to center, scoring Hopper and went to second on a throw to the plate. Justin Huber reached base when his third strike skipped away from Matt Tupman for a wild pitch. Nettles drilled an RBI double to left for a 6-2 lead. Pressley boomed a long double over J.C. Holt's head in center to score Huber with Nettles, who had held to second, moving only to third.

Halama allowed nothing else, and the Barnstormers were able to jump back into the fray. Brandon Jones picked up a one-out walk from Derell McCall (3-5) in the bottom of the seventh and scored when Holt doubled into left center. Tupman greeted lefty reliever Jake Sommer with a single to left, scoring Holt to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Sommer hit Tommy Everidge with a pitch and walked Matt Watson to bring the tying run to the plate in the eighth. Jeff Kennard came on for a five-out save, his first of the season.

Lancaster entertains Bridgeport Thursday evening at 7:00. The Barnstormers will send Matt Wright (2-5) to the mound against Esteban Yan (0-0). The game will be aired on Fox Sports Radio, 1490, WLPA and streamed on sportsjuice.com and ibnsports.com.

NOTES: Watson has hit safely in all seven games since the All-Star break...He has four homers and three doubles...Halama was pitching for the first time since dealing a shutout against York on July 8...Gilberto Mejia singled in the first inning, his seventh hit in a row...The streak was snapped on a fly ball to center in the third...McCall is 4-0 lifetime against Lancaster...Halama is 0-2 against Somerset this season after going 3-0 on five quality starts against the Patriots previously.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 20, 2011


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