AtL Lancaster Stormers

Six-Run Second Guides Barnstormers To Sweep

Published on September 16, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Lancaster erupted for six runs in the bottom of the second and cruised to an 8-2 win in the second game of a day-night doubleheader in front of 7,074 Saturday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Earlier, five relievers combined on a two-hit shutout as the Barnstormers grabbed the opener, 2-0, in a game shortened to seven innings with advance permission from the Atlantic League office.

With the doubleheader sweep, the Barnstormers are two wins away from a new Atlantic League record for victories in a season. They also remain two games ahead of the York Revolution in the second half Freedom Division chase with seven games remaining on the schedule.

With Lancaster already up, 1-0, on a Gilberto Mejia home run leading off the game, the Barnstormers had their biggest inning of the month in the second off Matthew Vasquez (9-9). One out into the inning, Ryan Harvey singled to left, and Vasquez walked Travis Denker and Emerson Frostad to load the bases. Bridger Hunt cracked a two-run double down the left field line after a lengthy at bat for a 3-0 Barnstormers lead. Mejia hit a roller toward the first base side of the mound, and Vasquez nabbed Frostad at the plate for the second out. Adam Godwin stung an RBI single up the middle for the third run of the frame, and Blake Gailen lashed a three-run homer down the right field line as the Barnstormers went ahead, 7-0.

J.D.Durbin (14-9) allowed seven hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. He also hit two batters. Oddly, the only two runs scored by the Blue Crabs were on solo homers. Jeremy Owens reached the picnic deck in right with one out in the fifth, and Casey Benjamin circled the bases on an inside-the-park home run to lead off the sixth as Godwin banged into a pole in the center field fence and left the game injured.

In the opener, Joe Bateman fired three no-hit innings in a spot start, and the rest of the bullpen kept Southern Maryland off the board. Ross Peeples allowed the two hits, both singles, in the fourth inning, but Beau Vaughan (5-0), who was awarded the win got two quick outs to keep the Blue Crabs off the scoreboard. Vaughan faced only three batters in the fifth. Jeff Bennett tossed a perfect sixth inning, and Tim Hamulack worked a 1-2-3 seventh to record his 32nd save of the season.

Mejia collected all three hits for Lancaster and scored both runs. He tripled in the first and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Godwin. In the sixth, he led off with a single to right and scored an insurance run on a double steal followed by a rundown blown by the Blue Crabs.

The series and 2012 Lancaster Barnstormers home schedule conclude on Sunday afternoon at 1:30. Lancaster will send Dwayne Pollok (13-3) to the mound to face right-hander Dan Reichert (6-5). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; 1600-AM, WPDC; 1390wlan.com; or the I Heart Radio cell phone app beginning at 1:15.

Check out the Lancaster Stormers Statistics

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



Atlantic League Stories from September 16, 2012


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