Somerset Cruises After Big First
Published on September 13, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
If a pitcher ever wanted to declare a "mulligan", it was Shunsuke Watanabe on Sunday afternoon.
Robert Andino led off with a home run, and David Vidal added a grand slam in the bottom of the first to boost the Somerset Patriots to a big early lead Sunday afternoon at TD Bank Park.
Watanabe retired 20 straight afterward, but the Barnstormers could not scramble back in the 5-1 loss in the series finale. Lancaster lost a series for only the second time in the second half as the magic number to clinch the Freedom Division remains at four, pending the outcome of York's game at Southern Maryland.
Andino rode Watanabe's second pitch over the boards in deep left center for his fourth home run on the season. Johnny Tucker reached on a single to the hole at short and stayed at first as Michael Burgess skied to the warning track in deep right center. Mike Wilson banged a single through the left side, and Matt Fields walked to load the bases.
Vidal then smoked a line drive out of the park down the left field line for the 5-0 lead.
Watanabe (6-5) finished off the inning with a ground out and fly out. He picked up only two strikeouts, back-to-back in the third but throttled the Patriots for the rest of his afternoon.
Scott Patterson faced only three batters in the eighth, getting a double play after a leadoff single as the Patriots left no runners aboard for the ballgame.
Lancaster managed four hits, including two doubles, in six innings off starter Matt Zielinski (8-3). In four of those six shutout innings, the Barnstormers advanced a runner to scoring position but could not deliver an RBI hit.
In the seventh, the Barnstormers broke through. Lance Zawadzki led off with a double to deep left off southpaw Joe Testa. He took third on a grounder by Anderson Feliz and scored when Zach Collier punched a single into left.
Gus Schlosser and R.J. Seidel shut it down from there as the Barnstormers have lost consecutive games for only the second time since July.
Lancaster opens a three-game series against Southern Maryland on Monday evening. Daniel Moskos (2-0) will make the start for the Barnstormers. Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.
NOTES: Collier has the only two Lancaster RBI in the last two games...The outfielder has a seven-game hitting streak...Patterson extended his scoreless streak to 15 appearances and 14 1/3 innings...The slam by Vidal was the second in the first inning for the Patriots at home against the Barnstormers this season...Adam Donachie had the other...Lancaster finished the season with a 30-40 record on the road after beginning 9-28.
Atlantic League Stories from September 13, 2015
- Revs Run Away with Road Finale, Romping Blue Crabs 11-1 - York Revolution
- Revolution Ruin Jake Hale's Return to the Mound - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Ducks Split Twinbill with Sugar Land - Long Island Ducks
- Skeeters Split Double Header in Road Finale - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Somerset Cruises After Big First - Lancaster Stormers
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