Zawadzki Clubs Pair In Barnstormers Win
September 6, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Barnstormers shortstop Lance Zawadzki has found his power stroke.
After going nearly 17 games without a home run, Zawadzki has slugged three in his last four at bats, including two on Sunday afternoon to lift Lancaster to a 7-2 victory over Camden in the third game of the four-game series.
With their fifth win in six tries on the current homestand, the Barnstormers temporarily hold a five-game lead over York in the Freedom Division race, pending the outcome of the Revs' game against Bridgeport later in the afternoon. The magic number for the Barnstormers clinching the Freedom Division has dropped to 10.
In the opening inning, Kent Matthes singled home Jerry Owens for a quick 1-0 lead. Zawadzki followed with a two-run blast to deep right center off Wes Torrez (6-8) as the Barnstormers pushed ahead by three.
The lefty-swinging infielder also capped the scoring with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth.
Between Zawadzki's homers, the game took some interesting twists and turns with two ejections, an injury and the departure of the home plate umpire.
Brian Cavazos-Galvez was the first to go. The Lancaster first baseman was called out on strikes for the second out in the home first. He flipped his bat in the air and was given the thumb by the home plate umpire.
The next to depart was Lancaster starter Kyle Simon who left the game with an injury in the top of the second. The right-hander retired Mat Gamel on a slow topper to second base for the first out and got to a 1-1 count on Paddy Matera before receiving a visit from trainer Ashley Wenger and manager Butch Hobson. Two warmup throws later, he came out and was replaced by Daniel Moskos (2-0), who worked the next 3 2/3 innings to get the win.
Shortly after, the plate umpire left after falling ill from the heat. By the start of the fourth, Hobson was gone also.
Two runs had already crossed the plate, and Lancaster had the bases loaded when a Torrez pitch came inside on Luke Hughes. The Lancaster first baseman shook down his hand and headed toward first base. Replacement home plate umpire Manolo Alejandro conferred, and the ball was ruled foul. Instead of another run being forced home, Hughes was sent back to the plate with an 0-2 count. He rapped into a 6-4-3 double play. With Hughes still fuming over the call, Hobson took over the argument and was eventually shown the exit gate.
Lancaster had to survive two threats. In the fourth, Joel Guzman walked and was forced at second by Mat Gamel. Paddy Matera hit a grounder to second baseman Tyler Bortnick, who attempted to tag Gamel before throwing to first to retire Matera. Gamel was ruled safe, again prompting an argument from the Barnstormers as Rich Rundles sprinted from the dugout. Daniel Rockett walked, and Landis Wilson slapped a single into right. Gamel was waved home. Right fielder Kevin Rivers made a wide throw, but Charlie Cutler handled it and dove back to apply the tag on Gamel for the final out.
In the sixth, the Riversharks loaded the bases against Blake Hassebrock, who then hit Rockett with a pitch to force home a run. The Barnstormers went to Mark Lamm, who, on one pitch, coaxed a double play out of Wilson to end the inning.
The series concludes Monday (Labor Day) evening at 7:00. Lancaster will send right-hander Madison Boer (2-2) to the hill against lefty Jeff Singer (1-1). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.
NOTES: Zawadzki has taken the league home run lead by three with Cavazos-Galvez and Sugar Land's Chris Wallace trailing...Hughes has hit safely in six straight games...Matthes is 10-for-21 (.476) with five RBI on the homestand...Lancaster is guaranteed its 10th series win of the second half...Lancaster has moved to within seven wins of Hobson's 1,800th...The Barnstormers have supplanted Southern Maryland with the third best overall record on the season at 64-62.
Atlantic League Stories from September 6, 2015
- Skeeters Lose Fourth-Straight - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Another Crazy Eighth Leads Revs to Third Straight Win - York Revolution
- Blue Crabs Lose a Slugfest 16-14 - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Flock Hang on to Win See-Saw Slugfest - Long Island Ducks
- Duo Added to 'Fish Tank - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Zawadzki Clubs Pair In Barnstormers Win - Lancaster Stormers
- Bluefish lose - Bridgeport Bluefish
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.
