Zawadzki Propels Barnstormers To Victory
Published on August 2, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Lancaster has not had much success from its designated hitters in 2015.
That changed on Sunday afternoon as shortstop Lance Zawadzki, getting a rare day away from his glove, went 3-for-4 with a homer and a double to lead the Barnstormers to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Somerset Patriots in the third game of a four-game set at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Entering the day, Lancaster's DH had swung at only a .196 pace on the season with five home runs. But Zawadzki singled in the fourth, hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth and keyed an insurance rally in the eighth with his double.
The Barnstormers dropped behind early as David Vidal mashed a two-out solo homer to left in the top of the first off Joe Gardner (5-3), and Aharon Eggleston added an RBI single in the third for a 2-0 Somerset lead. Following that single, Vidal stepped to the plate and drove a line drive between right fielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez and center fielder Zach Collier. James Skelton, on in front of Eggleston, hesitated to make sure the ball wouldn't be caught, and the Barnstormers were able to cut him down at the plate on a perfect relay. Michael Burgess lined to right to end the inning, and Gardner was able to settle down, retiring 10 of his next 12 batters.
Lancaster picked up one run on consecutive sharp singles by Juan Apodaca, Yusuke Kajimoto and Collier to open the third, then tied the game in the fifth when Anderson Feliz lined his fourth home of the season onto the right field deck.
One inning later, Zawadzki launched a towering fly ball over the tents off Kyler Newby (7-3) for his 12th homer of the season, pulling him within one of the league lead.
That lead almost evaporated in the seventh when a tiring Gardner yielded one-out singles to Jose Garcia and Adam Donachie. Newcomer Daniel Moskos retired Skelton on a deep fly to left for the second out but walked Aharon Eggleston to load the bases.
Marcus Walden entered the game and fell behind David Vidal, 3-1, before getting the Patriots third baseman to ground out to shortstop ending the inning.
The Barnstormers picked up necessary insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Mike McDade's hot grounder down the first base line hopped over the glove of the diving Skelton for a double. Zawadzki cleared Skelton with a liner down the right side for the second two-base hit of the inning and a 4-2 lead. Two outs later, Kajimoto roped a drive off the fence in right center for another double and a 5-2 advantage.
There was still another scare in the works. Lefty Al Yevoli came on to get Nate Spears on a quick groundout to open the ninth. Pete Andrelczyk was summoned for the final two outs but walked Garcia on four pitches. Following a steal of second, Donachie slashed a single into right, and Skelton walked.
Andrelczyk went to 3-2 on Eggleston before coaxing a 3-6 force play as a run scored. Vidal popped out to end the game.
The series will conclude on Monday evening as Lancaster sends Nate Reed (2-6) to the hill against right-hander Lucas Irvine (5-5). Fans may tune into 1390-AM, WLAN; rumba1390.com or the I Heart Radio cell phone app, beginning at 6:45.
NOTES: Walden extended his scoreless innings streak to 24 2/3, the franchise record for a reliever...He is three innings shy of Josh Stevens' overall scoreless innings record...Kent Matthes went 0-for-4 to lose an eight-game hitting streak...Kajimoto is 6-for-8 in his last two games...Zawadzki has seven homers since being reactivated from the DL on July 5...Feliz has hits in five straight games and RBIs in four...Gardner threw his sixth quality start of the year.
Atlantic League Stories from August 2, 2015
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- Revs Denied In Another Close Affair In Camden - York Revolution
- Zawadzki Propels Barnstormers To Victory - Lancaster Stormers
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- Barnstormers Top Patriots 5-3 - Somerset Patriots
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