Minizozzi Paces Patriots to 6-1 Win

Mark Minicozzi homered and doubled, leading a 13-hit attack as the Somerset Patriots defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers, 6-1, in the finale of a four-game series at TD Bank Park.

The loss dropped the Barnstormers one game behind the York Revolution in the Freedom Division chase with 16 games left to play.

Minicozzi doubled home the game’s first run, scoring Olmo Rosario from first on a double over the head of Sean Halton in left field with two outs in the first inning.  Carlos Guzman followed with a single up the middle, scoring Minicozzi for a 2-0 lead.

After Garrett Weber slammed a home run with two outs in the third for the only Lancaster run, Minicozzi countered with a long ball to dead center in the bottom of the inning off Tommy Shirley (3-5).

The Patriots added a run in the fourth.  Aharon Eggleston greeted Shirley with a single to right and moved ahead on a sacrifice by Adam Donachie.  Alfredo Rodriguez grounded a base hit up the middle to score the run.

Somerset had similar success against reliever Kevin Munson in the sixth.  Scott Kelly led off with a single to right, stole second and scored on a grounder up the middle by Eggleston.  Eggleston went to second on the throw to the plate and, in turn, scored on Rodriguez’ second RBI single of the game.

The Barnstormers were not without chances to bounce back.  Anderson De La Rosa and Beau Amaral singled to open the fifth, but Duane Below coaxed a double play out of Weber.  Steve Clevenger snuck a ground single up the middle, his second hit of the night, with one out in the sixth.  Nate Coronado followed with a double into the right field corner, and Olmo Rosario mishandled a chopper by Josh Bell for an error.  Justin Wright got a double play out of Lance Zawadzki to end the threat.  The Barnstormers managed only one more baserunner in the game.

Dustin Molleken (3-1), the fourth of Somerset’s five relievers was awarded the win.

The venue shifts to Clipper Magazine Stadium as the Barnstormers will host the Patriots in the fifth game of the home-and-home series on Friday.  Lefty Rommie Lewis (8-11) will make the start for Lancaster against right-hander Jerome Williams (2-3).  A concert will follow the game.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  Weber has hit his last six homers, out of 14 total, against Somerset…He is batting .460 in the season series…Coronado had his 14^th multi-hit game and finished the night batting .354…Clevenger has batted safely in 14 of 16 games…Munson pitched a season-high three innings.