Patriots Gain Split on Singles/ Stormers Hold off Patriots in GM 1!

Somerset Rallies Past ‘Stormers in Nightcap

The Lancaster Barnstormers’ hopes for a doubleheader sweep ended in the bottom of the sixth inning in the nightcap when Somerset strung together four consecutive singles to produce two runs and a 4-2 win.

Earlier, the ‘Stormers defeated the Patriots, 7-6, in a 10-inning opening game (see earlier story).

York also split a doubleheader, so the two ballclubs remain tied atop the Freedom Division with 30-23 records in the second half.  There are 17 games remaining on the schedule.

Kyle Roller took a 1-2 pitch from Brad Bergesen (9-8) down the right field line to open the bottom of the sixth inning.  Mark Minicozzi drilled an 0-2 offering into right field, sending Roller to second, and D’Vontrey Richardson’s poke on the right side resulted in a third straight single, loading the bases.

Kaohi Downing was summoned in relief and got to an 0-2 count on Justin Trapp, but the Patriots right fielder grounded a single up the middle to score pinch runner Ronnie Shaban with the lead run.  Adam Donachie made it a 4-2 game with a grounder on the right side.

Garrett Weber gave the Barnstormers a 1-0 lead with a homer to dead center as the second batter of the game.  Cole Garner doubled home Beau Amaral in the third for a 2-0 edge.

Somerset struck back with a Carlos Guzman two-out solo homer in the third, and Richardson tied the game with an RBI single to center in the fourth, scoring an unearned run.

Lancaster missed on a huge chance to retake the lead in the sixth as Garner banged out his fourth double of the twin bill, and Sean Halton followed with a single to left.  Kyler Newby (3-4) retired Steve Clevenger on a shallow fly ball to left and got Nate Coronado to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the threat.

Dustin Molleken got the side in order in the ninth for his third save.

The Barnstormers send Tommy Shirley (3-4) to the hill on Thursday night against fellow lefty Mike Antonini (2-1).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:45.

NOTES:  Weber has five of his homers, including the last four, against Somerset…Coronado lost a nine-game hitting streak in the second game…The Trapp single gave the Patriots their only lead of the night, although they erased four ‘Stormers leads.

FOURTH LEAD HOLDS

Barnstormers Scrape By Somerset, 7-6

The Lancaster Barnstormers could not put the game away.  The Somerset Patriots could not pass.

Finally, the Barnstormers’ fourth lead of the night held as Lancaster took the opener of a doubleheader at TD Bank Park, 7-6, in a 10-inning contest.

It was the longest game played by the Barnstormers this season at four hours, four minutes.

Anderson De La Rosa beat out a scratch single to lead off the tenth against Dustin Antolin (1-2).  Beau Amaral moved the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Garrett Weber snuck a single under second baseman Justin Trapp’s glove to put runners at first and third.  Cole Garner, trailing in the count, hit a bouncer into the hole at short, but the Patriots could only get a force out at second as the tie breaking run scored.

Daniel Moskos (6-2), Lancaster’s seventh pitcher of the game, picked up the final out in the ninth, but the Patriots opened the bottom of the tenth with a bloop hit from D’Vontrey Richardson.  Adam Donachie flied to right, but Aharon Eggleston walked to put a second runner on base.  Moskos got Yovan Gonzalez to bounce into a quickly turned 5-4-3 double play to finish the game.

The Barnstormers earlier had leads of 4-1, 5-4, and 6-5.

Marc Minicozzi and Olmo Rosario homered for Somerset.  The Barnstormers banged out five doubles, two each by Garner and Sean Halton.

Brad Bergesen (9-7) makes the start in the second game against spot starter A.J. Achter (2-2).