RETURN HOME BRINGS GOOD FORTUNE

RETURN HOME BRINGS GOOD FORTUNE

Lancaster Drops Ducks, 6-3, in Series Opener

Home was once again sweet for the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Melvin Mercedes went 4-for-5 with a homer, and Andretty Cordero chimed in with a three-run triple as the ‘Stormers kept their home record perfect, beating the Long Island Ducks, 6-3, in the opener of a three-game series.

It was the fourth straight win for the club at home.

After falling behind, 2-0, over the first 2 ½ innings, the Barnstormers rallied in the third.  Jake Hoover led off the inning with a single into right center, and Mercedes followed with a perfect hit-and-run single into left.  LeDarious Clark got the first run on the board with a ground single through the left side.  One out later, Colton Shaver produced a nearly identical single to tie the game.  Mark Zagunis produced the second of his three singles, a pop fly that dropped into shallow center.  Cordero then found the gap in right center to clear the bases.

Mercedes drilled his first homer of the year onto the picnic deck off Scott Harkin (1-2) in the fourth to build a 6-0 lead.

Dominic DiSabatino (1-2) worked the first five innings for the Barnstormers.  The right-hander yielded five hits and two runs while walking one and striking out three. 

Tyler Suellentrop allowed a run in the sixth on a Joe DeCarlo two-out single to right.  Marc Rzepczynski whiffed Jake Zarello for the final out that inning.  Chase Johnson pitched a perfect seventh with some assistance from Hoover, who made a dazzling catch on Vladimir Frias’ shallow fly to left for the third out.  Josh Graham worked out of two-out danger in the eighth.  Scott Shuman fired a perfect ninth for his third save.

The Barnstormers entertain the Ducks again on Wednesday night.  Brent Teller (1-1) will make the start for Lancaster against fellow right-hander Hunter Caudelle (0-0).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 6:25.

NOTES:  The Barnstormers had 14 hits on the night and are now batting .381 at home on the year while swinging only at a .209 pace on the road…Mercedes started the night at .204 and finished at .254…Zagunis opened at .205 and finished at .262…Cordero went from .241 to .274…Lancaster’s starting pitchers have a composite ERA of 2.36 over the last nine games.

About the Lancaster Barnstormers

The Lancaster Barnstormers are headed into their 18^th year in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.  Home games are played at Ballpark Digest’s two-time Best Ballpark in MLB Partner League Baseball – Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Please call 717.509.HITS (4487) or visit www.lancasterbarnstormers.com for more information. 

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

With teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 44 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 24-year history. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

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