BARNSTORMERS DROP DOUBLE DIP

Somerset Wins Two by Two

The Somerset Patriots struck for a six-run top of the second inning, overturning an early Barnstormers lead to take the second game of a doubleheader, 8-6, Sunday afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Earlier, a two-run homer by Edwin Espinal and splendid catch by Justin Pacchioli provided the difference as the Patriots took the opener, 3-1.

Lancaster burst out to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap on three homers in the bottom of the first inning.  Dan Gamache slugged a two-run shot down the right field line.  Joe Terdoslavich lofted a fly ball onto the tent in right, and Parker Morin belted his first of the year on a rope down the line for the early 4-0 lead.

It did not hold.

Will Kengor triggered the huge Patriots second with a double to right.  One out later, D’Arby Myers ripped a double into the left field corner off spot starter Alejandro Chacin.  After Mike Fransoso lined out to right, Yovan Gonzalez slugged his first homer of the year to right, cutting the Lancaster lead to one.

Both Craig Massey and Alfredo Rodriguez walked, spelling the end of the afternoon for Chacin.  Ramon Flores greeted reliever Matt Marksberry (0-1) with a three-run blast to right center for a 6-4 Patriots lead.

Caleb Gindl brought Lancaster back into a tie with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second.

In the third, Kengor singled off Terdoslavich’s glove at third.   Two batters later, Myers dribbled a single into center to add a second runner.  Fransoso delivered the game’s 11^th and final extra base hit with a two-run triple into right center.

Somerset managed only one more single over the final 3 2/3 innings off the Lancaster pen.  However, Lancaster recorded only two hits the rest of the way.

James Pugliese (1-0), the second of five Somerset pitchers, recorded the win.  Mike Broadway retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh for his first save.

In the opener, Buddy Baumann (2-1) went the distance for the Barnstormers on a three-hitter, but he was outdueled by Rick Teasley (1-0).

Staked to a 1-0 lead on an early unearned run, Baumann worked hitless the first time through the Somerset lineup.  In the third, he walked Craig Massey with one out and sent him to second on a wild pitch.  After Alfredo Rodriguez popped up to third, Rey Navarro lined an RBI single to center to tie the game.  Espinal followed with a blast onto the left field hillside for the 3-1 edge.

Pacchioli sacrificed his body to protect the lead.  Darian Sandford led off the home fifth with a walk and took second on a two-out single to left by Gindl.  Terdoslavich launched a drive to deep left.  Pacchioli, who started the play in deep left, approached the fence, lunged backward, pirouetted, went hard into the barrier and held on for the final out of the inning before leaving the doubleheader with an inury.

Lancaster did not have another hit off Teasley or reliever Mike Antonini, who chalked up his ninth save.

The Barnstormers are off on Monday and will resume action on Tuesday night against New Britain at 7:00.  John Anderson (2-1) will take the hill for Lancaster against former Barnstormers right-hander Kyle Simon (0-1).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel or Blue Ridge Cable 11, beginning at 7:00.

NOTES:  Gamache had one hit in each game to extend his streak to 12…Gindl finished the series with seven hits, including three homers, a triple and a double…He drove in seven runs…Baumann threw Lancaster’s eighth quality start, and his third…He walked four and struck out eight…Chacin was making the first start of his career (in the US) after 337 relief appearances…The Barnstormers have dropped nine of their last 10 home games and are 3-10 for the season in games decided by one or two runs…All five of their losses to Somerset have been by two runs…Lancaster outhit Somerset, 42-24, in the series but lost three of four.

Somerset Patriots (15-7) 8, Lancaster Barnstormers (8-14) 6
May 19, 2019

Compiled by MLB Advanced Media