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Lancaster was 19-8 at home but the Patriots are the 'Stormers' nemesis. Somerset has dominated the 'Stormers since Lancaster came into the league in 2005 and, going into Monday's contest, the Patriots had a 6-1 record vs. the 'Stormers this season.
It took a long time to decide the outcome but after 12 innings that totaled four hours and 12 minutes, Lancaster had an ironic 4-3 victory.
Jed Morris scored the winning run when Somerset's Tip Fairchild (3-2) threw a wild pitch attempting to issue an intentional walk.
It was ironic because on July 2, 2007, Lancaster lost at Somerset when Lance Odom threw a wild pitch while trying to issue an intentional walk, also in the bottom of the 12th. That moment continues to live on in the YouTube world.
The win kept Lancaster from being eliminated from the first-half race. The 'Stormers trail first-place Somerset by 8.5 games and any loss in the three-game series would end Lancaster's first-half chances.
In the home 12th, Morris doubled off Fairchild and Aaron Herr was intentionally walked. Gerard Haran sacrificed both runners to second and third. Fairchild was trying to intentionally walk Danny Bravo when he threw a wild pitch, allowing Morris to score the winning run.
"That's why the runner always has to take a lead," Lancaster manager Von Hayes said. "You never know what's going too happen. That's a lot of pressure on the pitcher."
Ross Peeples (2-2) got the win. Peeples came on in the runners on first and second in the top of the 12th. He gave up a single to load the bases before striking out Sean Smith and Joe Burke to end the inning.
"He's been fabulous the whole year," Hayes said of Peeples. "He beared down and made great pitches when he had to."
Michael Campbell's two-run homer in the bottom of first gave Lancaster the lead.
In the top of the second, Travis Anderson's RBI single pulled Somerset within one. Morris' solo homer in top of third put Lancaster's lead back at two, 3-1.
Zack Parker pitched his best game of the season and deserved to win.
Parker left with a 3-1 lead. He gave up just one run on two hits, walking just one and striking out nine in seven innings, which matched his longest outing of the year.
Parker's starts had been limited recently because of a problem with a blister, but on Monday he pitched like the lefty who combined for an 8-1 record for Lancaster at the end of '07 and beginning of '08 before being signed by the Texas Rangers' organization.
"That's actually the first time in probably 12 or 13 starts I felt 100 percent," Parker said. "It was fun to go out there and pitch and not really have anything in the back of my mind to worry about.
"I felt good early because I wasn't feeling any of that pain (from the blister on my finger). Finally, about the third inning, I just threw all the thoughts of it hurting out and just kind of let it loose with and I felt a lot better from then on."
Somerset starter Kip Bouknight pitched six innings giving up only the home runs by Campbell and Morris.
Elliott Ayala's two-run double off Eddie Camacho tied the game at 3-3 in the eighth. After failing on a bunt attempt with runners on first and second, Ayala hit a ball over center field Michael Woods head to score both baserunners. Ayala was thrown out at third after trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
"Even when they tied it up, we kept battling, kept pitching and kept playing defense," Hayes said. "We got that effort.
"That's something that we're pretty proud of, the guys giving a great effort. It's going to show up here down (in the win column)."
Somerset relievers Casey Cahill, Ryan Basner, Brian Henderson blanked the Stormers through 10 innings. Fairchild pitched a scoreless 11th before giving up the winning run.
Antonio Alfonseca pitched a perfect ninth and 10th for the Barnstormers. The former major leaguer is likely to take the 'Stormers' closer role.
"Obviously, he knows how to pitch and it was just a question, does he still have his stuff and from what I see that answer to that question is yes," Hayes said.
Notes: In the top of the ninth, 'Stormers second baseman Danny Bravo made a diving stop on a ball hit by Somerset's Josh Pressley and from his knees threw the DH out from short right field. The game was the first extra-inning contest of the season for Somerset. The 'Stormers are now 4-2 in extra-frame games. … The 'Stormers' Neal Musser pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the 11th. Musser hit a batter and walked two before getting Josh Pressley to strike out and Jeff Nettles to fly to right. … Utility player David Housel was activated by the Barnstormers before Monday's game. Housel injured a hamstring in the ninth inning of Lancaster's 2-0 win vs. Camden on June 7. … Lancaster released infielder Dan Williams after the game. … Hershey Bears captain Bryan Helmer was on hand with the Calder Cup before the game.
E-mail: bwilson@lnpnews.com
