Barnstormers Capture Rain-Shortened 5-4 Win
July 31, 2018 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs kept exchanging leads on Tuesday evening at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Fortunately for the Lancaster Barnstormers, persistent rains hit with them holding the upper hand as Lancaster swam away with a 5-4 victory over the Blue Crabs as play was halted at the end of 5 1/2 innings in the series opener.
Ryan Casteel went 2-for-3 with two RBI while K.C. Hobson doubled twice for the Barnstormers in the series opener.
The deciding play, however, came on a baserunning maneuver more likely seen in a youth game.
After a sacrifice fly by Blake Gailen tied the game in the top of the fifth, and Casteel's second RBI single of the night put Lancaster in the lead, the Barnstormers found themselves with runners at first and third and two outs. Casteel broke for second and pulled up short. He avoided an Edwin Garcia tag long enough for Tyler Bortnick to sneak home from third.
Southern Maryland fought back with one run in the bottom of the inning on a triple into the right field corner by Garcia and single through the right side by Devon Rodriguez.
A two-out RBI single by Frank Martinez in the first gave the Blue Crabs and early 1-0 lead against John Anderson (1-2).
Brett Marshall (2-4, 4-7) held the lead until the fourth when Casteel singled home Bortnick, who had been hit by a pitch, with the tying run, and Hobson doubled home Blake Gailen for a 2-1 advantage.
Angelo Songco tripled into the right field corner to key a two-run home fourth as the Blue Crabs, with the storms approaching, took a 3-2 lead.
Umpires waited 90 minutes before officially calling the game.
The two clubs reconvene at 11:00 AM on Wednesday for a doubleheader. Lancaster will send RHP's Joe Gardner (3-7) and Stephen Johnson (1-0) against right-hander Craig Stem (5-4) and lefty David Wayne Russo (1-2). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 10:45.
NOTES: Casteel has hit safely in seven straight and has nine RBI in six games...Hobson is 12-for-32 (.375) over his last nine games...Gailen drove in his 62nd run of the season...Seven of the last 10 Barnstormer game days have been affected by weather.
Atlantic League Stories from July 31, 2018
- Barnstormers Capture Rain-Shortened 5-4 Win - Lancaster Stormers
- Blue Crabs Fall in Rain-Shortened Opener - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Late Rally Dooms Patriots in 2-1 Loss - Somerset Patriots
- Jake's Gem, Late Rallies Lead Ducks Past Patriots - Long Island Ducks
- Early Inning Runs Propel Bees To Victory Over Road Warriors - New Britain Bees
- Revs Battle Back for Dramatic Comeback Win at Sugar Land - York Revolution
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