AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Pull Out Thrilling Split

Published on August 30, 2018 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


After losing a heartbreaker in the opener of Wednesday night's doubleheader and letting an even larger lead escape in game two, the Barnstormers recovered in time to pull out a thrilling, 7-5 victory in the nightcap early Thursday morning.

Long Island scored two in the bottom of the seventh to win the opener, 8-7 (see separate story).

Darian Sandford lofted a double over the head of left fielder Robert Garcia with one out in the eighth against first game winner Jose Cuas. Tyler Bortnick followed with a walk. Blake Gailen singled to left center field for a 6-5 lead, and Trayvon Robinson drove home his third run of the game with a force play grounder.

Huascar Brazoban (2-3), who had gotten the final out in the seventh with the bases loaded, walked Ramon Cabrera on a 10-pitch at bat to start the bottom of the eighth. He settled down to get Cody Puckett to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Anthony Vega flied to left, ending the twinbill at 12:45 AM.

Lancaster had built a 5-1 lead over the first four innings. K.C. Hobson singled home a pair of runs in the first inning. Robinson connected for his fourth homer of August in the third for a 3-1 lead. An RBI grounder by Sandford and two-out RBI single to left center by Robinson gave Lancaster the 5-1 edge.

Ty'Relle Harris allowed only two baserunners over the first five innings - solo homers by Miles Williams and Puckett. In the sixth, the Ducks began to chip away. Harris was lifted with one out and a runner at first. Stephen Johnson took over. He hit a batter, then gave up a walk to load the bases. Washington launched a sacrifice fly to deep center to make it 5-3. With the tying runs in scoring position, Ramon Cabrera hit a sinking liner to center. Sandford raced in to make a diving catch, temporarily preserving the lead.

Kevin Munson struck out Puckett to open the seventh, but a walk to Vega and an infield single by Robert Garcia put the tying runs aboard. A wild pitch sent them to second and third. Pinch hitter Taylor Ard struck out for the second out of the inning.

Lancaster opted to walk Jordany Valdespin intentionally, but Williams knocked a two-run single into center, tying the game. Lew Ford was also signaled to first base, setting up the match between Washington and Brazoban that ended the threat.

The series concludes on Thursday evening. John Anderson (4-2) will take the mound for Lancaster against fellow lefty Hector Silvestre (2-0). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 6:15.

NOTES: The split gives the Barnstormers a seven-game lead over both New Britain and York in the wild card chase...Lancaster was 10-for-10 stealing bases in the doubleheader...Robinson stole three in the second game...Noel stole two, as did Bell...Lancaster has 216 steals for the year, the most since the 2009 Somerset Patriots (218)...Robinson is batting .387 (24-62) with four homers and 15 RBI in his last 18 games...The nine games played by the Barnstormers and Ducks at Bethpage Ballpark this season have been decided by a total of 14 runs.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 30, 2018


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