Blue Crabs Edge Lancaster, 2-1
Published on May 25, 2018 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers, on the heels of a 12-game winning streak, dropped their second straight Friday evening with a 2-1 loss in the opener of a three-game series at Southern Maryland.
With the loss, the 'Stormers' lead in the Freedom Division was trimmed to 1 1/2 games over Sugar Land.
Friday night's game pivoted on a pair of defensive plays.
With the score tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the sixth, Angelo Songco singled to right center off Joe Gardner (2-2). Devon Rodriguez popped out to shortstop Vladimir Frias for the second out. Frias thought he saw an opportunity to double Songco off first but made a wild off balance throw, allowing Songco to advance to second. Cory Vaughn drove him home with the eventual winning run on a double into the left field corner.
Lancaster nearly tied the game in the top of the eighth. With one out, Ryan Casteel banged a single up the middle, then moved up on a slow grounder by Trayvon Robinson. Carlos Garcia ripped a sharp grounder on the right side off the glove of the diving second baseman Johnny Bladel. Casteel tried to score, but Bladel recovered the ball quickly and fired a strike home to cut him down for the third out.
Cody Eppley retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save of the year after returning earlier in the day from a pre-season thumb injury.
The Blue Crabs picked up a run in the first inning. Gardner hit Bladel with a pitch and sent him to second with a wild pickoff throw. Ryan Strasborger picked up a one-out walk, and Teodoro Martinez doubled home the run with a liner toward the right field line.
Lancaster used its speed to tie the game in the fifth. Darian Sandford greeted Casey Delgado (2-2) with a single up the middle and stole second. Tyler Bortnick walked to fill in first. The pair executed a double steal, and Sandford scooted home when Austin Green's throw to third ended up down the left field line.
The series continues on Saturday evening with two Atlantic League veterans on the hill. Jonathan Albaladejo (3-1) gets the nod for Lancaster against Daryl Thompson (2-2). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.
NOTES: Lancaster has scored only two runs in the last 26 innings...The Barnstormers have 14 steals in the last four games and have swiped a league leading 53 on the year...Casteel has hit safely in seven straight...Garrett Granitz retired all five batters he faced...He has allowed only two men to reach in his last 7 2/3 innings.
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