Sugar Land Narrows Gap With 8-3 Win
June 26, 2018 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
The Lancaster Barnstormers flew to Houston and ran into Dallas.
Dallas Beeler had a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings and faced the minimum of 21 batters through seven as the Sugar Land Skeeters grabbed the opener of the first-half deciding seven-games series, 8-3,
The result trimmed Lancaster's Freedom Division lead to one-half game over the Skeeters, the smallest gap since May 16.
Beeler (5-1) walked Darian Sandford to open the game then picked him off first. No one else reached base for Lancaster until Anderson De La Rosa rapped a single up the middle with one out in the sixth. He was promptly erased on a double play.
Meanwhile, Sugar Land proved once again to be the nemesis for Lancaster right-hander Steve Johnson (3-3), who lost to the Skeeters on three homers back on May 8.
Johnson snuck out of a first inning threat, but in the second the Skeeters went back to work. Bennett Barnes worked out a walk after falling behind, 0-2. Courtney Hawkins lined a single into right, and both runners advanced on a bunt by Anthony Giansanti. Alvaro Rondon singled past second baseman Tyler Bortnick to drive in both runs on the first of his four hits on the night.
Sugar Land broke the game open in the third. Kyle Kubitza singled home Matt Chavez from third with a one-out single to center. Barnes followed with a three-run homer, giving Beeler a 6-0 cushion.
The Skeeters added runs on a solo homer by Denis Phipps in the fourth, the first given up by Garrett Granitz all season, and an RBI double into the right field corner by Kubitza in the seventh.
A tiring Beeler was reached for three runs in the eighth. The Barnstormers loaded the bases on a single by K.C. Hobson and a pair of walks. Rondon, who made a brilliant play on Nate Coronado earlier in the game, was unable to handle a smash by De La Rosa cleanly and only got a force out at second. De La Rosa took advantage of defensive indifference, advancing to second, and Bortnick bounced a single up the middle to score two.
Blake Gailen, who was robbed by Giansanti on a diving catch in the fourth, singled to lead off the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 15 and his on-base streak to 23.
Brooks Hall (4-2) will take the hill for the Barnstormers on Tuesday against Konner Wade (3-1). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 7:45 EDT.
NOTES: Huascar Brazoban wiggled out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the bottom of the eight to keep his 0.00 ERA intact through 10 appearances...Lancaster failed to steal a base for only the sixth time all year...Lancaster has only seven hits in the last two games.
Atlantic League Stories from June 26, 2018
- Bortnick's Big Night Keeps Barnstormers In First - Lancaster Stormers
- Bees Shutout Patriots In Big Series Opener - New Britain Bees
- Bullpen Brilliance Leads Ducks Past Revs - Long Island Ducks
- Bees Shut out Patriots 1-0 - Somerset Patriots
- Blue Crabs Strong in Return to Southern Maryland - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Sugar Land Narrows Gap With 8-3 Win - Lancaster Stormers
- Somerset Patriots Land Major Leaguer Jermaine Curtis - Somerset Patriots
- Bees Add Two, Including Former Big League Pitcher - New Britain Bees
- Cuevas' Crush Gives Revs Dramatic Comeback Win - York Revolution
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