Sugar Land On Verge of First Half Title
June 30, 2018 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Dallas Beeler threw a no-hitter for 5 1/3 innings on Monday.
He improved upon that performance on Saturday evening.
Beeler (6-1) threw eight no-hit innings for the Sugar Land Skeeters, pitching the host club to a 4-0 win over the Lancaster Barnstormers at Constellation Field. A Sugar Land win on Sunday evening would wrap up the first half title for the Skeeters, who have won the last four in the weeklong series.
Lancaster broke up the no-hitter in the ninth when Rico Noel beat out a one-out single to the hole at shortstop off lefty reliever Kraig Sitton.
The one-time Chicago Cubs' right-hander walked Blake Gailen and Ryan Casteel in succession in the first inning before reeling off 19 outs in a row. During one stretch, Beeler did not allow a ball out of the infield for three innings.
Gailen and Casteel both threatened the no-hit bid in the seventh. Anthony Giansanti raced in from center to grab Gailen's flare leading off the inning. Casteel barely missed an extra base hit down the right field line as his drive sliced foul. On the next offering, the Lancaster catcher screamed a line drive into the glove of third baseman Kyle Kubitza.
Trayvon Robinson's leadoff bunt in the eighth was fumbled by Beeler for an error. Robinson stole second and took third on a Grant Desme fly ball. Beeler struck out Carlos Garcia and got Tyler Bortnick on a grounder to third to escape the threat.
Giansanti belted his third homer of the series onto the left field deck off Steve Johnson (3-4) in the bottom of the second.
The Skeeters scored a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Giansanti, who is 12-for-21 in the series, doubled to left. After Johnson struck out Albert Cordero, Garrett Granitz entered the game. Denis Phipps stroked a line drive to left center. Darian Sandford raced over and made a lunging effort, but the ball came out of his glove with Phipps arriving at second on a double. One out later, Barrett Barnes singled into center to cap the scoring.
Lancaster will send Brooks Hall (5-2) to the mound against right-hander Konner Wade (3-1) on Sunday at 6:05 CDT in the rematch of the only Lancaster win in the series. Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:45 EDT.
NOTES: The Barnstormers had not had fewer than four hits in game thru June 23, but have had fewer than four three times in the last week...Scott Shuman walked the first batter he faced on Saturday, then struck out the side in order giving him 27 strikeouts in his last 13 2/3 innings.
Atlantic League Stories from June 30, 2018
- Revs Complete Doubleheader Sweep with 9-3 Win - Somerset Patriots
- Late Offense Falls Short for Long Island - Long Island Ducks
- Bees Sting Blue Crabs To Even Up Series - New Britain Bees
- Sugar Land On Verge of First Half Title - Lancaster Stormers
- Bees Bounce Back to Even Series - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Somerset Shut out by York 4-0 - Somerset Patriots
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