Lewis Blanks Ducks

Barnstormers Rap Out 16 Hits in 10-0 Win

Rommie Lewis fired six shutout innings, picking up his first win in six weeks, as the Lancaster Barnstormers drubbed the Long Island Ducks, 10-0, Saturday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With Southern Maryland losing at home to New Britain to end a six-game winning streak, the Barnstormers picked up a game in the standings and trail the Blue Crabs by only one-half game in the Freedom Division chase.

Lewis (3-5) limited Long Island to five singles over a six-inning stint. The left-hander walked only one and struck out three.

He found trouble only in the third inning. Dan Lyons reached on that one walk issued by Lewis, coming with one out in the inning. Fehlandt Lentini flied out to center, but Elmer Reyes scorched a single that skipped off Sean Halton’s glove at third. Lew Ford hit a bouncer to the hole at short that was fumbled by Vladimir Frias for an error, loading the bases. Lewis recovered and struck out Angelo Songco to end the inning.

Three relievers finished up the whitewash with an inning apiece.

The ‘Stormers made it easy for Lewis early. Blake Gailen connected for a homer to right center off Dennis O’Grady (2-3), one out into the first inning. Caleb Gindl walked, and K.C. Hobson followed with a two-run blast to right.

After Lyons cut down Vladimir Frias at the plate on Rico Noel’s double in the second, Gailen picked up Noel from third for a 5-0 lead.

Hobson homered again in the fifth, and the Barnstormers tacked on their final four markers in the sixth inning, two on a bases loaded double by Gindl into the left field corner.

Lancaster and Long Island conclude the series on Sunday afternoon. The Barnstormers will send left-hander Jarret Leverett (4-1) to the hill against Major League veteran Rafael Perez (4-2). The game will be carried on Blue Ridge Cable 11, beginning at 2:00.

NOTES: Hobson has homered four times in five official at bats against O’Grady…The Lancaster first baseman has taken the league home run lead with 15…He extended his league leading RBI total to 49…Rico Noel added three hits and two runs scored…He has reached base 38 times in 20 games and has scored 19 runs…He had two of the franchise record tying seven doubles in the game…It was the sixth time in club history they had that many…Lancaster’s 32 total bases was a season high…Coincidentally, the Barnstormers also beat Long Island, 10-0, on the other Saturday night on which the two teams played.