BARNSTORMERS BLANKED BY CRABS

BARNSTORMERS BLANKED BY CRABS

Pitching Shines in 3-0 Loss

Lancaster pitching limited the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to only three hits on Wednesday night, but the streaking Crabs still found a way to win with a 3-0 victory over the Barnstormers in the middle game of a three-game series.

It was a franchise record 10^th straight win for Southern Maryland while the Barnstormers fell for the eighth straight time on the road.

Errors proved to be the undoing of the Barnstormers.  In the third, Augie Sylk (0-3) walked catcher Ryan Haug to start the inning and sent him to second on a wild pitch.  One out later, Sylk made a high pickoff throw to second.  Center fielder LeDarious Clark overran the ball, allowing Haug to race around and give the Blue Crabs a 1-0 lead.

One inning later, with two outs and Alex Crosby at first on an HBP, Matt Hibbert’s grounder to short eluded Jake Hoover’s grasp for an error.  On the next pitch, both runners started, and catcher Anthony Peroni sailed a throw into left field, enabling Crosby to score.  Haug then plugged the gap in left center for an RBI double, the only hit off Sylk in four innings.

Lancaster, meanwhile, collected five hits off a quintet of Southern Maryland hurlers but never had two runners on base at the same time.  Mark Zagunis got to third on a single, stolen base and throwing error in the second.  Connor Lien led off the eighth with a double and moved up on Trace Loehr’s fly ball to right, but Endrys Briceno fanned the next two to maintain the shutout.

Denson Hull (1-0) worked the first five innings for the win.  Mat Latos survived a leadoff single by Clark in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

The series concludes Thursday morning at 11:05.  Brent Teller (1-1) will make the start for Lancaster against lefty Mitch Lambson (1-0).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 11:00.

NOTES:  Lien had an extra base hit for the fourth straight game…He has five doubles and a triple in 11 at bats since joining the Barnstormers last Friday…Melvin Mercedes has a five-game hitting streak…The Barnstormers have scored only 16 runs in the eight-game road losing streak but have scored 45 runs in their four wins.

About the Lancaster Barnstormers

The Lancaster Barnstormers are headed into their 18^th year in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.  Home games are played at Ballpark Digest’s two-time Best Ballpark in MLB Partner League Baseball – Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Please call 717.509.HITS (4487) or visit www.lancasterbarnstormers.com for more information. 

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

With teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 44 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 24-year history. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

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