Southern Maryland Wins Third Straight, 2-0
For the first time all season, the Lancaster Barnstormers could not find a way to score.
Southern Maryland’s Daryl Thompson combined with Cody Eppley on a six-hit shutout as the Blue Crabs won their third straight against the ‘Stormers at Regency Furniture Stadium this week, 2-0.
Thompson (3-2) scattered four singles and two Caleb Gindl doubles over his eight innings of work. The right-hander walked only one, Sean Halton on a long at bat in the second, and struck out six. The Southern Maryland native threw 116 pitches, 86 of them for strikes.
The Barnstormers managed to get runners into scoring position in four separate innings. Their biggest threat came in the fifth when Blake Gailen and Vladimir Frias stroked line drive singles around a force play grounder by Trayvon Robinson. Thompson retired Anderson De La Rosa on a fly ball to center and struck out Darian Sandford to end the opportunity.
Rico Noel, who rejoined the Barnstormers on Tuesday, bunted for a base hit to start the sixth. He stole second as Gindl struck out and eventually made it to third as Patrick Palmeiro mishandled a line drive by Sean Halton, then made a wide throw after recovering the ball.
Southern Maryland scored the only two runs it needed in the bottom of the first off Rommie Lewis (2-3). With one out, Edwin Garcia reached on an infield single as Frias could not maintain his footing on a ground ball to his left. Michael Snyder followed with a double into the right field corner. Zach Wilson drove home his 18th run against the Barnstormers this season with a sacrifice fly, and Cory Vaughn doubled off the fence in left for the 2-0 lead.
Lewis escaped a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the second and went on to work six innings, allowing nine hits and the two runs. He walked three and struck out six.
The series concludes on Thursday evening. Lancaster will send Elih Villanueva (3-1) to the hill against Drew Hayes (0-1). Fans may tune into the YouTube broadcast, beginning at 6:15.
NOTES: Lewis gave the Barnstormers their 12th quality start of the year…Sandford singled to lead off the game, extending his hitting streak to eight…The Barnstormers again struck out 10 batters in a game…Lancaster is hitless in its last 18 at bats with runners in scoring position.