BARNSTORMERS DROP RAIN-SHORTENED AFFAIR

Andrew Cabezas stymied the Lancaster Barnstormers for seven innings on Friday evening as the York Revolution tripped up the ‘Stormers, 5-1, in a game shortened by thunderstorms.

Play was halted with two outs and nobody on base in the top of the eighth inning.

With the win, York pulled to within 2 ½ of the Barnstormers in the North Division race.  At this writing, the outcome of Southern Maryland’s game at home against High Point was undetermined.  With a win, Southern Maryland would take sole possession of first place by one-half game.

Cabezas (3-4) allowed seven hits while walking one and striking out a season-high nine.  Only one of the hits went for extra bases, a leg double by Chris Proctor in the fourth inning.  That helped to set up Lancaster’s lone run of the evening.

York grabbed a 1-0 lead off newcomer Brady Tedesco (0-1) in the bottom of the second.  Richard Urena singled off the left field wall with one out in the inning and was forced at second by Jake Rhinesmith.  Alexis Pantoja smashed a single off shortstop Yeison Coca’s glove to send Pantoja to third, and a wild pitch allowed the run to score.

The Revs threatened to blow the game open in the bottom of the third inning.  A bunt single by Tomo Otosaka and infield single by Drew Mendoza opened the inning.  One out later, Tedesco hit Troy Stokes, Jr. with a 2-2 breaking ball to load the bases.  Nellie Rodriguez singled home one before Urena was robbed by Coca’s diving catch in the hole, and Rhinesmith hit into a force out to end the threat.

In the sixth, the Revs struck for three more.  Pantoja doubled past Shawon Dunston, Jr. with one out and scored on a Trey Martin single up the middle.  Otosaka followed with a two-run homer over the left field wall for the 5-1 lead.

The Barnstormers will send Matt Swarmer (3-1) to the mound on Saturday evening against lefty Nick Raquet.  Fans may tune into the game on FloBaseball at 6:25.

NOTES:  Andretty Cordero singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 18…Wilson Garcia went 0-for-3 to snap a seven-game streak…He was on deck when the game ended…Tedesco yielded eight hits, all singles, while walking one and striking out four…He had been 6-0 in the MLB Draft League for West Virginia.