Barnstormers Drop Series Finale

Russo, Crabs Pen Combine on Three-Hitter

After a week of slugfests, the Lancaster Barnstormers could not muster an attack on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 3-1, in the finale of a three-game series.

The loss dropped Lancaster 1 ½ games behind York with six games left on the schedule.  Sugar Land remained in the race, 2 ½ games behind the Revolution.

David Russo (2-3) fired a no-hitter for 5 2/3 innings on Sunday before Trayvon Robinson chopped a single up the middle to break up the effort.

He received all the help needed in the top of the first off Brad Bergesen (9-9).  WIth one out, Edwin Garcia doubled over Robinson’s head in left.  He scored when Nate Samson grounded a single up the middle.  Samson took second on Darian Sandford’s throw home and scored when Michael Snyder spanked a single to the left of shortstop Nate Coronado.

The Blue Crabs added a run in the fifth off reliever Jarret Leverett.  After the lefty struck out the first batter he faced, he walked Luis Alen and Zach Cone in succession.  Jose Lozada grounded a single up the middle to score Alen for a 3-0 lead.

Lancaster did not mount a threat until the bottom of the ninth.  Robinson walked to lead off the inning.  Caleb Gindl dropped a bunt to the third base side of the mound.  Cody Eppley was unable to make the play, but Lozada raced in from third to cut down Gindl on a close play that the Barnstormers vehemently argued.

Eppley struck out Cole Garner, but Sean Halton kept the rally alive with an RBI single to left center, his second hit of the game.  Steve Clevenger grounded into a force play to end the game with Eppley notching his 32^nd save.

Lancaster is off on Monday, the club’s first scheduled day off since August 7.  Play will resume on Tuesday evening with Lancaster hosting the Long Island Ducks.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  The Barnstormers drew over 22,100 for the three-game series…Lancaster still has a magic number of two to clinch the best overall record in the division…R.J. Hively pitched a scoreless sixth inning to drop his ERA at home to 1.08…Lancaster and Southern Maryland finished the season series at 10-10.