Barnstormers Fall in Tenth

The Long Island Ducks parlayed two doubles, two errors and two walks into a five-run inning in the top of the 10^th inning to beat the Lancaster Barnstormers, 9-4, in the middle game of a three-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With the loss, the Barnstormers fell three games behind the York Revolution in the second half and will need to stay alive on Thursday and sweep York over the weekend to advance to the post-season.

With one out in the tenth, Giovanny Alfonzo yanked a double into the left center field gap off Kaohi Downing (2-1).  Elmer Reyes stroked a grounder to third, but Sean Halton made a high throw to first baseman Steve Clevenger, and Alfonzo raced home with the tiebreaking run.  Lew Ford was walked intentionally to fill in first base.  John Anderson was summoned from the bullpen.  He walked Marc Krauss to load the bases.  Ruben Gotay banged a potential double play grounder to short, but Nate Coronado was unable to grab the handle, allowing a second run to score.  Angelo Songco followed with a three-run double to left center, capping the scoring.

The Barnstormers had fought back twice to tie the game.  Down, 3-1, in the sixth, the Barnstormers picked up a one-out single by Cole Garner and a tying, two-run homer to right by Caleb GIndl.

In the eighth, Alfonzo doubled to right to lead off.  Reyes hit a one-hopper back to the mound.  Scott Shuman fumbled the ball initially and then fired a strike to first.  The ball escaped Clevenger’s grasp, allowing Alfonzo to score.  From there, Shuman struck out two and got a force out to escape the inning.

Again, the Barnstormers responded.  Cole Garner cranked a long two-out double off the vinyl signs in left center.  Halton was walked intentionally, but Gindl followed with a single into left center to score the tying run.

Ford and Gotay hit earlier home runs for the Ducks.

Alfonzo and Garner each finished the night with four hits.  Rob Rogers (6-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win.

Lancaster plays its final home game of the 2017 regular season on Thursday.  Rommie Lewis (9-11) will make the start for the ‘Stormers against fellow lefty Jake Fisher (0-0).

NOTES:  The Barnstormers are 3-5 in extra inning games…Garner doubled twice and has 14 two-base hits in 17 games…Halton doubled in Lancaster’s first run of the night, his 31^st double, 61^st extra base hit and 87^th RBI of the season.