BARNSTORMERS FALL TO STEAMING HOT CRABS

BARNSTORMERS FALL TO STEAMING HOT CRABS

Southern Maryland Grabs Series Opener, 2-1

After all these years, the Lancaster Barnstormers still cannot find a way to beat Daryl Thompson.

The right-hander, the all-time Atlantic League wins leader, was knocked around for eight hits over six innings on Tuesday night but only allowed one run to keep his team in the contest.  Then, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs won their ninth straight on Jared Walker’s two-out RBI double in the seventh with a 2-1 triumph over the ‘Stormers in the opener of a three-game series at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Lancaster lost for the seventh consecutive time on the road.

Southern Maryland broke through against Dominic DiSabatino in the home third.  With two outs, the Lancaster right-hander walked Rubi Silva and Walker in succession.  David Harris then slapped a double inside first base for the lead run.

The Barnstormers answered immediately.  Kelly Dugan ripped a single into right, Andretty Cordero into left, and Mark Zagunis picked up the run with a liner into center.  Thompson froze the Barnstormers in their tracks.  Anderson Feliz flied out to shallow right.  Trace Loehr scalded a grounder off Walker’s glove at first, but Silva found the loose ball in time to feed Thompson and retired the lefty batter.  Jake Hoover popped out to second for the third out.

Lancaster threatened Thompson again with two-out singles by Feliz and Loehr in the sixth, but center fielder Jack Sundberg snagged Hoover’s liner with a slight leap to end the threat.

Then, in the seventh, lefty Nick Wells (2-0) allowed a walk to Colton Shaver and a single to right by Dugan before escaping the inning.

That set up the Blue Crabs.  Sundberg dropped a one-out double off the glove of a diving LeDarious Clark in right center against Chase Johnson (0-1).  One out later, Walker took Johnson into the right field corner for the winning hit.

Crabs’ skipper Stan Cliburn marched out the back end of the bullpen, Endrys Briceno and Mat Latos.  Lancaster managed one baserunner, a single by Loehr in the eighth against the duo as Latos earned his fourth save.

Augie Sylk (0-2) will take the mound for the Barnstormers on Wednesday at 6:35 against fellow lefty Denson Hull (0-0).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 6:30.

NOTES:  Southern Maryland’s outfield recorded 12 putouts in the game…Shaver lost an eight-game hitting streak…Dugan is 9-for-18 in the last four games…Loehr and Zagunis recorded multiple hits as did Melvin Mercedes…Lancaster is 0-3 in one-run games.

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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