BARNSTORMERS FALL VICTIM TO YORK HOMER BARRAGE

Revs Hit Three Solo Shots in 5-3 Win

The Lancaster Barnstormers held York to a below average output at People’s Bank Park on Friday night, but three solo home runs provided the Revolution a 5-3 victory in the opening game of a three-game series.

Josh Wilson, Alfredo Marte and James Simmons all connected.  Each blast extended York’s lead to two, and the Barnstormers could not find the right offensive combination to catch up.

Still, with the Revs averaging 6.5 runs per home game, the Barnstormers pitching staff did an admirable job keeping York in check.

Lancaster had three run scoring extra base hits of its own.  Josh Whitaker led off the second with a  homer to left center, staking the Barnstormers to an early 1-0 lead.  He also doubled home Caleb Gindl from first base in the fifth.  Mike McDade’s long double to right center plated Josh Bell from first with one out in the eighth to cut the lead to 4-3.

However, York had the difference with back-to-back, two-out RBI singles by Jason Repko and Isaias Tejeda in the second off Tanner Peters (1-2).

Lancaster had its best chance for a big inning in the top of the fourth.  Whitaker and Bell hit consecutive ground ball singles off Frank Gailey (2-0) to start the inning.  Sean Halton flied to left for the first out.  Mike McDade stroked a grounder into the hole at shortstop.  Josh Wilson made a lunging stop, but his off balance throw to third glanced off Whitaker’s leg.  Whitaker got up and tried to score, but third baseman Bryan Pounds retrieved the ball and fired a strike to home, cutting down the runner.  Charlie Cutler was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and Lance Zawadzki harmlessly flied to right to end the inning.

Mike DeMark pinned the tying run at second base in the eighth inning.  In the ninth, the league’s leading closer survived an error by second baseman Michael Rockett and a single by Gindl to earn his 14th save.

Lancaster sends Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-3) to the hill on Saturday against right-hander Micah Owings (2-1).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  McDade extended his hitting streak to 11 games…Kevin Ahrens has hit in six straight while Travis Witherspoon, Gindl and Josh Bell have hit in five in a row…Whitaker has five of his six homers on the road…Matt Reynolds got three strikeouts and has 19 in his last 9 1/3 innings, but he did allow the Simmons home run, the first time the lefty has been touched since May 10…Pete Andrelczyk threw his 11th straight scoreless outing…Lancaster’s staff tied a season high with 13 strikeouts.