Barnstormers’ Hot Streak Stopped by Bees’ Pen.

New Britain Takes Middle Game of Series, 4-2

The New Britain bullpen shut down the Lancaster Barnstormers for 4 1/3 innings Tuesday night as the Bees captured the middle game of a three-game series, 4-2, at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

New Britain manager Stan Cliburn used five relievers to record the final 13 outs of the night.  Nate Roe (5-3) picked up the first four of those outs to earn the win.  Brandon Fry, Casey Coleman, Brandon League and Shawn Gilblair finished the game with Gilblair picking up his ninth save.

Bees shortstop Mike Baca put the Bees into the lead in the sixth inning.  Jordan Hinshaw and Jonathan Griffin picked up consecutive one-out singles off Rommie Lewis (6-8).  R.J. Hively entered from the bullpen, but, before he could strike out Michael Crouse, the pair executed a double steal.  Baca fought to 2-2 before dropping a single into center field, scoring Hinshaw for a 3-2 lead.  Griffin was cut down at the plate by Beau Amaral to end the inning.

Griffin added a two-out solo homer to right in the eighth.

New Britain grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth.  Conor Bierfeldt slugged a leadoff homer onto the hillside in left.  Hinshaw reached on an infield single.  With the runner in motion, Griffin hammered a line drive into the right center alley.  Hinshaw scored, but Griffin was caught in a rundown between first and second and tagged out.

The Barnstormers were able to tie the game in the fifth.  Trayvon Robinson roped a double to left with one out.  He scored when Sean Halton grounded an 0-2 pitch up the middle.  Halton took second on the throw home and, in turn, scored when Steve Clevenger singled to left center, chasing starter Greg Nappo.

Lancaster and New Britain meet in the rubber game of the three-game series on Wednesday.  Joe Gardner will make his 2017 Barnstormers’ debut against lefty Nick Greenwood (1-3).  Fans may tune into the game on Blue Ridge Cable 11 and the Barnstormers YouTube Channel.

NOTES:  Halton has 11 RBI in six games…Clevenger is 6-for-8 in the series…The Griffin homer in the eighth was the first allowed by Scott Shuman in 39 innings this season…It was also the first run he allowed at home in 18 innings…Amaral is 11-for-28 (.393) in his last eight games…Nate Coronado had his seventh multi-hit game since joining the club after the All-Star break.