BARNSTORMERS STEP CLOSER

Gap Narrows to Two Games with 3-1 Win at York

Lancaster’s pitching and defense throttled York’s big bats again on Sunday afternoon as the Barnstormers defeated the York Revolution, 3-1, to take the rubber game of a three-game series at People’s Bank Park.

The win brought Lancaster to within two games of the frontrunning Revolution, the closest that the ‘Stormers have been since May 18.

Over the first three innings, the Barnstormers were thwarted offensively, stranding five runners and grounding into a double play against D. James Simmons (4-2).

They finally broke through in the fourth.  Sean Halton led off with a double that sliced into the right field corner, ticking off Alfredo Marte’s glove on a sliding attempt.  One out later, K.C. Hobson singled Halton to third.  Lance Zawadzki got the first run of the game home with a slow roller up the first base line, and Hobson scored when Travis Witherspoon dropped a pop fly single into shallow center.

Witherspoon also singled home Charlie Cutler with an insurance run in the ninth.

Mike Lee (2-1) worked the first five innings, yielding four hits, including Alfredo Marte’s leadoff homer in the fifth.  Butch Hobson used Matt Reynolds, Pete Andrelczyk, Scott Gracey for one inning each to pin down the win.

Lee got help from Halton in the second inning.  With one out, Marte ripped a sharp grounder down the line.  Halton, in a rare start at third, made a sprawling stop of the smash, got to a knee, and made a perfect sidearm throw while falling back toward foul territory.

Gracey survived the biggest scare of the four.  Jason Repko greeted the right-hander with a single to left.  Isaias Tejeda was retired on a routine fly to center, but Joel Guzman chopped an 0-2 offering through the right side, advancing Repko to third.  Gracey bounced back to strike out both Telvin Nash and Andres Perez looking to end the inning.

Burns retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his ninth save.

Lancaster is off on Monday before opening a three-game series against Bridgeport Tuesday.  The Barnstormers will send Terry Doyle (2-2) to the hill against right-handed knuckleballer Dan Johnson (0-2). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 6:45.

NOTES:  Reynolds has struck out 20 in his last 10 innings…Andrelczyk has pitched 13 consecutive scoreless appearances…He worked for the fourth consecutive game…Gracey has thrown eight straight scoreless innings…Lancaster leads the PNC War of the Roses, 5-2.