Barnstormers Strike Early, Repel Skeeters.

Lancaster Defeats Sugar Land, 6-1

The Lancaster Barnstormers struck for six runs over the first two innings on Saturday evening and finished off the Sugar Land Skeeters, 6-1, in the second game of a six-game series.

It was the second straight win for the Barnstormers since play resumed after the All-Star break.

Rico Noel slapped a 2-2 pitch from Bobby Blevins (4-5) into left center field to start the game.  The ball skipped past center fielder Cole Gillespie’s shoestring try for a double.  Noel stole third and scored on a grounder by Lastings Milledge.

With two outs, Sean Halton kept the inning going with a triple over Derek Miller’s leaping try against the left field wall.  He scored on a wild pitch.

The second inning was even larger.  Anderson De La Rosa, newcomer Nate Coronado, and Vladimir Frias all singled.  De La Rosa scored as Noel grounded into a force play at second.  Milledge, for the second straight night, produced the game’s biggest hit, cranking a double over Gillespie’s head scoring two more.  He would eventually come home on Trayvon Robinson’s sacrifice fly to center.

From there, the ‘Stormers offense stalled, not producing another hit until a two-out double by De La Rosa in the eighth.

The Skeeters had quick starts to a number of their innings, getting the leadoff man on five times.   Jarret Leverett (5-5) walked the first three batters he faced in the game, but De La Rosa picked Joe Benson off first, and Leverett nabbed Josh Prince off second.  Nothing became of the inning.

Sugar Land scored its only run in the third.  Miller opened the bottom of the fifth with a double inside the third base bag and went to third on a single by Benson.  Prince knocked home the run with a sacrifice fly to center.  Benson was thrown out stealing second, and the inning again lost steam.

The Skeeters had two more threats, getting two runners on against Kevin Munson in the seventh and against Daniel Moskos in the eighth.  Munson got out of the jam on a shallow fly ball to left and a force out.  Moskos got a double play from Bryan Pounds to close the eighth.

Lancaster will send Rommie Lewis (5-5) to the mound on Sunday against league ERA leader Michael Nix (7-5).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 6:45 EDT.

NOTES:  Lancaster has used all eight of its relievers for an inning apiece in the series…All eight have thrown a scoreless frame without allowing a walk…Milledge had his second straight three RBI game…Coronado was 2-for-3 with a walk and a steal in his debut…His first defensive play came on Wilfredo Rodriguez’ ground ball which ended the night…De La Rosa has three assists in the series.