BARNSTORMERS STRIKE EARLY, WIN BIG

The Lancaster Barnstormers keep on going.

Lancaster struck for six runs in the top of the first inning on Friday night and cruised to an 11-1 win over the York Revolution in the opener of a three-game series.  The win kept the Barnstormers playoff hopes alive, trailing the Revolution by two games with two head-to-head matchups left this weekend.

Darian Sandford drew a leadoff walk from Jay Gause (10-4) and stole second.  Beau Amaral slapped a single into left, chasing Sandford to third.  Caleb Gindl yanked an RBI single into right to produce the first run.  Sean Halton and Trayvon Robinson picked up walks to force home an extra run.  Two more scored on Nate Coronado’s line drive single into left center.  Steve Clevenger ripped an RBI double into right for a 5-0 lead before Gause could record the first out on a fly ball by Josh Bell.

Lance Zawadzki capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Barnstormers kept up the attack over the next four innings, scoring runs on sacrifice flies by Halton and Coronado, an RBI double by Robinson and an error on a potential double play grounder as Amaral jarred the ball loose from Telvin Nash’s glove on a tag at first.

Meanwhile, Joe Gardner (3-4) mastered the Revolution’s potent lineup.  The right-hander allowed five hits and a run over six innings of work, walking one and striking out a season-high nine.

York managed its only run in the third.  With two outs, Alonzo Harris stroked a double down the third base line and scored on a single to right by Jared Mitchell.  Rubi Silva flied out to the warning track in right for the final out of the inning, and the Revs only advanced one runner into scoring position over the remainder of the evening.

Luis Gonzalez and Jarret Leverett worked three hitless innings of relief for the Barnstormers.

Brad Bergesen (9-9) will make the start for the Barnstormers on Saturday evening against right-hander Victor Mateo (6-9).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  Both Sandford and Telvin Nash were ejected the game, Sandford on a call at first base in the third inning and Nash over a called third strike in the eighth…Coronado is now batting .408 on the road (42-103)…Sandford advanced to third on the Barnstormers’ single season list with his 41^st steal…He is one shy of second (Travis Hake, 2005)…Lancaster trails in the War of the Roses, 9-8.