BARNSTORMERS STUMBLE, FAIL TO CLINCH CUP

York Remains Alive in War of the Roses with 10-3 Win

For the second straight night, the Lancaster Barnstormers have not been able to hoist the Community Cup on the field at People’s Bank Park in York.

Lancaster went 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position, and York put the game away with seven runs in the bottom of the seventh as the Revolution won for the second straight night, 10-3.

The Barnstormers’ lead in the War of the Roses now stands at 16-12 with four games left to play.

In the top of the first, Melvin Mercedes led off with a single punched into left off Duke von Schamann (6-4).  Andretty Cordero stroked a grounder to third baseman Josue Herrera, who made a clean throw to second, but it appeared the setting sun blinded second baseman Yefri Perez, with the ball escaping into right field.  Mercedes wheeled around to score, and Cordero ended up at second.  Lancaster only managed a walk to Trayvon Robinson over the rest of the inning, setting the tone for a night where the ‘Stormers left a season-high 16 runners on base.

York would tie the game on a Melky Mesa homer in the second and take the lead off Erik Manoah (3-2) in the fourth.  With one out, Anderson Feliz mishandled a grounder by Nellie Rodriguez for an error.  Mesa checked his swing and hit a dribbler between the mound and home plate.  Manoah’s throw skipped past first baseman Joseph Carpenter, and runners ended up at second and third.  Perez’s blooper to left drove home the lead run.

That lead grew to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth.  After a brief, bench-clearing incident ensued a heated discussion between catchers Chris Proctor and Lenin Rodriguez, Manoah walked Rodriguez.  J.C Encarnacion doubled into the left field corner, and Rodriguez eventually scored on a Telvin Nash grounder to third.

The Barnstormers had substantial opportunities to tie the game or take the lead over the next two innings.  In the sixth Carlos Ventura was hit by a pitch, and Trace Loehr singled off reliever Carlos Ventura.  Ventura left with an injury and was replaced by Roniel Raudes.  Mercedes dropped a sacrifice bunt down.  Raudes throw bounced through Perez covering, and Carpenter scored.  Cordero struck out, Jacob Barfield walked to load the bases, but Raudes fanned Trayvon Robinson and coaxed a force play grounder out of Ariel Sandoval to quell the threat. 

Lancaster also got runners to first and third with one out in the seventh, but lefty Tuck Tucker struck out Loehr and got Mercedes on a pop up to keep the one-run lead.

Cam Booser walked three, all on full counts, and allowed a single to open the seventh.  Josh Graham took over and was immediately greeted by Nellie Rodriguez’ long two-run double to right as York took a 6-2 lead.  Mesa delivered a sac fly for the inning’s fourth run.  With two outs, Herrera singled up the middle.  Connor Lien capped the inning with a two-run homer down the left field line.

The Barnstormers got the first two runners on base in each of the final two innings and finally scored when Feliz crossed the plate on a grounder to third by Trace Loehr.

Nile Ball (7-3) will take the mound on Thursday against Eduardo Rivera (5-3) as the Barnstormers attempt to salvage the series.  Fans may tune into the YouTube Channel, starting at 6:25.

NOTES:  There was a 48-minute rain delay before play started…Ariel Sandoval extended his hitting streak to 12, tied for the third longest on the club this season…All nine Lancaster starters reached base at least once by hit, walk or HBP…Lancaster maintained a 2 ½ game lead over Southern Maryland in the North race but dropped into a tie for second in the wild card, one-half game behind the High Point Rockers…Earlier in the day, the Barnstormers placed OF Shawon Dunston, Jr. on the injured list with a hip injury…He has not played since August 6…Lancaster pitchers struck out 11 batters, the ninth straight time the staff has struck out 10 or more against York and the 42^nd time the club has done it this season.