BARNSTORMERS TRIPPED UP IN EIGHTH

Lancaster Falls to Lexington, 6-4

Three times on Saturday night, the Lancaster Barnstormers matched Lexington runs with an equal number in their half of the inning.  The fourth time, they failed to do so as the Legends took a 6-4 decision at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The loss dropped Lancaster’s lead in the North Division’s second half race to 3 ½ games over Southern Maryland, which won, 1-0, at Staten Island.

With one out in the eighth, Tillman Pugh doubled to left, his third hit of the game.  League home run leader Courtney Hawkins also doubled off Brandyn Sittinger (0-1) on a drive to left.  A wild pitch sent Hawkins to third, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Isaias Tejeda.

Lancaster’s first two hitters singled to open the bottom of the eighth, but Dondrei Hubbard was cut down by Hawkins trying to turn the first into a double.  Aneuris Rosario took over in the ninth and allowed only a walk to Melvin Mercedes in picking up his first save.

The Legends first took a lead in the second on a double by Phil Ervin, a fly ball and Manuel Geraldo’s grounder.  Lancaster answered in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff walk to Anderson Feliz, a ground out and Chris Proctor’s RBI single to right.

Hawkins provided Lexington with another lead in the third with a two-out RBI single that brought Teodoro Martinez home.  The Barnstormers countered in the bottom of the third on a double steal on which Jacob Barfield raced across with the run.

Montrell Marshall belted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh for a 4-2 Lexington edge.  Lancaster again answered.  Proctor reached on an infield single to open the home half of the inning.  Trace Loehr’s single to center moved him to third, and Loehr followed with his second steal of the night.  A grounder by Melvin Mercedes produced one run.  Loehr scored the tying tally, come home on a wild pitch during a third strike to Andretty Cordero.

The series concluded Sunday at 1:00.  Lancaster will send Oscar De La Cruz (6-2) to the mound against lefty Thomas Dorminy (5-6).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel, starting at 12:55.  Following Sunday afternoon, the Barnstormers will play 21 of 24 games on the road.

NOTES:  Anderson Feliz hit safely for the ninth straight game…Loehr is now 16-for-16 in stolen bases…Cordero his safely in his seventh straight…Sittinger made his first appearance since July 24…He had been home for the birth of his twins…Mercedes reached base for the 36^th straight “full” game…He lost a streak on July 30, due to an ejection…Lexington starter Ean Walda made his Atlantic League debut as did Lancaster center fielder Hubbard.ReplyReply allForward