BELL RINGS UP ANOTHER

Third Baseman’s Homer in Eighth Lifts Lancaster to Win

Josh Bell has been the man in the clutch for the Lancaster Barnstormers on their current road trip.

Bell slammed a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to snap a 1-1 tie and lift the ‘Stormers to a 3-1 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish Monday evening at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

The win kept the Barnstormers within 2 ½ games of the frontrunning York Revolution in the Freedom Division.

With one out in the eighth, Josh Whitaker drew a walk on a close 3-2 pitch from Bridgeport lefty Brian Moran (0-3). Bell then connected on a – pitch, nailing a line drive over the signs in left to give the Barnstormers the margin of victory.

Lancaster’s other run also scored on a home run as Mike McDade cleared the boards in left center with two outs in the fourth off Mike Antonini.

Tanner Peters was reached for nine singles by Bridgeport over 6 2/3 innings, but it took his lone walk to produce a run. Adron Chambers picked up the walk to lead off the fifth inning. He advanced on a sacrifice by Endy Chavez and went to third on a ground out by Welington Dotel. Jose Cuevas rolled a grounder into the hole at short and beat Kevin Ahrens’ throw, which skipped past K.C. Hobson for an error as the tying run scored.

Peters was replaced by Kevin Munson (2-0) with two outs in the seventh. Munson retired Cuevas on a grounder to first with two runners on base to end the threat.

Munson stranded two more Bridgeport runners in the eighth, striking out the side around a walk and a single. Ryan Dennick started the ninth to face two left-handed batters. Chambers reached on an error and Chavez flied out to left. Pete Andrelczyk took over and struck out Dotel and Cuevas on seven total pitches to end the night, earning his first save of the season.

The Barnstormers visit Bridgeport again on Tuesday. Connor Root (0-1) will make his second start for Lancaster. He will be opposed by right-hander Blake Beavans (2-1). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:55.

NOTES: Peters gave the Barnstormers their fourth straight quality start and seventh in the last nine games…Bell has six homers in the last 20 games…He has driven in at least one run in four straight games and in six of the last seven…In the last four games, he has either tied the game or given Lancaster the lead five times…McDade has six homers in 19 games…The Barnstormers have left 45 runners on base in the five games of the road trip and have struck out 56 times…Opponents have stranded 40 runners…Lancaster is 3-2 on the trip.