Bergesen Shines In “Playoff” Tuneup!

Lancaster Takes Sunday Matinee, 7-2

Brad Bergesen sparkled for six innings on Sunday afternoon in his final tuneup before facing the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the first half-deciding game on July 28.

The former Baltimore Orioles’ right-hander allowed only two hits while striking out three, pitching the Lancaster Barnstormers to a 7-2 victory over the Long Island Ducks in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Bergesen (6-6) retired the first 12 batters he faced before Jordan Pacheco ripped a leadoff single to left in the fifth inning.  Sean Halton cut the ball off at the front of the warning track and fired into second, cutting down Pacheco who opted not to slide into the bag.  Marc Krauss followed with a towering home run to right to cut the Lancaster lead to 2-1.  Bergesen then set down five of the final six batters he faced, with an error interrupting the success.

Lancaster was able to reach Long Island’s all-time leading winner, John Brownell, for five runs over 4 2/3 innings.  Anderson De La Rosa and Nate Coronado opened the second inning with long doubles to left, and Coronado scored the second ‘Stormers run on a single into center by Steve Clevenger.

It was the bottom of the fifth that provided the Barnstormers staff some breathing room.  Beau Amaral led off with a triple to right center and scored on a ground single into left by Rico Noel.  Two outs later, Cole Garner found the right field tents for a two-run homer and a 5-1 Lancaster lead.

Clevenger singled home Amaral in the sixth, and Sean Halton followed with a sacrifice fly for Lancaster’s final run.  Angelo Songco homered in the ninth for the Ducks.

Six different Barnstormers collected two hits apiece out of Lancaster’s total of 14.

The Barnstormers head to New Britain, CT on Monday to open a four-game series against the Bees.  Lancaster is scheduled to send LHP Tommy Shirley (0-2) to the hill against former Phillies right-hander Jonathan Pettibone.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers’ Youtube Channel at 6:15.

NOTES:  Halton’s sac fly was his ninth of the season, one shy of the franchise record…Bergesen has allowed only two earned runs in 36 2/3 innings (0.49 ERA) in his six wins…The Barnstormers have won at least two games in every home series but one in 2017…De La Rosa had his 10^th double in his last 16 games…Long Island turned double plays in four of the last five innings.