stormers News

CARPENETER’S FIRST PRO AT BAT A WINNER

Local Player Delivers Pinch Single in Eighth

A marathon between the Long Island Ducks and Lancaster Barnstormers on Thursday evening was decided by Cedar Crest’s Joseph Carpenter.

Carpenter, 22, who was just signed by the Barnstormers on Wednesday, singled home two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to snap a 10-10 tie and send the Barnstormers to their tenth win in 11 games, 12-10.

Trace Loehr opened the home eighth with a single to center field off Tyler Webb.  Melvin Mercedes laid down a bunt which was thrown away by first baseman Carlos Castro, putting runners at second and third.  Carpenter, pinch hitting for pitcher Dominic DiSabatino, grounded a single up the middle to score both runners.

The cushion was enough for closer West Tunnell, who worked around a one-out ground rule double in the ninth for his eighth save.

Ariel Sandoval singled home one run, and Anthony Peroni belted a grand slam in the first as Lancaster jumped ahead, 5-0.

The Barnstormers pitching staff, however, had an incredible bout of wildness all evening.  Starter Erik Manoah yielded three runs in the third, two of which reached on walks.

With Lancaster leading, 8-3, entering the fifth, the right-hander yielded back-to-back singles to Deibinson Romero and Castro but Romero was thrown out at third for the first out.  Castro took second on a passed ball, and Dustin Woodcock walked.  Joe DeCarlo brought home one run with a double to left.  Vladimir Frias followed with a walk to load the bases, and Matt Chamberlain made it 8-5 with a ground ball.  A walk to Phil Caulfield reloaded the sacks.  Donald Goodson replaced Manoah on the mound and yielded a two-run single to Lew Ford, the day before the Duck’s 46th birthday.  Pinch hitter Kevin Whatley walked, and Goodson hit Romero with a pitch to force home the tying run.

Lancaster took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth.  Anderson Feliz led off with a single and was forced at second on a bunt by Peroni.  Jake Hoover advanced Peroni to second on a base hit to left.  Trace Loehr’s grounder to first was thrown away by Castro, trying to force Hoover at second, allowing Loehr to score.  Mercedes followed with a single to right for a 10-8 lead.

Long Island caught up on seven walks and one more hit batter over the next two innings before Dominic DiSabatino (6-3) rescued the Barnstormers from a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh, retiring Caulfield on a fly ball to right.  The right-hander threw a scoreless eighth.

On Friday, the Barnstormers will host the Lexington Legends to start a three-game series.  Nile Ball (6-3) will take the mound for Lancaster against Lexington right-hander David LeBron (5-2).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel, starting at 6:25.

NOTES:  Peroni’s slam was Lancaster’s third of the season…It was only his third homer as a Barnstormer…Lancaster picked up one-half game on Southern Maryland, who split a doubleheader against High Point…The club is a season best six games over .500 overall and 14 games over .500 in the second half…Anderson Feliz extended a hitting streak to seven…Andretty Cordero, who has started every game, was removed after the Barnstormers lost their DH in the fifth…Mercedes scored a run for the eighth straight game…The 16 walks by Lancaster was a season-high and four off the all-time record, set during the automated ball-strike era…Long Island’s 17 runners left on base were the most against Lancaster this season.