CLUTCH ROBINSON HITS LEAD LANCASTER

Barnstormers Win Ninth Straight at Home

Trayvon Robinson singled home the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh and belted a homer for two insurance runs in the eighth as the Lancaster Barnstormers held off the High Point Rockers, 8-6, Tuesday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

It was the ninth straight home win for the Barnstormers, who took sole possession of first place in the second half North race.

Lancaster trailed, 4-3, entering the seventh.  Kelly Dugan got the inning started with catcher’s interference on an apparent ground out to second.  Andretty Cordero grounded a single up the middle to add a second runner.  Both advanced on a bunt by Anderson Feliz, and Robinson took a 2-2 pitch up the middle from Chasen Bradford (2-2) to put Lancaster ahead, 5-4.  A bases loaded walk to Shawon Dunston, Jr. later in the inning gave the Barnstormers one more. 

Robinson connected for his second homer of the season with Cordero on board in the eighth to provide necessary insurance.

Zander Wiel slugged a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to bring the Rockers back to within two before West Tunnell finally shut the game down.

High Point struck for two runs in the top of the first off Erik Manoah.  Tyler Ladendorf reached on an error by third baseman Trace Loehr.  Ben Aklinski was hit by a pitch and both advanced on a balk.  After Logan Morrison fouled out to third, Wiel singled into left, scoring both runners.

Lancaster answered immediately.  Dunston, Melvin Mercedes and Dugan all singled to produce one run, and a second scored on a sacrifice fly by Cordero.

In the third, the Rockers grabbed their second lead.  Aklinski doubled into the right field corner.  Morrison walked, and Wiel singled off shortstop Jake Hoover’s glove to load the bases.  Jerry Downs was hit by a pitch to force home the lead run.  A second crossed the plate when Michael Martinez lashed the ball back to the mound.  Manoah was able to get an out at first on the deflection as a run scored.

Hoover brought Lancaster to within one on a solo homer to right in the fourth.  Lancaster left the tying run on base in three straight innings before Robinson’s heroics.

Augie Sylk (4-7) threw a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win.

Lancaster entertains High Point again on Wednesday at 6:30.  The Barnstormers will throw right-hander Oscar De La Cruz (4-1) against lefty Jonah Scolaro (2-2).  It is Wet Nose Wednesday at Clipper Magazine Stadium.  Fans may tune into Blue Ridge 11 or the Barnstormers YouTube channel.

NOTES:  High Point pitching coach Frank Viola was ejected after arguing with plate umpire P.J. McConnville during a mound visit in the seventh…Mercedes hit safely in his 10^th straight game…Dunston is 14-for-27 (.519) in the last six games…He has 19 steals in 30 games…In Lancaster’s last 12 wins, Cordero is 24-for-49 (.490) and has hit safely in all 12…Robinson is 9-for-15 with 10 RBI in the last four games and is 24-for-55 (.436) in his last 15 games…Catcher Colton Shaver had his contract purchased by Toronto on Monday…Reliever Bret Clarke threw a scoreless sixth and has now allowed only one earned run in his last 18 innings.