DAVIES, THOMPSON PROVIDE ANOTHER THRILLER

The last time that Kyle Davies and Daryl Thompson pitched against each other, the Lancaster Barnstormers defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in record time.

Saturday evening’s rematch of the two veterans was more prolonged, but it provided as much drama.

Tony Thomas broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh with a bases-loaded, ground rule double, leading the Blue Crabs to a 3-2 victory in the middle game of the series in front of a season-high 6,523 at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Thompson (5-6) threw seven innings on a six-hitter, leaving after Greg Golson and Darian Sandford singled to open the eighth.  The right-hander walked one and struck out eight in notching his 50^th career victory in the Atlantic League.

Davies (4-5) had a two-hitter into the seventh before dropping his third straight decision.  The right-hander worked at least seven innings for the seventh time in his last eight starts.

When the two met on June 2, Lancaster picked up the 3-1 win in one hour, 59 minutes, the fastest nine inning home game in ‘Stormers history.

Lancaster grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second on a single by Joe Terdoslavich, double by K.C. Hobson and a subsequent throwing error back to the infield by right fielder Rubi Silva.

That lead held until the top of the fifth when Blue Crabs catcher Charlie Valerio launched a home run onto the right field picnic deck.

However, it was in the seventh that the Blue Crabs jumped ahead.  WIth one out, Jose Julio-Ruiz lined a double into right center.  Cory Vaughn followed with a single to left and stole second.  Valerio struck out looking.  Davies walked around switch hitting third baseman Frank Martinez, walking him on four pitches.  Thomas hit a deep fly to left.  Greg Golson froze initially and was unable to catch up to the drive which hopped over the left field wall, providing the Blue Crabs with a 3-1 lead.

Lancaster was thwarted the next two innings.  After the two base hits that opened the eighth, Ryan Chaffee entered the game.  He struck out Michael Martinez following a pair of unsuccessful bunt attempts.  Dan Gamache fouled out down the left field line for the second out before Caleb Gindl walked to load the bases.  Lefty Adam Choplick issued a bases loaded walk to Terdoslavich to force home one run.  The lefty worked to a 2-2 count on Hobson when Sandford made a mad dash toward the plate.  Choplick stepped off and fired home, cutting Sandford down the protecting the one-run lead.

In the ninth, Hobson walked, and Parker Morin singled to start the inning.  Pinch runner Devon Torrence stole third, moving the tying run 90 feet from home, but the inning died there as James Dykstra struck out Josh Bell and got Golson to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the night.

The series concludes on Sunday afternoon with lefties Jared Lakind (2-2) and Tommy Thorpe (0-1) on the hill.  Fans may tune into Blue Ridge 11 or the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 1:00.

NOTES:  Thompson is now 6-7 lifetime against Lancaster…Morin is 4-for-7 in the series and has 12 hits in his last 31 at bats…Matt Marksberry threw the eighth for his fifth straight scoreless appearance…Davies threw his seventh quality start, tying Buddy Baumann for the team lead…Golson extended a hitting streak to five.