EARLY HOMER SPREE PACES BARNSTORMERS

Lancaster Opens Homestand with 6-3 Win

Before Ross Seaton could settle in on Friday evening, the Barnstormers got what they needed off the Bridgeport right-hander

Caleb Gindl opened the game with the first of four Lancaster homers, and, two batters later, K.C. Hobson belted a two-run shot as the ‘Stormers dropped the visiting Bluefish, 6-3, in the opener of a three-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Gindl took Seaton onto the tents in right field to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, tying the Lancaster franchise record for the quick 1-0 lead. Trayvon Robinson followed with a double to right, barely beating Welington Dotel’s throw to second, and Hobson launched the first of his two homers on the night toward the screen in right center for a 3-0 advantage.

Josh Bell and Mike Jacobs followed with singles before Seaton (0-3) retired 21 of the remaining 22 batters he faced on the night. The exception was Hobson’s second long ball of the evening, a rocket down the right field line to lead off the third as Lancaster went up, 4-0.

Justin Jackson (2-1) was able to fend off the Bluefish for six innings. The right-hander retired nine of 10 Bridgeport batters in the first three innings, eight on ground balls. Bridgeport started to fight back in the fourth. Endy Chavez led off with a walk and moved to second on a line drive single to left by Jose Cuevas. Both runners moved up on a Jackson wild pitch. Sean Burroughs whacked an infield single off Jackson’s foot to drive in one run. A second run came across as Dotel grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, which helped Jackson survive a long two-out double by Jose Gil.

The right-hander got through the next two innings, unscathed, but the Bluefish advanced against the Lancaster bullpen.

Angelys Nina connected off Evan Meek for a one-out solo homer in the seventh to draw Bridgeport within one run. In the eighth, Burroughs picked up his third single of the night, a liner to center off Pete Andrelczyk. One out later, Gil grounded a single into left on a 3-2 pitch with Burroughs taking third. Andrelczyk held the lead, retiring second baseman Luis Rodriguez on a fly out to center.

Trayvon Robinson followed an infield base hit by Gindl with a two-run homer to left, stretching the lead to three in the eighth inning. Cory Burns pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

The Barnstormers entertain Bridgeport again on Saturday evening with fireworks to follow the game. Bridgeport will send left-hander Matthew Spann (1-0) to the hill while the Barnstormers have not committed to a starter. Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 6:45.

NOTES: Gindl is 34-for-83 (.410) in the streak…Hobson also had a pair of homers at Long Island on August 14 and has hit 14 in his last 46 games…Jackson gave Lancaster his first quality start, allowing five hits and two runs in six innings…Burns is 10-for-10 in save opportunities at home…Earlier in the day, Terry Doyle’s contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks…The right-hander will close out the season with Class AA Mobile…Catcher Charlie Cutler left the ballclub to attend the birth of his first child…He is not expected to return…The Barnstormers have signed right-handed pitcher Ben Ancheff from Williamstown, PA, who received national media exposure during his time at St. Thomas University and with Falmouth in the Cape Cod League…He is one option to start on Saturday.