Gindl Blast Gains Split!

Barnstormers Win in Ninth, 7-6

Caleb Gindl watched Garrett Weber slug a two-run homer to pull out a dramatic, come-from-behind win on Sunday afternoon.  On Thursday night, he decided to do it himself.

Gindl took Amalio Diaz over the right field boards with one out in the top of the ninth to deliver a 7-6 victory to the Barnstormers over the Long Island Ducks in the finale of a four-game series.  The win gave the Barnstormers a split of the series, the first games of the second half.

With one out in the ninth, Rico Noel laid down his second perfect of the night, putting the tying run aboard against Diaz (2-1).  Gindl took a strike as Noel bluffed toward second, then blasted the 0-1 pitch over all three tiers of outfield signs for his third homer in the last five days and eighth of the season.  It was the first home run allowed by Diaz, who entered in the eighth to strike out two batters with the bases loaded, in 2017.

Long Island had grabbed a 4-0 lead off Tommy Shirley, making his first start since April 23, in the second.  Jordan Pacheco doubled home the first run with a smash off the glove of first baseman Sean Halton.  Giovanny Alfonzo made it 2-0 with a bloop single to right.  Dan Lyons also singled, and both runners scored, after a wild pitch, on Fehlandt Lentini’s double over the head of third baseman Garrett Weber.

Noel scored an unearned run following his first bunt in the fourth inning, then Lancaster exploded in the fifth to tie the game.  Vladimir Frias doubled home Lastings Milledge with a drive to left center.  Tyler Clark followed with a triple to right center to cut the lead to 4-3.  Alfredo Simon got two outs, but Gindl came through with a double to right center to tie the score.

Lew Ford homered to lead off the fifth, but the Barnstormers again answered with two singles and a force play grounder by Milledge to tie the game again.

After Lancaster failed to take advantage of the bases loaded opportunity in the top of the eighth, Elmer Reyes picked up a four-pitch walk to start the bottom of the inning.  Pinch runner Anthony Vega stole second and took third on a ground out.  Pacheco singled to left off Scott Shuman (2-0) to break the tie.

Anthony Carter allowed a leadoff single to Lentini in the ninth but was able to spear an ensuing grounder by Delta Cleary, Jr. to start a double play.  He retired Ford on a grounder to record his 16^th save.

Lancaster opens a three-game series against the York Revolution on Friday night.  Frank Gailey will make the start for the Revs against Bryan Evans (5-2).  The game will be carried on Blue Ridge Cable 11 and the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:30.

NOTES:  The win was the fourth for the Barnstormers this season when trailing going into the ninth inning…Clark’s triple was his first extra base hit…Each team used six pitchers…Lancaster leads the season series, 7-4…Carter has saved 15 straight.