Halton Blasts ‘Stormers to Sweep!

Third Baseman Doubles, Homers in 4-3 Win

Sean Halton slugged his first home run since the All-Star Game and drove in all four Lancaster runs in a 4-3 victory over the New Britain Bees to complete a four-game sweep Thursday evening at New Britain Stadium.

Halton followed a Cole Garner double into the right field corner with a smash inside the third base bag, bringing the Barnstormers into a 1-1 tie in the top of the second inning.

The Barnstormers, who had rapped out 31 hits the previous two games, did not do much else until the top of the sixth.  Greg Nappo (0-1) walked Trayvon Robinson on a full count pitch to open the inning.  Steve Clevenger followed with a single into the alley in left center, chasing Robinson to third.  Nappo struck out Cole Garner, but Halton followed with a towering drive over the center field wall for a 4-1 edge.

Halton’s bat backed a successful outing for Rommie Lewis.  The Barnstormers left-hander (6-7) yielded a first inning home run to Jovan Rosa but only four singles and a walk otherwise in seven innings of work, tying his longest start of the season.  The southpaw struck out three.

With Lancaster looking ahead to a makeup game at Southern Maryland to decide the first half championship on Friday, manager Ross Peeples kept Scott Shuman and Anthony Carter, his setup man and closer, respectively, out of the game.

Daniel Moskos pitched a perfect eighth, but Kaohi Downing, seeking his first save of the season, ran into trouble in the ninth.

Rosa drew a leadoff walk, and Craig Maddox followed with a single into right.  Conor Bierfeldt took the first pitch of his at bat and lined an RBI single into center to cut the lead to 4-2.  Jordan Hinshaw also went after the first pitch and rapped into a 6-6-3 double play.  Maddox scored on a wild pitch, but Downing was able to retire Jon Griffin on a pop up to second to end the night.

Brad Bergesen (6-6) will make the start for the Barnstormers in the first half title game against local product and Blue Crabs veteran Daryl Thompson.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  Nate Coronado doubled in the fourth to extend his road hitting streak to nine games…Lewis threw his seventh quality start of the season…Halton pulled within three of the league lead with 58 RBI…Downing lost a scoreless appearances streak at 16.