HOOD, DE LA ROSA PACE LANCASTER WIN

Destin Hood and Anderson De La Rosa stroked back-to-back doubles twice as the Lancaster Barnstormers decisively defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

With the win, the Barnstormers moved back to within 6 ½ games of the top spot in the Freedom Division.

An unearned run got the Barnstormers on the board in the first inning, but it was in the third that Lancaster got the ball rolling against Dallas Beeler (7-6).  Joe Terdoslavich muscled a single into right center and moved up on a walk to Andrew Aplin.  Hood rapped a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.  He and Aplin advanced on a wild pitch, and De La Rosa made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly lined to left.  After K.C. Hobson lined to right center for the second out, Michael Martinez picked up Hood from second with a single into center.

In the fifth, Hood drove a long double into the left field corner with one out.  De La Rosa reached the right center field fence with another two-bagger for a 5-0 edge.

Hood and De La Rosa each pounded a double deep to left center to open the seventh as the Barnstormers pulled away.  Martinez and Devon Torrence tacked on RBI singles to close the 12-hit, eight-run attack.

John Anderson (10-6) dodged trouble through the first three innings as the Skeeters went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding six.  The lefty retired the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Skeeters were able to reach the scoreboard in the sixth.  D.J. Peterson drew a leadoff walk on a full count pitch.  Denis Phipps took a 2-2 pitch onto the right field deck for his 20^th home run of the season.

Anderson was lifted after a one-out single by Albert Cordero.  He allowed seven hits and two runs over his 5 1/3 innings, walking two.  Anderson matched his season high with eight strikeouts.

Lancaster’s bullpen shut down Sugar Land on two hits over the final 3 2/3 innings.

The Barnstormers host Sugar Land at 6:30 on Saturday evening.  Jonathan Albaladejo (2-7) will make the start for Lancaster against right-hander Chase De Jong (3-2).  It will be Halloween in August.  Fireworks will follow the game.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  Caleb Gindl singled in the sixth inning to extend his hitting streak to nine and his on-base streak to 20…De La Rosa has hit safely in nine straight (14-34, .412)…Hood has 18 extra base hits and 33 RBI in his last 25 starts…With the eight strikeouts, Anderson pulled to within 16 of the club single season record of 130, set by Bryan Evans in 2016…Bryan Harper fired his fourth straight scoreless outing as did Logan Sawyer.