Late Rally Propels Lancaster Past York

Barnstormers Drop Revs, 8-4

For the first time against an Atlantic League pitching this spring, Lancaster’s bats came alive.

The Barnstormers strung together four consecutive hits to produce four runs in the seventh inning and added three more runs on four singles in the eighth to defeat the York Revolution, 8-4, Tuesday afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

K. C. Hobson opened the surge with a single down the right field line off Brian Bass with one out in the seventh.  Blake Gailen ripped a double inside the same stripe to chase Hobson to third.  Drew Doty singled home a run with a liner into right center, and a double to left by Sean Halton cut the York lead to 4-3.  Bass walked Kevin Ahrens to load the bags.  Garrett Weber picked up a bases loaded walk to force the tying run across the plate, and Lancaster forged ahead in the game on Anderson De La Rosa’s fielder’s choice grounder to short.

 Lastings Milledge snuck a single into right field to lead off the eighth.  Jeff Kobernus followed with a base hit to left, and Hobson loaded the bases with an infield hit to the hole on the right side.  Gailen walked to push Milledge home.  Lancaster extended the lead to 7-4 on a single to center by Doty, and Halton capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center.

 The ‘Stormers had grabbed an early 1-0 lead.  Darian Sandford reached due to a wild pitch on a third strike and swiped second.  Kobernus singled to left, sending Sandford to third.  Kobernus stole second, and Sandford was able to sprint home on the throw from Isaias Tejeda which bounced into center.

 York struck for a pair of runs in the fifth, keyed by Bryan Pounds’ double into the left field corner.  They added two more in the top of the seventh, one on Brandon Thomas’ double into right.  Luis Alen tacked on a ground out for the 4-1 lead.

 STORMER HIGHLIGHTS:  Hobson finished the day with three singles as did Doty…Starter Tommy Shirley pitched three scoreless frames, giving up one single and one walk while striking out three…Anthony Carter struck out three batters in the top of the bonus 10^th inning…Third baseman Kevin Ahrens made two excellent defensive plays in succession in the eighth inning…He opened the inning with a leaping snag of Jose Constanza’s opposite field line drive..He followed with a diving stop of a Travis Witherspoon grounder to his left…The Barnstormers finished with 12 hits.

 OTHER NOTES:  Outfielder Rico Noel has been placed on the inactive list, pending a deal with Leon of the Mexican League…Sandford has three steals in the last two games…Gailen has doubles in three consecutive games…The Barnstormers finish their exhibition schedule on Wednesday afternoon with a 2:30 start at York…That game will not be open to the public.