LEMOINE SPARKLES IN WIN

Right-Hander Pitches ‘Stormers to 6-3 Victory

Jake Lemoine gave the Lancaster Barnstormers a much-needed boost on Friday night.

Lemoine (1-1) worked eight strong innings, yielding seven hits and no walks, pitching the Barnstormers to a 6-3 win over the York Revolution in the opener of a three-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The victory leveled the 2023 War of the Roses at two games apiece.

It took Lemoine 102 pitches to work through his eight innings.  Six of the seven York hits against him were singles.  He struck out seven.

York’s biggest threat, in a sense, came in the top of the first.  Trent Giambrone beat out a scratch single to open the night and took second when Tomo Otosaka laced a single into center.  Lemoine coaxed a 6-4-3 double play out of Alejandro Rivero, then caught Nellie Rodriguez looking at a third strike to escape the jam.

The Revolution struck quickly in the fifth.  With two outs, Trey Martin singled into right center and raced home when Jhon Nunez drilled a double into the left field corner.

Joseph Carpenter produced Lancaster’s biggest hit of the night, a two-run single into center off Denson Hull (0-3) in the bottom of the second, plating Trayvon Robinson, who had singled, and Chris Proctor, who had walked.  Lancaster added two in the fourth inning from the same part of the batting order.  Robinson led off with a single into right and stole second.  Jack Conley knocked him home with a double down the right field line.  Carpenter grounded out to third baseman Alejandro Rivero.  Conley timed a dash for third behind the play and induced an errant throw by Drew Mendoza, which allowed him to score.

Trace Loehr homered to lead off the fifth.  Melvin Mercedes picked up his third walk of the night and scored on a one-out double into the left field corner by Ariel Sandoval as Lancaster grabbed a 6-1 lead.

York, which scored nine in the ninth at Long Island on Wednesday, tried to piece together a similar rally against the Barnstormers two nights later.  Troy Stokes, Jr. reached on an infield single and took second on a wild throw by Tyler LaPorte.  Richard Urena singled to left center, scoring Stokes before being caught rounding first and tagged out.  Martin homered to right, and Nunez walked, but LaPorte was able to fan Giambrone to end the game.

The two cross-river rivals tangle again on Saturday evening at 6:30 with fireworks following the game.  Lancaster will send Brent Teller (0-1) to the mound against right-hander Tom Sutera (1-1).  Fans not at the game may follow along at FloBaseball, beginning at 6:25.

NOTES:  Mercedes reached base for the 17^th straight game…Sandoval has hit safely in 17 of 18 and maintains an average over .400 (.409)…Lemoine gave Lancaster its sixth quality start in the last 11 games…He was the first starter for the ‘Stormers this year to last beyond seven innings…Loehr’s homer was his third, surpassing last year’s two