Ducks Even Series
The Long Island Ducks struck for 15 hits in the first five innings on Tuesday evening, sending the Barnstormers to a 9-3 loss and evening the series at one game apiece.
Lancaster’s defense made a strong contribution to the first two Long Island runs. Starter Jarret Leverett made a wild throw on a dribbler up the third base line by Giovanny Alfonzo as Ruben Gotay raced home with the game’s first run. Alfonzo scored when a grounder by Dan Lyons eluded Garrett Weber’s grasp as the Ducks went up, 2-0.
Following a sacrifice fly by Angelo Songco in the bottom of the third, the Barnstormers put together their one offensive spurt of the night in the top of the fourth. With one out, Caleb Gindl belted a towering home run over the right field foul pole. Sean Halton followed with a bloop double down the right field line. He was brought home on a Lastings Milledge single into left.
Over the next four outs, the Ducks scored six additional runs to put the game out of reach. Lyons followed an Alfonzo double with a two-run homer over Trayvon Robinson’s leaping attempt in left for a 5-2 lead. Ruben Gotay went deep with two men aboard in the bottom of the fifth for an 8-2 lead.
Leverett (4-4) was lifted with one out and runners at the corners in the fifth. Delta Cleary, Jr. reached on an error, the Barnstormers’ season-high fourth of the game, as the first batter to face the ‘Stormers bullpen. Long Island’s ninth and final run scored on the play.
The Barnstormers bullpen checked the Ducks from there on one hit and one walk over the final 3 2/3 innings.
Weber got Lancaster’s third run home with a bases loaded sac fly in the sixth.
John Brownell (6-1) worked six innings, yielding five hits and three runs to earn the win. He walked three and struck out four. The Barnstormers did not manage a baserunner against the Long Island bullpen.
Brad Bergesen (4-5) will make the start on Wednesday against right-hander Matt Larkins (2-6). Funs my tune into the game on the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.
NOTES: Robinson, Weber, and Vladimir Frias all lost streaks of six games or longer…Gindl has two homers in three games after going nearly two months between long balls…Halton had his 14th extra base hit in 17 games.