MENDOZA LEADS YORK TO SERIES WIN

‘Stormers Outhit Revs in Loss

It has been a tough first week for the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Despite outhitting the York Revolution on Thursday evening, the defending Atlantic League champs dropped their fifth in six tries, losing to the archrivals, 5-3, in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Drew Mendoza paced the York attack on Thursday evening with three hits, including two doubles and four RBI.  With runners at first and second in the second inning, the lefty batting DH launched the first of his two baggers over the head of left fielder Ariel Sandoval, soring Trey Martin and Troy Stokes, Jr.  Mendoza later scored on a double to the left center field alley by Alexis Pantoja.

A base hit to right in the third scored the final run off Lancaster starter Brandyn Sittinger (0-2).  Mendoza’s final RBI came in the fifth when his two-out fly ball to left disappeared in the twilight sky, falling behind Sandoval for an RBI double, plating Stokes, who had walked. 

The Barnstormers set a season high with 10 hits, including five for extra bases, but the runs could only come one at a time.  Sandoval launched a 433-foot home run to left center opening the bottom of the second to pull Lancaster within two.  In the third, Andretty Cordero drilled a double to left with two outs and scored on a single to center by Kelly Dugan.  Trace Loehr doubled in the seventh and scored on a ground single up the middle by Melvin Mercedes.  The Barnstormers left a runner in scoring position in five different innings.

Tom Sutera (1-0) picked up the win with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Victor Capellan pitched a perfect ninth for his second straight save.

Lancaster will host the Lexington Counter Clocks on Friday at 6:30.  Jared Lakind (0-0) will make the start for the Barnstormers.  Fans may tune into FloSports, starting at 6:25.

NOTES:  Sandoval and Trayvon Robinson have each hit in five straight…Lancaster pitchers combined to strike out 13, the fourth time this season the club has reached double figures…No Barnstormers starter has gone beyond four innings…Mike Adams and Cole Aker combined to retire the final 10 opposing hitters.