MERCEDES SET RECORD, BUT STORMERS FALL IN EXTRAS

York Wins Slugfest in Extra Innings

The Lancaster Barnstormers exhausted all options to make it a game.

In the end, Ross Peeples ran out of moves.

Nellie Rodriguez ripped a two-run double into the left field corner in the bottom of the tenth as the York Revolution defeated the ‘Stormers, 12-11, in over four hours of play in 94 degree temperatures.

In the process, Melvin Mercedes set a franchise record by batting safely for the 21^st consecutive game.  He set the record in the seventh, then went on to collect two more singles, including the go-ahead hit in the top of the tenth, scoring courtesy runner Jake Hoover with two outs.

Augie Sylk (4-9), the eighth Lancaster pitcher of the day, pitched a scoreless ninth to send the game to extra innings but never got an out in the tenth.  With Elmer Reyes at second, Carlos Franco worked out a walk.  Telvin Nash also walked, and Rodriguez got ahead, 3-1.  Sylk’s next pitch got to the zone, before Rodriguez drove in his fourth and fifth runs of the day to win it for York.

The tenth inning win was set up by a seven-run third that knocked Oscar De La Cruz out of the game and cost the Barnstormers the designated hitter.  A grounder by Reyes off De La Cruz’ glove was retrieved by Mercedes, but, in his haste, the Lancaster second baseman threw the ball away, allowing a run to score.  Franco doubled home two for a 3-1 lead.  Nash followed with a booming homer to right center.  Rodriguez also left the park as York grabbed a 6-1 edge.

Peeples pulled De La Cruz, and the barrage continued off reliever Bret Clarke.  Connor Lien greeted the fresh arm with a triple and scored on a single to left by Troy Stokes, Jr. before Clarke could finally escape the inning.

Lancaster battled back on the sweltering afternoon.  Ariel Sandoval clubbed a two-run homer in the fourth and cut the lead to 7-4 with a sac fly in the sixth.  The Barnstormers briefly took their first lead, scoring four in the seventh.  Mercedes and Andretty Cordero each knocked home one, then both scored on the same wild pitch by Bret de Geus.

Nash tied the game in the seventh, and Rodriguez staked the Revs to a 10-8 lead with a two-run double to center off Donald Goodson in the eighth.  Sandoval delivered again in the ninth, chopping a two-run single through the right side against closer Jim Fuller to tie the game.

The Barnstormers used both bench players, Devon Torrence and Anthony Peroni, as pinch hitters.  Torrence singled, and Peroni walked, both aiding in the rally.  Peeples also went through six right relievers but could not go to any others without risking the upcoming series against Southern Maryland.

The exhausted team and wiped out roster could not hold on this time.

Lancaster will host Southern Maryland on Tuesday to start a three-game series.  Nile Ball (6-3) will make the start against Daryl Thompson.  Fans may tune into Blue Ridge 11 or the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 6:30.

NOTES:  Cordero also extended a hitting streak to 10 games…York had seven extra base hits to just three for Lancaster…The Barnstormers will have two extra position players by Tuesday…Sandoval walked in his other two plate appearances…Lancaster leads the War of the Roses, 13-10, with nine games left to play…Six of those will be in York over the next 3 ½ weeks…Brandyn Sittinger made his Atlantic League debut and allowed Nash’s second home run…