MESSY SECOND COSTS ‘STORMERS

Sugar Land Extends Lead to 9 ½

The Lancaster Barnstormers had one of THOSE innings.

Five singles, four of which were ground balls, a pair of walks and two errors led to a seven-run Sugar Land second as the Skeeters coasted to an 8-4 victory over the ‘Stormers Tuesday evening at Constellation Field.

With the Barnstormers up, 1-0, Chris Colabello opened the home second with a ground ball up the middle, just out of the reach of starter John Anderson (4-2).  Denis Phipps rolled a single into left, and O’Koyea Dickson loaded the bases with the inning’s one line drive, a single to left.  Anderson walked Zach Borenstein to push home the tying run.  Lancaster had a chance to limit the damage as Ryan Jackson rolled a grounder to shortstop Michael Martinez.  In an attempt to start a double play, Martinez fired wide of second baseman Dan Gamache with the ball rolling into foul territory.  Two runs scored on that play with remaining runners at second and third.

A fourth run crossed on Cody Stanley’s sacrifice fly to center.  Jason Martinson drew the second walk of the inning before Anthony Giansanti singled up the middle for a 5-1 lead.  One out later, Colabello capped the surge with his second ground single over second base of the inning, bringing home two more.

Lancaster could only notch runs on at a time.  Martinez tripled, and Gamache followed with a single in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-2.  Joe Terdoslavich homered in the eighth, again bringing Lancaster to within five.

In the ninth, the Barnstormers created some drama.  Darian Sandford worked out a nine-pitch walk against Jean Machi.  Martinez followed with a single that chased Sandford to third.  A run scored on a fiedler’s choice grounder by Gamache.  Caleb Gindl grounded a single through the hole on the right side to move the tying run into the on deck circle.

Terdoslavich, who had been perfect on the night, drilled a liner the other way, right into the waiting glove of third baseman Juan Silverio.  He doubled Gamache off second to end any chances of the Barnstormers coming back in the game, and possibly the half as the Skeeters stretched their lead to 9 ½ games and clinched the tiebreaker.

Lancaster sends Kyle Davies (3-2) to the mound for a Wednesday matinee game against the Skeeters.  Sugar Land will counter with right-hander Troy Scribner (1-0).  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel beginning at 11:55 EDT.

NOTES:  Gamache extended his hitting streak to eight but failed to pick up an extra base hit or multiple hits for the first time in that streak…Lancaster was guilty of a season-high four errors…Martinez hit safely for the 14^th straight start…Sandford moved to within two of the league stolen base lead with a swipe in the top of the second.