ROBINSON, HALL PACE LANCASTER WIN

Barnstormers Take Seventh Straight at Home

Trayvon Robinson went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Brooks Hall dominated for seven innings on Saturday as the Lancaster Barnstormers defeated the Wild Health Genomes, 5-1, in the middle game of a three-game series.

It was the seventh straight home victory for Lancaster and vaulted the team into a three-way tie for first place in the second half at 4-1.

Hall (2-1) fired his second straight gem.  Following his one-hit, seven-inning performance at York on Monday, the right-hander limited the Genomes to two hits over seven frames.

The only problem spot was the fifth when Hall walked former A’s slugger Khris Davis to open the inning.  Chris Shaw topped a ball to the first base side of the mound, and Hall slipped while trying to get the lead runner at second and threw the ball into left center.  With runners at first and third, Carlos Castro popped out, but Teodoro Martinez produced a run with a slow grounder to third.  Trace Loehr also made a wide throw while attempting a play at second.  Demetrius Moorer singled into left, the first hit off Hall, to load the bases, but Clayton Mehlbauer slapped into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Other than that inning, Hall faced only one batter over the minimum for his other six innings.

Lancaster was handed a run in the bottom of the first.  With one out, Melvin Mercedes grounded a single into right.  He took second on a wild pitch from Dustin Beggs (5-4).  A Kelly Dugan grounder got Mercedes to third, and the run scored when Mehlbauer fumbled a grounder by Andretty Cordero.

Robinson belted a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth, following a sharp single by Colton Shaver to build a 3-0 lead.  Loehr connected for a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to give the Barnstormers their three-run lead back.  Robinson singled off Mehlbauer’s glove to plate an insurance run in the eighth.

Cole Aker and West Tunnell pitched a scoreless inning apiece out of the Lancaster bullpen.

The Barnstormers and Genomes conclude their season series on Sunday at 1:00.  Cameron Gann (4-6) will make the start for Lancaster against Max Povse (4-5).  Fans may tune to Blue Ridge 11 or the Barnstormers YouTube channel, starting at 1:00.

NOTES:  Mercedes was 2-for-4 to extend his current hitting streak to eight games…He also stole a base for the third straight game…Robinson is 20-for-47 (.426) in his last 13 games…Lancaster’s starters have a 2.29 ERA (14 ER/55.0 IP) in the last nine games with six quality starts…The bullpen has thrown 11 straight scoreless innings.