Barnstormers Continue Second Half Play with 6-2 Victory
Tommy Shirley survived a tough first inning on Tuesday evening, eventually retiring 14 in a row to pitch the Lancaster Barnstormers to a 6-2 victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
With the win, the Barnstormers guaranteed themselves sole possession of first place in the second half for at least one more day.
For the fifth straight home game, the Barnstormers surrendered runs in the top of the first. Shirley (2-4) allowed a one-out infield single to Jose Cuevas, and Tony Abreu followed with a base hit to left. Sean Burroughs drew a walk, the only one allowed in six innings by the Barnstormers left hander, to load the bases. Shirley fanned Jonathan Galvez for the second out, but Anthony Lambo dumped a single into shallow left center field on a 1-2 pitch to drive in the two Bridgeport runs. Gustavo Molina ripped a single into left on the ensuing at bat. Burroughs attempted to score but was cut down at the plate on a throw from left fielder Sean Halton.
From there, Shirley retired the next 14 hitters until Burroughs singled to center with two outs in the sixth.
Shirley left after six innings, having allowed six hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out three. John Anderson pitched two scoreless innings on three singles and two strikeouts before Anthony Carter fanned the side in the ninth.
Lancaster quickly erased the early 2-0 deficit. Trayvon Robinson drew a one-out walk from Manny Parra (1-2) and went to third on a wild pickoff throw. Cole Garner followed with a two-run homer onto the deck, his sixth of the year, tying the game.
In the second, the Barnstormers strung together four consecutive one-out hits. Nate Coronado banged a single into right and raced to third on a Josh Bell single to left. Anderson De La Rosa rode a ball over the head of Lambo in center for an RBI double and a 3-2 lead. Beau Amaral singled through the left side to get Bell home for a 4-2 edge.
The Barnstormers plated two more in the fifth inning on consecutive RBI doubles by Halton and Garrett Weber.
Lancaster sends Jarret Leverett (7-6) to the hill on Wednesday against right-hander Rainy Lara (8-6). Fans may tune into Blue Ridge Cable 11 or the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:30.
NOTES: Weber doubled for the fifth consecutive game…Halton had his 54th extra base hit of the season…De La Rosa’s double was his 23rd…The quality start for Shirley was Lancaster’s first since August 4, when Shirley dealt 6 1/3 innings in a 10-3 win over Sugar Land…Carter stretched his scoreless innings streak to 19.