Singles Enough for Fourth Straight Win

Rains did their best to slow down the Lancaster Barnstormers on Saturday evening at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Those rains ultimately could not keep the Barnstormers from winning their fourth straight game but did keep the club from completing the scheduled doubleheader.

Blake Gailen and Joey Terdoslavich delivered consecutive two-out singles in the top of the sixth inning as Lancaster skipped past the host Somerset Patriots, 2-1, in a twice-delayed seven-game opener.  The nightcap was postponed until a later date, not yet determined.

With the Barnstormers down by one, Rico Noel opened the sixth with a single to center off Logan Kensing (2-1) and stole second.  He moved to third on a right side grounder by Darian Sandford.  Tyler Bortnick hit a chopper at shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez, who fired home, catching Noel in a rundown.  The tag was eventually applied to the elusive runner, but Noel kept the play alive long enough for Bortnick to advance to second.  Gailen stepped in and lined a single into right center, scoring the tying run.  Gailen stole second and raced home when Terdoslavich punched a single through the left side.

From there, the Barnstormers bullpen held the lead.  Matt Marksberry did walk two batters in the bottom of the sixth, but Kevin Munson retired Scott Kelly on a harmless fly to center to end that threat.  Matt Reynolds set the side down in order in the seventh for his third save.

Brooks Hall (1-1) took over for Nate Reed, who never threw a pitch in the game, following a nearly two-hour long delay after one-half inning.  The right-hander was nicked for an unearned run in the fourth.  Justin Trapp singled and stole second, but Hall came back to strike out the next two.  Yovan Gonzalez reached base on Bortnick’s wide throw from third.  Craig Massey knocked home the run with a soft line drive single into right center.

Hall worked the first five innings, allowing five singles.  He walked one and struck out five.

Lancaster is off for two days before heading to New Britain Stadium on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the Bees.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel beginning at 6:15.